Alternative Birth Home OTEPIC Kenya project build an alternative birth home, with song and traditional midwife, with the help of doctors, in a safe environment.

Solution

Home / alternative birth giving centers are places that offer low risk delivery and pregnancy care. They are special homes that give the mothers a natural, family centered experience during birth without the complications of hospitals labor wards and the risks of giving birth at home. They process is administered by a professional midwife in an environment full of family and friends support.
Alternative home birth centers with traditional hospitals indicated that there is decreased in likelihood of medical intervention during labor and low risk to mother or child. Birth is a healthy and normal process that should have a positive experience.

This project intends to enable access to quality support for pregnant women during delivery and pre-and post natal care. It involves the construction of a The project will enable maternal health access to 20% of the women in Kitale. It is also aimed at protecting mothers and babies from deadly health threats.
The philosophy of the alternative birth centre will be based on natural delivery with positive quality care in the comfort of a home environment surrounded by loved ones with songs and joy to welcome the child. The labouring woman will be in control of everything including wearing what she feels comfortable. The focus of the centre will be to meet the woman’s needs and without unnecessary intervention will be conducted without her consent. Labour will be allowed to progress normally without unnecessary interference other than quality care.
The medical team (midwives from the villages here and birth assistant) will be dedicated to the woman’s delivery and will not be controlled by shifts or any other factor, as is the case in government hospitals. The midwife will deliver one on one care to the labouring woman continuously and on-going assessment of the health of the mother and the child will be maintained.

The birth house will have three rooms, (explained below) shall be spacious enough to accommodate staff to move freely and to include at least:
a) A large bed or double bed;
b) Chairs – lounge and straight-back;
c) bedside/procedure tables;
d) A bassinet;
e) Space for birth room supplies and equipment and for family belongings; and
f) Access to a sink with hot and cold running water with elbow-wrist controls.

Utility, storage and laundry areas shall be designed and equipped for washing,
sterilizing and storage of equipment, linens and medical supplies in a manner which insures segregation of clean linen and sterile supplies and equipment from those that are soiled and/or contaminated.

Heating and ventilation systems shall be capable of maintaining comfortable
temperatures.

Lighting and electrical services: Each center shall be adequately lighted with
appropriate lighting for examination in the birth room(s).

Waste disposal systems and water supply systems will be installed and operational at all time

Impact
• Reduce maternal death levels in Sabwani, Trans/Nzoia by providing proven safe way of delivery that is accessible to all women
• Enhance specialized care for laboring and pregnant women
• Enhance personal growth of the women and the child by creating a loving and caring environment during this important stage of life
• Increase the level of awareness of alternative birth methods and create a positive attitude towards delivery
• Increase the number of women in Kitale accessing antenatal and child delivery care from maternal health facilities from 23 per cent to 30 per cent
• Ensure 100 per cent access to antenatal care in Sabwani areas

Room 1 Room of Earth
In this room you can connect with the element of earth, take the energy of the earth. For the women giving birth they also choose (or the child chooses) that element. They will bear their child in the lap of Mother Earth.The element of earth is connected with the first chakra. Some of the qualities are grounding, rooting, safety, home, orderness in the meaning of everything has its place. The colour of this chakra is red.

Room 2 Room of Water
In the room of water you can connect with the element of water, take the energy of the water, the fluid, bubbly or calm water. Women can give birth into the water, so for the babies it would be the first element they get in touch with. The element of water is connected with the second chakra. Some of the qualities are beauty, joy, liveliness, comfort. The colour of this chakra is orange.

Room 3 Room of Silence, Peace, Mourning…
In this room you go for searching silence and peace in yourself, you want to become quiet and feel yourself. You go there if you need to mourn, a child you lost or an animal, a good friend, or a life section is over, you have to anish something before you start a new part in your life. Its connected with death, also in the meaning of finishing a part in your life, saying goodbye to a person, finishing a work or even the day. This is the element of air, the fourth chakra.