As a new mother, I find it terrifying that women around the world give birth without clean water. Amira Aleem gave birth to her son in a London hospital, surrounded by care and hygiene that many mothers globally lack. She is calling for change through WaterAid's 'Time to Deliver' campaign.
When I look at pictures of me cradling my pregnant tummy and packing my maternity bag, I think, 'wow, poor six-weeks-ago Amira has no idea what's coming.' My birth experience was far from the water birth I had planned. I endured a 52-hour labour before an emergency C-section finally brought my baby boy into the world. It was chaotic, excruciatingly painful, and scary. The relief when they handed him to me is indescribable.
Five weeks on, I am still processing what happened and reflecting on my maternity bag. The items I packed were possible because I had access to clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene. Amid the intensity, I felt reassured that doctors and midwives attended to me in a clean, hygienic environment. They wore gloves, sanitised hands, and used sterilised equipment during my C-section.
My maternity bag contained items that sustained me: a TENS machine for pain relief, lightweight nighties from India for easy feeding, and a water bottle and straw to stay hydrated. Labour is thirsty work, and I was thankful to sip water without worrying about refilling it. After birth, when I wandered the corridor for water, a midwife fetched a clean jug.
It is terrifying that globally, a woman gives birth every two seconds in a healthcare setting without clean water or good hygiene. After major surgery, I could barely walk down a corridor; I cannot imagine walking miles to collect water from polluted rivers. Nor packing disinfectant to clean dirty surfaces or plastic sheeting to cover a bed because clinics lack clean bedding.
Every mother knows childbirth carries risk, wherever you are. I felt that acutely in the London hospital. But clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene are basics every expectant mother should rely on. Clean water saves lives. That is why I support WaterAid's 'Time to Deliver' campaign, signing their petition and standing with mothers and healthcare workers worldwide calling for real change for every mother, every birth, and every future. I hope you will too.
