Sahar's Journey with Maternity Mates
Sahar's Journey with Maternity Mates
In response to the Black Maternity Scandal, parents with traumatic and difficult experiences formed the Black Maternal Voices (BMV) group at Parent Action. The group is a safe space to talk, support each other, and take action.
Very early on, and despite their own challenges, BMV members expressed a desire to be trained to support others at the highest risk of death and trauma, aiming to improve outcomes. This led to a pilot program in partnership with Sister Circle to bring the Maternity Mates programme to Southwark.
Becoming a Maternity Mate is about supporting other women in the community so that no one has to face pregnancy and birth alone. A Maternity Mate provides one-to-one pregnancy, birth, and post-natal support.
The programme also offers a great opportunity for Maternity Mates to develop skills through an in-depth training programme that equips them to support pregnant women living in challenging situations.
Case Study: Sahar's Story
This case study comes from Sahar, the first Parent Action Maternity Mate to support a parent through pregnancy, birth, and post-partum:
"As a mother of two, I am well aware of the challenges associated with pregnancy and childbirth. I had physical and mental distress myself and wanted further support. Upon discovering the Maternity Mate training programme, I believed I might assist other mums facing the same circumstances."
Supporting a Pregnant Mother
"I was paired with a pregnant lady who couldn't speak English but shared the same language as me. After meeting her at home, I guided her around the hospital. Together, we completed the birth plan, detailing her birthing preferences and her expectations of me.
In the following weeks, we visited a baby bank and a food bank, as well as her appointments together. She experienced some hospital officials dismissing her worries and needed my support, so I visited the hospital several times.
Following her epidural, she fainted from discomfort and blood loss. All along, I was watching the baby. I was with her when the midwife advised on the right formula and about feeding the baby. On her next visit, I supported her breastfeeding in several positions."
Continuing Support
"In our final meeting, I referred her to the Parent Action Baby group for future help. She thanked me and said she wanted to learn English to support pregnant ladies like I did for her."
Reflections on the Maternity Mate Experience
"Maternity Mates enabled me to provide the assistance I wanted. I felt obligated to give vulnerable women solace with compassion, kindness, and patience. By volunteering, I can ensure that no lady experiences isolation during pregnancy, childbirth, or the postpartum period."
It is gratifying to comfort and reassure women with concerns about childbirth. The assurance and support I offer them on this transformative journey is my source of pride.
Excerpt:
The Black Maternal Voices group at Parent Action was formed to provide a safe space for parents with traumatic maternity experiences to support each other and take action. Partnering with Sister Circle, they introduced the Maternity Mates programme in Southwark, training volunteers to offer one-to-one support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, ensuring no woman faces these challenges alone.
Sahar, a Maternity Mate, shared her experience of supporting a vulnerable mother through language barriers, medical challenges, and emotional needs. She emphasized the importance of compassion and patience, expressing pride in helping women feel reassured and supported during their transformative journey into motherhood.
Parent Action are running the Maternity Mates pilot in Southwark in partnership with Sister Circle and Kings Maternity Services. To find out more about Sister Circle's Maternity Mate's project please click here: Sister Circle