“I felt alone and sad. I wanted to cry, but I didn’t want to talk to anyone. Then, before I realized it, I was already crying, feeling like no one was there for me,” shared Heidy Hernández, a 37-year-old mother who gave birth to her fourth child seven months ago.

Heidy has been a volunteer mother since 2020, motivated by her interest in learning the topics covered in the Parenting With Love Program, which supports pregnant women and mothers of children under 6 years of age.

In March of this year, labor pains began for her at 5 a.m. She immediately went to the hospital, arriving with 4 cm of dilation. Although she had prenatal check-ups, after almost 12 hours in the hospital, her dilation had only progressed by one centimeter. Due to the baby’s position, doctors decided she needed a C- section.

“I felt a deep sadness because all my other children were born by natural childbirth, except him. I could not have skin-to-skin contact [right after birth], and I wasn’t able to give him colostrum*, which I know is very important. I feared he would get sick. I didn’t want to feel this way but I couldn’t help it. I’m really grateful for the materials that helped me recognize what was happening to me, and to the AMOS program staff who supported me.”

Now, Heidy is happy with her 7-month-old baby and her older children, ages 4, 7, and 19, who often accompany her to community care groups, where she listens to other mothers’ stories and helps create a safe space for them to learn together.

*Colostrum is the first form of breast milk produced by mothers in the days following childbirth.

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