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Saving Mothers sends trained volunteers to Guatemala every year to connect with traditional birth attendants and local health care providers, offering support and educational programs that ensure healthy deliveries.

WHY GUATEMALA?		WHAT WE'RE DOING
Guatemala has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in Latin America. UNICEF estimates that about 290 deaths occur per 100,000 live births. This is significantly higher than the average for Latin America, which is 95 deaths per 100,000 births. Only 25% of births in rural Guatemala are attended by a medical professional. Instead, Mayan traditional birth attendants called comadronas provide care during deliveries. They are typically untrained, but well-respected within their communities. They help during at-home births and provide emotional support -- a critical component to successful deliveries.		Saving Mothers increases access to clinical and surgical care for expectant mothers in underserved regions. Saving Mothers volunteers provide: • Educational outreach for comadronas • Training for rural health care providers • Supplies and resources for healthy births • Surgical and prenatal care • Check out our Midwifery Program. The goal is to build mutually-beneficial and educational bonds with local health care providers and traditional birth attendants.

WHAT YOU CAN DO		NOTES FROM THE FIELD
Saving Mothers is gathering resources and supplies for its programs in Guatemala. Donate here and your contribution will go directly toward our medical and public health initiatives. Just $5 can cover the cost of a sanitary birthing kit that could save a life. Are you an OBGYN? We are looking for physicians interested in being a part of our team of volunteers. If you'd like to work with us, please contact Director of Medical Programs Taraneh Shirazian. If you are interested in making an in-kind donation or becoming a corporate sponsor for our activities in Guatemala, send a message to President Nichole Young-Lin.		Saving Mothers is active in the Lago Atitlan region of Guatemala, which was hit hard by Hurricane Agatha and subsequent mudslides. Last year, a team of high-risk obstetricians trained local health care providers to treat complex prenatal conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.

Saving Mothers Midwifery Program

The camadronas (traditional birth attendants) perform the majority of deliveries in the San Juan region of Lake Atitlan. These deliveries are performed in the home, and many of the attendants have little to no formal training. Saving Mothers has partnered with camadronas through our local community liaison to provide education and training in the form of birth kits and instructional seminars. Saving Mothers would like to offer U.S.-trained midwives the opportunity to take part in this unique birthing experience. Midwives enrolled in our program have the opportunity to live within the camadrona community, observe cultural Mayan birth practices, and exchange ideas, share practices and manage labor and delivery alongside birth attendants. Fluent Spanish is a must. Please direct any questions to Saving Mothers Medical Director Dr. Taraneh Shirazian at tshirazian@savingmothers.org.

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