A new project from the charity WaterAid has revealed what women from around the globe pack in their maternity bags. From a razor blade to cut the umbilical cord to plastic sheets for the hospital bed, these photos show the startling contrast of birthing essentials around the world.
Ellen, Malawi
Her bag includes: a torch, a black plastic sheet, to put on the delivery bed, a razor blade to cut the umbilical cord, string to tie the umbilical cord, a 200 Malawian kwacha note for food, three large sarongs for her to wear during her stay (which could be as long as four weeks), and to wrap the baby in.
Ellen gave birth in Simulemba Health Centre, which delivers more than 90 babies a month but has no clean running water, no sterilisation equipment, no electricity, four toilets for 400 people, and a crumbling shower block with no doors or roof.