Mama Kits

Ever since Cody and I decided to adopt Mercy, I've thought about her mother and how horrible it is that she had to die giving birth to her.  I don't know the circumstances, her health history, or anything about her, but I would guess that had she lived elsewhere or received proper medical care would she have lived.  How many other women die needlessly every day giving birth?  Some statistics I found say that at least 15 women die every day in Uganda from pregnancy or childbirth complications.  Nearly 60% of women in Uganda give birth at home.  This is not a sterile, home-birth in a bathtub with soft music playing and a licensed midwife.  This is most likely in a mud hut with no sanitized instruments, no medications for mother or child, and no one with medical training. 

Several months ago I was reading on Katie's blog (again you really must check this out if you haven't already!) about birth kits she was making for women in the villages near her.  I thought this was a great idea and something I might like to help with in honor of Mercy, but wasn't sure of an easy way to go about it.

This week, I read on a blog about a fabulous couple in Colorado that is asking people to give money for "Mama Kits" instead of gifts for their child at their baby shower.  These "Mama Kits" contain many of the things needed for a safe birth.  This includes gauze, cotton, razor blades, tetracycline eye ointment, gloves, umbilical cord tie, soap, pamphlets, polythene sheeting, and a polythene bag for records.  All of this for only $10.  Then I figured out that the missionaries that will be distributing these kits in Uganda know my friends, Doug and Kathryn, and live in the same town with them.  What a small world!  So, if you would be interested in helping save the lives of mothers and babies in Uganda, go to the missionaries' blog here for all of the information and a bit more on the story.  What an easy way to truly impact the lives of mothers and babies in Uganda.