You Can Help Deliver Babies with Kangu

There is nothing in this world that compares to the first moment you hold your child. It is earth moving and terrifying. Everything stops for a moment, and this overwhelming sense of true love fills your world. For a Mother, it is the beginning of a brand new journey that lasts a lifetime. You are never really the same person after that tiny little miracle is handed to you.

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central and Kangu. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Before that beautiful little creature arrives, most women have a lot of fear and anxiety about delivery. However, many expectant mothers can find comfort in their doctors, nurses, and hospitals. Long before the big day, many women get to meet their doctors, discuss birthing methods, even visit the maternity ward and get an idea of what labor and delivery will be like. For many mothers, the technology and availability of healthcare ensures a safe delivery, but what about the women that don’t have that luxury?

Did you know that according to the World Health Organization every day about 800 women die because of preventable problems during the course of pregnancy and childbirth? That is 300,000 women a year. Of these 300,000, 99% are in developing countries. This means that for many of these women, a new child is not a blessing but often a death sentence. These women are robbed of the incredible miracle of motherhood. Their lives and the lives of their babies are cut short. For a moment, think about what that must be like to live in a world where you cannot reach needed medical attention. Think about what it must be like to go into labor only to have something go wrong and there is no one to help.

It is something I have thought about often after the birth of my own son. Around 29 weeks I went into labor. As I laid in the hospital bed terrified of what would happen and hoping that my husband would make it in time, my doctor told me that when the baby was born he would have to be on a ventilator. The word was like a stab in the heart, and all I could do was cry. I was horrified that my tiny, innocent little baby would have to go through any kind of trauma.

Luckily, they managed to stop my labor, and my little guy held out for another four weeks. When I did go into labor again, he was still considered early, but they would no longer stop labor. I was nervous and excited and so hopeful that everything would be ok, but after three hours of pushing, I knew something was wrong. The baby’s heart rate was getting erratic, and the doctor said they would either need to use a vacuum to help guide the baby out or they would need to manually push him back up the birth canal and do a c-section. I had no idea what to do. I was exhausted and desperate to get my son out safely.

The doctor decided to use the vacuum, and if that didn’t work, I would have to have an emergency c-section. Within a few minutes of the decision the doctor managed to safely deliver the baby, and I cried in relief as I clung to him. Unfortunately, the relief was short-lived, being as early he was, my son had to stay in the NICU, and I had to return home without him for a few days. I was lost in a fog until he was finally healthy enough to come home.

I think about this often as I watch my son slowly grow and change, and even five months after his delivery, I still feel this overwhelming terror at times. Had we not had medical attention, I am certain that one, if not both of us, would have died.

For those that do not have the availability of healthcare or the means to get it, Kangu is a chance for women all over the world to have a safe, healthy pregnancy and delivery. This cause is particularly near to my heart after my own struggles, and I feel it is a wonderful opportunity to share with other mothers. As a non-profit organization, Kangu allows anyone to sponsor expectant mothers from around the world so that they may receive medical services. Kangu has begun to address the maternal and infant mortality rate with a new approach. With a mission to allow every woman a safe birth, they offer a crowdfunding platform to raise money for life saving services during pregnancy and childbirth as well as health education. 

How Can You Donate?

The crowdfunding platform means that anyone, anywhere, anytime can visit the Kangu website and search through the profiles of expectant mothers around the world and donate money. Communities with the same beliefs and goals can come together and help others on the other side of the planet simply by donating on the website. All donated proceeds go towards the medical treatment for mothers (mamas as Kangu calls them) before, during, and after childbirth. Donate any amount to help these women and their unborn children. Get a group together and fund raise, donate in honor of someone you know (Kangu will even send the honoree a card), or you can donate monthly. All the money goes towards the care of the mother and her child by vetted local medical partners. These services have proven to reduce the maternal and newborn deaths by 80%!

Once the mama has delivered, all those that donated for her will receive a “safe baby” birth announcement. How cool is that to know you helped safely bring a child into the world?

Kangu’s one year anniversary is arriving, and over the course of one year, they have funded over 250 safe births! They are helping women in Uganda, Nepal, India, Guatemala, Bolivia, Mexico, and Burundi. Not only do these women struggle to pay for the needed medical attention, it is often difficult for them just to get to a hospital. Many of these women live in rural areas and have to walk hours just to see a doctor, but your donation will help them receive transportation as well as medical care. 

Please visit Kangu to see the expectant mothers that you can help right now. Donate in honor of your Mother’s birthday, your child’s birthday, or keep it in mind for Mother’s day. 

Check out Facebook for more information and follow Kangu on Twitter.

Had I not had the necessary medical attention during my own labor, I would not be here today. If a donation can save the life of another mother and child, I feel it is my duty to donate. Motherhood is a very special connection that binds women around the globe. We may be from different walks of life, with different ideas and parenting styles, but we all understand that incredible, intoxicating, difficult, and humbling love that we have for our children. Please visit Kangu today and see how you can help.

I have donated to Elisa so that she and her unborn child can have the care they need.

Please visit Kangu today and help deliver a baby!

You can enter to win one of five $100 donations that Kangu will make to a Kangu Mom on your behalf. Contest opens on February 10, 2015 and closes March 2, 2015 and you can enter using the widget below.

Kangu – One Mama at a Time