Pregnancy is often a time of joy and expectation. However, in Uganda pregnancy can be a life-threatening condition and not all mothers and babies survive. In 2008 Bwindi Community Hospital (BCH) opened a waiting mothers' hostel to reduce some of the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth, and to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in the area.

BCH is in a remote rural corner of southwest Uganda. Lots of patients live far from the hospital and public transport is very limited. Imagine walking for hours or travelling on the back of a motorbike taxi when you're heavily pregnant or in labour! Pregnant women can stay at the waiting mothers' hostel from 8 months of pregnancy (or earlier if they have complications), so that they are able to access to midwifery and emergency obstetric care if needed.

£10 will pay the salary of a midwife at the hospital for a day. All money raised will fund midwife's salaries at the hospital.

Here are the stories of three women who are staying in the hostel at the moment:

Brendah lives in Kajugangoma Kirima - thats three and a half hours away by boda boda (motorcycle) from BCH. She's pregnant with her second child and she's come to the hostel to make sure she has the care that she and her baby need. She has a 3-year-old little girl at home who was born in another facility closer to home. However, Brendah says the care at BCH is excellent; she gets regular prenatal care and enjoys the health education sessions. When she goes into labour, the maternity team will be here to look after her and provide her with any medical care that she may need. Brendah always wanted to be a nurse herself, but her parents couldn't afford her school fees; now she hopes her baby will be a healthcare worker.

Christine is 31 years old, and she is pregnant with her 4th child. She's from central Uganda and she, her husband and her 8, 5 and 4-year-olds relocated to Bwindi recently. She runs a small shop in her community and her husband sells goods at mobile markets. She is past her due date and is staying at the hostel for monitoring; she may require medical intervention to ensure a safe delivery. She feels safe in the hostel. She hopes her baby will be a healthcare worker who can help people within their community.

Olive is pregnant with her 6th child. She gave birth to her first 4 children at home, but she came to BCH for the delivery of her 5th child. It was a positive experience, and she has returned with the hope that the hospital can help with the safe delivery of her baby boy. Olive and her family earn their living through farming. Their farm is many hours walk from the hospital and if she had any problems during delivery, it would be difficult to access healthcare. Staying at the hostel means Olive and her baby can be supported by a skilled team of midwives, doctors, and nurses. Olive hopes she can send her son to school and support him in whatever he chooses to do in his life.

This Christmas, Brendah, Oliva and Christine have come to Bwindi Community Hospital to deliver their babies. Last year more than 1,000 babies were born in the hospital and over 450 mothers stayed at the Waiting Mother's Hostel. Most of these mothers benefited from the skilling mothers project which equips women with skills that can benefit their families and communities when they return home after delivery. BCH is here for women, their babies and their families when they need routine and emergency obstetric care. 98.7% of babies delivered at BCH are discharged home to their families, a significant increase in recent years. Through a donation, you can help to ensure that BCH can continue to deliver vital health and social care to women like Brendah, Oliva and Christine for years to come.

(All stories and photos are shared with consent)