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This Organization Is Supporting Women in Recovering from a Severe Postpartum Condition
by Jenna Carter
Updated: May 15, 2019
Originally Published: May 14, 2019
Trigger warning: child loss/stillbirth
At just 14 years old, Amina Kone from Sierra Leone found herself thrust into marriage, a decision made by her mother due to their dire financial situation. By the time she turned 15, Amina was pregnant—a fate that brought no prenatal care, a common reality for many in Africa. When labor began, her husband chose to forgo a hospital and instead sought the assistance of traditional birth attendants. After enduring three to four hours of excruciating labor, Amina tragically delivered a stillborn baby girl.
The aftermath left Amina feeling “completely paralyzed,” and she began experiencing involuntary urine leakage. Her community, attributing her condition to sorcery, shunned her, relegating her to a life marked by stigma and isolation. Unfortunately, Amina’s experience is not unique; she represents one of two million women and girls in Africa suffering from obstetric fistula, a debilitating childbirth injury.
Obstetric fistula occurs due to obstructed labor when emergency care is not accessible. Without timely medical intervention, tissue can die from inadequate blood flow, creating openings between the birth canal and bladder or rectum that result in incontinence. Alarmingly, this condition is preventable; the prevalence is largely due to inadequate healthcare and a shortage of trained midwives in developing nations.
“Women and girls are often in labor for days, and if they finally reach a hospital, they may find no doctor available for a C-section or lack the funds for the procedure,” explains Sarah Wallace, Director of Communications for Freedom From Fistula, a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating this condition. When timely medical care is absent, stillbirth becomes almost inevitable, and the mother may endure lifelong suffering without corrective surgery. Lacking access to hygiene products, these women often resort to using rags for managing their symptoms, which only exacerbates their misery.
“Their lives are truly unbearable,” Wallace emphasizes. “The smell is so severe that no one wants to approach, talk to, or even touch them.” Many of these women are considered cursed, leading them to live in isolation, often surviving on scraps while avoiding drinking due to the fear of worsening their odor from increased leakage.
When women arrive at the clinic, they frequently exhibit signs of withdrawal, feeling as though they have brought shame upon their families. Freedom From Fistula provides fresh clothing, incontinence supplies to manage symptoms, and emotional support to help them cope with their traumatic experiences. The first step in their recovery is reassuring these women that obstetric fistula is not their fault and that they are not alone.
“The emotional healing is just as crucial as the physical one,” Wallace adds. “For many, the first time they meet another woman suffering from fistula is at our clinic, marking the beginning of their transformation.”
The encouraging news is that obstetric fistula is treatable in 85% of cases. Through community outreach, advocacy partnerships, and patient ambassadors, Freedom From Fistula is able to provide surgical interventions and medical care to around 1,000 women annually. These individuals are not just statistics; they are real people deserving of care. In developed countries, obstetric fistula has been virtually eliminated, demonstrating that with adequate medical support, such childbirth injuries can be eradicated.
Women of all ages, from 12 to 90, have walked into Freedom From Fistula clinics feeling hopeless and ashamed but emerge “healed, empowered, and renewed.” Amina has benefitted from a no-cost fistula repair surgery provided by Freedom From Fistula, regaining her mobility and moving towards emotional recovery from her past trauma.
“What impresses me the most is the level of care and attention we receive at every moment,” Amina shares. “Being here feels like home.”
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Summary
This article highlights the work of Freedom From Fistula, an organization that helps women suffering from obstetric fistula—a postpartum condition often resulting from lack of medical care during childbirth. The story of Amina Kone illustrates the severe impact of this condition and the isolation faced by women like her. The nonprofit aims to provide surgical repairs and emotional support, emphasizing that healing is both physical and emotional. With 85% of cases treatable, the organization strives to eradicate obstetric fistula and restore dignity to affected women.