Throughout human history, throughout the world, the majority of babies have been born at home. In the last few decades however, in many countries, hospital birth has been promoted as being “best”. So is hospital birth best? This is a question I discuss frequently in the UK, and it has been an increasing concern for me in Malawi. Since 2012…
The population in Malawi has grown at an astonishing rate in the last 10 years. There is a very important message that needs to be shared here – of family spacing and the use of contraception. The speed that the population is increasing is very problematic for such a poor country, not simply in terms of cash and service provision,…
Holding and carrying your baby all day is just what every woman does here. It isn’t a choice, it’s a necessity, but one which seems to work very well for both the woman and the baby. In the UK we have many options including prams and buggies, car seats, and a wide array of slings and baby carriers. In Malawi,…
The recurring theme of my week has been food. Food poverty, food production and efficient cooking facilities. In the industrialised world we are so used to having wide choices of food (and plenty of it). The easy availability of food, much of it ultra processed, means that the industrialised world is facing widespread health issues relating to obesity and sub-optimal…
In my days at the hospital I have been focusing on improving services in the special care nursery. Finding alternative ways of feeding babies who cannot breastfeed is vital. With minimal equipment and staff with no specialist skills in caring for premature and sick babies, feeding and kangaroo care are the main things we can do. I described this in…