Young Mother’s Pregnancy is Progressing Well

I am still on my maternity leave and living with my parents away from my village. My parents’ house is closer to the hospital, and it helps to have my mother nearby. Last month, I went to visit my husband in Jonasi Village and while I was there I visited the home of my client, 18-year-old Esinati. She is in the 7th month of her first pregnancy. Although I was on leave, I found myself counseling her and was glad to know that she was following all the advice that I had gave her over the past months. Because our village is very far away from the hospital – almost 18.5 kilometres [11.5 miles] – Esinati’s husband is doing extra work to make money to pay for the trip to the hospital.

“I am due in March, but I plan to be at the hospital by end of February,” she told me. “I am also organizing warm clothing for the baby, and once the baby arrives, I plan to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months and sleep under a treated mosquito net every night to prevent malaria infection.” I am very pleased that Esinati remembers all the important things that we have discussed over the past months.

At this stage, I have advised her to discuss with her husband using contraceptives to space her pregnancies. I have also warned her to avoid harmful cultural practices that are not good for her or the baby. I enjoyed my chat with her, and by the time she delivers I will have started back to work.