International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization
|
VISION |
What is the Problem in Maternal and Infant Health?
Significant progress has been made in maternal and infant health over recent decades, yet major problems remain in both developed and developing countries. Women die each year from problems in pregnancy and childbirth, mostly in developing regions, and many more suffer from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. In 2023 the estimated maternal deaths were 260,000. Most maternal and infant deaths are preventable through a combination of strategies that includes skilled attendance during childbirth from caregivers trained in facilitating the normal physiology of birth and breastfeeding, and access to emergency obstetric care.
What Can We Do?
Promote and support high quality, evidence-based, safe, and respectful care for all. Provide optimal care, create partnerships between those who access and those who provide the services, ensure that good quality, culturally safe care will be achieved and will be sustainable according to local resources, while meeting the needs of the users and providers of maternity care.
A Solution was Created with the Development of the International MotherBaby Childbirth Initiative (IMBCI)
The IMBCI is both educational and instrumental in purpose.
Its educational purpose is to call global attention to the importance of the quality of the mother's birth experience and its impact on the outcome, whilst also drawing attention to the scientific evidence showing the benefits of MotherBaby-centered care based on the normal physiology of pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding and on attention to women's individual needs.
The instrumental purpose of the IMBCI is to raise worldwide awareness and encourage the practice of the MotherBaby model of care. A woman-centered, non-interventionist approach that promotes the health and well-being of all women and babies during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. Setting the gold standard for excellence and superior outcomes in maternity care.
The IMBCI acknowledges women’s rights
Women's rights are human rights and women have a right to informed decision-making and to receive care that is evidence-based for themselves and their babies. The IMBCI recognizes the effects of birth practices on maternal self-confidence and breastfeeding, and the importance of cultural safety and continuity of care. These basic principle have the ability to transform birth and breastfeeding practices around the world. Goals to improve the quality of care for mothers and babies of the world.
The instrumental purpose of the IMBCI is to raise worldwide awareness and encourage the practice of the MotherBaby model of care. A woman-centered, non-interventionist approach that promotes the health and well-being of all women and babies during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. Setting the gold standard for excellence and superior outcomes in maternity care.
The IMBCI acknowledges women’s rights
Women's rights are human rights and women have a right to informed decision-making and to receive care that is evidence-based for themselves and their babies. The IMBCI recognizes the effects of birth practices on maternal self-confidence and breastfeeding, and the importance of cultural safety and continuity of care. These basic principle have the ability to transform birth and breastfeeding practices around the world. Goals to improve the quality of care for mothers and babies of the world.
IMBCO and the International Childbirth Initiative (ICI)
IMBCO is one of the two founding organizations of the International Childbirth Initiative (ICI): 12 Steps to Safe and Respectful MotherBaby Maternity Care, launched in 2018 with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). IMBCO's focus with ICI is active participation in the implementation and the ongoing development and evaluation of the ICI 12 steps, and to advocate for and promote the global implementation of the ICI in birthing facilities and practices.
IMBCO promotes and supports the ICI Principles and 12 Steps to be adopted on a global scale, resulting in high quality, evidence-based, safe, and respectful care for all.
IMBCO promotes and supports the ICI Principles and 12 Steps to be adopted on a global scale, resulting in high quality, evidence-based, safe, and respectful care for all.
The International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization (IMBCO) is honored to be recognized as an awardee of Action for Women’s Health,
a global open call funded by Pivotal and managed by Lever for Change.
We’re proud to join a global cohort of changemakers advancing innovative, scalable, and equitable solutions for women’s health. From 4,000+ applications worldwide, only 80+ organizations were selected. Being among them is both humbling and energizing. It validates IMBCO’s long-standing commitment to implement the International Childbirth Initiative (ICI)'s 12 steps for Safe and Respectful Maternity Care, and the communities, clinicians, and advocates who have built this work with us.