In order to accommodate the shift that allows human women to walk upright, their bodies have undergone a gradual evolutionary change that leaves their pelvises roughly 30% smaller than those of their homo erectus ancestors. The size of infants brains and the heads that house them have, in that time, gotten larger, according to studies conducted by paleoanthropologists at the University of Indiana. The resulting shift means that, in order to walk upright, women’s bodies simply cannot … [Read more...]
Helping a New Mom Feel Confident in Her Caregiving Skills
June 12, 2013 by
How to Help a New Mom Feel Confident in Her Caregiving Skills Working as a nanny is a rewarding and exciting career choice, but it’s not just the children under your care that will need some assistance from time to time. Becoming a new parent for the first time is overwhelming for many women, especially those who are reassured that the mysteries of parenting will magically reveal themselves upon childbirth and a “mother’s instincts” will kick in to make the process as effortless as breathing. … [Read more...]
1st Annual International Day to End Obstretric Fistula, May 23
May 24, 2013 by
IMAGE The International Day to End Obstetric Fistula MAY 23 In December 2012, 167 countries from around the world co-sponsored a biannual resolution at the United Nations General Assembly that called on all Member States to support the activities of UNFPA and its partners in the Campaign to End Fistula. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the Campaign to End Fistula, a collaborative initiative launched by UNFPA and its partners. Check out Friends of UNFPA’s new … [Read more...]
Syrian Women Giving Birth in Exile
May 11, 2013 by
ZA'ATARI, Jordan — In a tent hospital bed, a Syrian woman who was four months pregnant when she fled her country's civil war cradles one of the newest residents of this dust-swept refugee camp: Her newborn son, just delivered by Caesarean. Around a dozen babies are born every day in Za'atari camp, which is home to 120,000 Syrians and counting – and there's only one, overworked Moroccan doctor performing C-sections. Still, the clinic where he operates and several other field hospitals here … [Read more...]
Surviving the First Day, Save the Children celebrates Mothers!
May 8, 2013 by
In honor of Mother's Day, Save the Children presents our 14th annual State of the World's Mothers report. READ THE REPORT HERE The first day of life is the most dangerous day of a child's life in countries rich and poor around the world, including the United States. Beloved actresses Jennifer Garner, Jennifer Connelly and Allyson Hannigan join with celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe and moms from around the world to share their first moments. Would love if you shared your baby's … [Read more...]
Women Abused as Girls more likely to birth Children With Autism
March 29, 2013 by
APRIL IS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH The study, published in the Journal JAMA Psychiatry, is the first to examine the potential legacy that a mother’s experience with childhood abuse could have on the health of her own children. The findings are especially sobering given the latest statistics released from the Centers for Disease Control, which found a significantly higher rate of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) — 1 in 50 compared to one in 88 from a report released in 2012 — among school-aged … [Read more...]
CONGO – Indigenous ‘pygmies’ excluded from maternal health
March 5, 2013 by
BRAZZAVILLE, March 2013 (IRIN) - Indigenous Women in the Republic of Congo, better known as 'pygmies' - a minority group threatened with extinction - are virtually excluded from reproductive health services. They mostly give birth at home and are exposed to related health risks, according to a 2012 study conducted by the Ministry of Health with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). The study, Determinants of the Use of Reproductive Health Services by Indigenous Peoples, was … [Read more...]
UNRWA, Syria midwife delivers baby in harsh conditions
January 19, 2013 by
Damascus The vibrant cry of a baby burst out from a small room in the Khan Eshieh refugee camp in southern Damascus. Forced to find refuge in a shelter housing another 15 people, Mayada Yahya gave birth in a small room with no privacy. The room has provided shelter to Mayada and her husband ever since they fled the fighting in Daraya, near Damascus, a few months ago. Little did she know that she would be delivering their child in this same room months later. Makeshift … [Read more...]
