From Fear to Confidence: A Mother’s Journey of Transformation

7 March 2026

As we approach International Women’s Day on 8 March, we have spent the week celebrating the inspiring journeys of women who are transforming their communities. Across Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi, the Mother and Baby Programme is equipping women with essential knowledge and support to improve maternal and child health, empowering them to build healthier futures for themselves and their families.

Through the Mother and Baby Programme, women are encouraged to attend early and regular antenatal care (ANC), deliver in skilled health facilities, ensure timely immunisation, practise good nutrition, and embrace exclusive breastfeeding. The programme also promotes informed decision-making and active community engagement. By strengthening health education and support networks, women are gaining the confidence and knowledge to take charge of their health and create brighter futures for themselves and their children.

 

One of the women impacted by the programme is Grace, a 30-year-old mother of seven from Uganda.

“I am a 30-year-old mother with 7 children. I am a housewife and have been married for the last 17 years. My husband is a motorcycle rider as well as a farmer,” she shares.

Grace’s earlier experiences with pregnancy and childbirth were marked by uncertainty. She delivered her first children with traditional birth attendants (TBAs), and each birth was filled with anxiety.

“After the first pregnancy, with the complications I used to get, I used to go to the TBA with worries, not sure if I would really make it or if I would be rushed to the hospital in critical condition,” she recalls.

Grace experienced heavy bleeding during some pregnancies, which put her life at risk. She also faced health challenges linked to limited awareness about immunisation during her own childhood. When her first child later contracted polio, the illness caused lasting mobility challenges, leaving her child unable to walk properly.

“In addition, having had my first child contract polio and develop a physical disability, I thought that this was normal,” she says.

Everything began to change when Grace was introduced to the Mother and Baby Programme. She and her husband were encouraged to attend antenatal care early and to seek delivery at health facilities under skilled supervision. She learned about the importance of immunisation, nutrition, and exclusive breastfeeding.

Kabizzi Health Centre 111

“The Mother and Baby Programme gave me confidence to make my own health decisions, breaking free from the limitations of my past. What I came to learn from the Mother and Baby Programme are important things I never imagined or thought of in my life,” Grace says.

“I used to think that some women like me were born to suffer the way I used to suffer during pregnancy. I felt like one day I may die in the hands of a TBA and leave my children while young,” she adds.

Today, Grace attends ANC regularly and delivers at health facilities, reducing the risk of complications. Her younger children are fully immunised and healthier compared to her firstborn.

“God was on my side, that now I also have knowledge and support. I no longer fear childbirth like before and I am now free to use any family planning method which wasn’t the case before,” she shares.

 

Grace’s story reflects the powerful impact of the Mother and Baby Programme, turning fear into confidence, and vulnerability into strength. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate women like Grace, who through knowledge and support are transforming not only their own lives but the future of their children.

Grace’s story also shows why we conducted research on early antenatal care. In Malawi, Zambia, and Uganda, many women miss the first 12 weeks of care due to lack of information, distance, cost, or social pressures — just like Grace did. Our study explored these barriers and how programmes like the Mother and Baby Programme can help. Read the full report here.

Throughout this week, we invite you to follow our series as we continue sharing more stories of inspiration and empowerment, highlighting the impact of the Mother and Baby Programme.

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