International nonprofit WaterAid has come out with a series of photos focussing on what moms around the world pack in their bags when preparing to give birth. The goal is to raise awareness of the lack of clean water, hygiene and sanitation in many areas. In some areas it is so bad that hospitals don’t even have safe water access.
Australia
Katy Shaw is 31.
Photo Credit: WaterAid
In her bag she packs toiletries, snacks, diapers, hat, socks, mittens, clothes and swaddles for baby. She also has clothes for for herself, including nightgowns, maternity underwear, maternity pads, nursing pads and massage oils
Photo Credit: WaterAid
Tanzania
Agnes Noti is 22.
Photo Credit: WaterAid
Her hospital has no source of water in delivery or recovery rooms. The whole ward shares one toilet and access to a sink used to wash medical equiptment is the only water they have.
Her bag includes clothes for baby, a blanket for baby, socks, a basin, a flask and tea.
Photo Credit: WaterAid
Malawi
Ellen Phiri is 23.
Photo Credit: WaterAid
Her hospital has no clean running water, no sterilization equiptment, no electricty and only 4 toilets for 400 people.
Her kit includes a flashlight, a black plastic sheet to cover the delivery bed that can’t be cleaned, a razor blade to cut the cord, a string to tie the cord, 200 Malawaian Kwacha for food, and three large sarongs for mom to wear and babywear.
Photo Credit: WaterAid
Zambia
Hazel Shandumba is 27.
Photo Credit: WaterAid
Hazel’s hospital has no running water. Her bag includes a baby blanket, cotton wool, a sarong, clothes for baby, napkins, a basin for water, and a roll of plastic for the bed.
Photo Credit: WaterAid
Madagascar
Razafindrabary Claudine is 26.
Photo Credit: WaterAid
Her maternity basket contains clothes for baby, cotton wool, alcohol (for cleaning), diapers, flask, bucket, and sanitary pads.
Photo Credit: WaterAid
United States
Deanna Neiers
Photo Credit: WaterAid
The contents of her bag include a music player, coconut oil, lavendar oil, arnica gel, snacks, nursing bra, nursing pads, nursing pillow, comfortable clothes, soft swaddle blanket, clothes and hat for baby.
Photo Credit: WaterAid
England
Joanna Laurie is 34.
Photo Credit: WaterAid
Her bags include diapers, clothes for baby, clothes for mom, snacks, towel for mom, toiletries, maternity pads, iPad, water bottle, medical notes, blanket, and a TENS machine for pain
Photo Credit: WaterAid
Beyond highlighting the lack of sanitation access in many countries this is also fascinating look into the differences in birth and maternity around the world.
