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Blood Mat + Misoprostol + Clean Birth Kits = Saved Lives

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is responsible for around 25% of maternal mortality worldwide (WHO, 2007).   Clean Birth Kit can/should include a blood mat and Misoprostol. Here’s more from Maternova’s site:

CCDRB with Pathfinder and others conducted a large operations research study to determine the efficacy and acceptability of the blood mat and misoprostol as additions to ‘clean delivery kits.’ They found that women were able to use the mat to identify postpartum hemorrhage and administer the misoprostol to themselves. 96% of the women interviewed after the study had used the Quaiyum blood mat to identify postpartum hemorrhage and would use it again.

Maternova Obstetric Kit

Maternova’s website: http://maternova.net/ is a great source for innovative products aimed at saving  maternal and newborn lives.

Maternova doesn’t only showcase other innovative products but have developed their own.  I love the Maternova Obstetric Kit — it’s a great add on to midwive bags.

The pak is focused on preventing postpartum hemorrhage. It contains a simple set of simple tools to stuff in a suitcase or backpack. The tools in this pak are meant to be used in addition to a standard midwifery kit. The kit includes the following

:

• power: a win
ds on the Active Management of the Third Stage of Labodable mobile phone charger to call for help or referral
• light: a solar powered headlamp with adjustable visor to see births
• a calibrated drape to measure blood loss (this can be sterilized with bleach but is not
autoclavable)
• WHO Colour Scale to detect anemia (comes with 200 test strips)
• Reminder Car
r

CBKs May Improve Neonatal Outcomes following Home Births

Research showing that for women with limited access to healthcare clean birth kits improve neonatal outcomes. Nadine Seward and Audrey Prost from the University College London analyzed data from three pre-exisiting studies to:

investigate the links between neonatal mortality, the use of clean delivery kits, and individual clean delivery practices in almost 20 000 home births in rural areas of India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The researchers found that use of the birth kits was linked to a dramatic drop (48%) in neonatal mortality with a further drop (16%) in neonatal mortality with each additional clean delivery practice used.

Read more: Clean Delivery Kits Linked to Reduction in Neonatal Mortality | MedIndia http://www.medindia.net/news/clean-delivery-kits-linked-to-reduction-in-neonatal-mortality-98142-1.htm#ixzz1oiqGHhe9

According to http://www.medpagetoday.com/OBGYN/Pregnancy/31457 reporting on the analysis:

Further research should explore the context of kit use in order to develop and test locally appropriate promotion strategies, as well as examine the potential of kits to improve neonatal survival in the context of increasing institutional delivery rates,” they wrote.

>>>

But, the authors noted, “while the kit can be considered a low-cost intervention, there have been no studies on willingness to pay for kits, and these costs may still be prohibitive for the poorest women.

CBK Info: Assemble and Donate Clean Birth Kits

Hurrah!  At last! I found this list from UMCOR with very specific instructions for putting together for assembling and donating a Clean Birth Kit.  Thanks UMCOR!

Birthing Kit Assembly & Shipping Instructions

Birthing kits provide the essential items to promote a safe, clean delivery and to encourage good aftercare.

 PDF icon- S Birthing Kit PDF (1pp, 33K)

Birthing Kit Items
Value: $8 per kit

  • 1 small bar soap 1 oz. to 2 oz. size
    do not remove from original packaging
    small bars such as those found in hotels are acceptable
  • 1 pair latex, surgical or thin rubber gloves 
    Gloves are not required to be sterile
  • 1 square yard of clear plastic sheeting 
    must be 4 mil thick
    plastic trash bags and shower curtains are not acceptable
  • 3 ‐ 12 inch long pieces of cotton string 
    must be clean
    secure the pieces of string by bundling and tying them together
    no yarn please
  • 1 single edge razor blade
    must be covered in paper or cardboard to keep it from causing injury
    regular shaving razors are not acceptable
  • 2 receiving blankets 30”x 30” or 32”x 32” size
    no thermal or fleece blankets please
  • 1 plastic bag one gallon size sealable bags only

Assembly Directions

Fold the plastic sheeting and blankets so they will fit easily into the plastic bag. Lay the loose items on top of the blankets and plastic sheeting. Slide all items into the plastic bag. Squeeze as much air out of the bag and then seal it.

Important Notes

‐ All items must be new.
‐ Do not wash any of the items as they will be considered used.
‐ All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the requested items – nothing more.
‐ DO NOT include any personal notes, money or additional material in the kits. These things must be painstakingly removed and will delay the shipment.

Packing Kits

  • Box Weight. Each packed box cannot exceed 66 pounds.

Shipping Kits

  1. Complete 2 packing lists-one for your records and one to put on the shipping box.
  2. Paste the shipping label / packing list on the outside of each box you send. The shipping list helps the depot to quickly process kits.
  3. Processing & Shipping Costs: Please enclose an envelope containing at least $1

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