Bentoe Tehoungue recalls her experience assisting a childbirth in rural Liberia

Although 20 years have passed since the first time Bentoe Tehoungue assisted a woman to give birth in rural Liberia, she remembers the experience like it was yesterday.

The pregnant woman was only 13 – an age when childbirth can be a death sentence for both the mother and baby.

“I kept thinking this child should have been in school, not giving birth to a baby,” recalls Bentoe, now a WHO midwife in Liberia.

Since the girl’s pelvis was narrow and underdeveloped, an episiotomy was needed to ensure the baby could be delivered safely. As a result, a healthy 6-pound baby boy arrived with no complications.

But, the mother and baby were lucky.

They had help from a trained midwife — a luxury that many women in rural Liberia may not have. Bentoe also provided the mother with post-natal care and education about delaying future pregnancies until she was physically and mentally ready.

 According to WHO on Investing in trained midwives across Liberia, Liberia is working towards training more midwives with such skills and most importantly retaining them.