Ukraine: Giving birth in times of war
In the maternity clinic in Pokrovsk, there is a two-wall rule: only rooms with two windowless walls are safe. The clinic in the Ukrainian-controlled part of Donbass is the last resort for many pregnant women.
Premature births: a difficult start to life
Before the war, about 9% of children in Ukraine were born prematurely, according to the WHO. Since the Russian invasion though, the rate has risen sharply to 16.5% at the Pokrovsk hospital. Premature babies are born before 37 weeks of gestation, instead of after at least 40 weeks.
The front line is only 40 kilometers away
The pressure on the pregnant women is enormous. Sandbags in the windows are supposed to protect against shell splinters but they would not safeguard against a direct attack like the one on the hospital in Mariupol in March.
Delivering under difficult conditions
"Sometimes we've had to deliver babies during shelling," Dr. Ivan Tsyganok tells Reuters news agency. "Labour is a process that cannot be stopped." The medical doctor sees a link between the stress women face and the increased number of premature births - as in many combat zones around the world.
Pregnancy in stress mode
"I had no chance to enjoy the pregnancy. As much as I would have liked to walk around and enjoy it, we tried to be at home all the time" says 26-year-old Marina Tupata, pictured here next to her six-day-old daughter Sofia.
Sleeping like a baby - despite shelling
Mothers are not as relaxed as this newborn, confirms Olesia Kushnarenko. For her doctoral thesis, the gynecologist examined women who lived near the fighting and were found to have high stress levels. In more than half of them, the fetus was insufficiently supplied with oxygen and nutrients - a reason for complications and premature births.
Everything will be fine?
Katya Buravtsova holds her son Illiusha in her arms. She gave birth to him at 28 weeks - another premature birth at the Pokrovsk maternity center. "Everything will be fine," the 35-year-old whispers to the tiny infant before putting him back in his crib.