Why we do what we do

The following is a post from Perinatal Rescue Network Board Member, Janet.

I have had a tremendous learning and adventure-filled privilege to experience a few birthing communities in the USA from both the professional and client sides of service. I was born, raised in Uganda and have served in the health care field at the community level, working majorly with families, pregnant women and children. It is quite interesting observing and participating in two different countries that are on separate ends of the spectrum in the social and economic field.

There are significant differences between the midwifery model of care and the medical model of care for pregnant women and their families. For instance, the scope of learning for a midwife in the USA is different from Uganda’s, the array of knowledge and skills varies. I have appreciated both models of care, they compliment each other! I have learned so much about pregnancy, child care, health and overall well being through several midwives including my own who attended to me during my pregnancy in 2025. It is such a wonderful opportunity to exchange knowledge and empower different types of healthcare personnel who at any point, will be involved in the care of a pregnant woman and her child/children.

At my first training with Perinatal Rescue Network (PRN), we discussed and learned many things including pre-eclampsia and post-partum hemorrhage. In my later days of pregnancy, I developed those complications in less than 24 hours and I am so grateful for the timely referral from my midwife and the respectful informative care I received at the hospital. Each timely decision, availability of tools, services, transportation and human resource made a great difference in the outcome of my life and the baby’s. Most importantly the help of God through it all was paramount!

I have a huge passion for girls & women’s health along with their families. These experiences with PRN and the pregnancy care I received, deepened my passion to help women and families. I appreciate even more now why organizations like PRN exist! They empower other service providers to care for pregnant women and their babies in respectful ways using safe methods and tools while utilizing what is available and acceptable in their environments in any part of this world. This is more critical in under-resourced communities. While I had quick and robust interventions for my own obstetric emergencies, this is not a common thing in poorly resourced communities that I have had firsthand experience growing up in and working in as a health care provider.

When we share knowledge and skills with families, friends, healthcare providers, or anyone involved in the woman’s pregnancy and baby’s life, we save lives that we may never ever meet! Each life matters, each baby matters, and each family matters! This is why PRN exists, to build others up, and to learn and pass on knowledge across borders of communities, countries and generations!

Partner with us today in helping reduce maternal and newborn mortality rates around the globe. Your gift helps empower local professionals in low resource settings and equips them with skills to be able to handle basic birth emergencies.

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Author Bio: Janet has been working in health care since 2009. She has a passion for holistic health for girls, women, and families, community developement through skill and whole person development, and mentorship. Janet's upcoming goals are to continue her studies in Nursing and advance to a Nurse Practitioner working with families. She enjoys nature, flowers, and spending quality time with people. She currently lives in the Southern US with her husband and their young son.