Marthie's Midwifery DIARY

Marthie's Midwifery DIARY Amplifying the voice of Midwives & Showcasing the profession’s vast options for a meaningful career.

05/04/2026

My staff surprised me with an Award of Excellence in Leadership and Impact just when I thought the day was winding down at

I had just finished the honor of presenting awards to some truly incredible individuals when the hosts called me back on stage for what I assumed was a final announcement.

Instead, the team appeared and completely caught me off guard with this beautiful recognition. Mbah Larissa, Ngwashi Charlotte, and Diang Sumbwe, working with you over the years has been such a delight, and being honored by you in this way means everything.

This celebration was amazing in every way—stay tuned for the official post!

Thank you for capturing this moment & sharing with me bruv Nervis Nzometiah 😊

Five years ago, I sat in a room full of entrepreneurs and leaders when one of the speakers came up and began by saying 5...
02/04/2026

Five years ago, I sat in a room full of entrepreneurs and leaders when one of the speakers came up and began by saying 5 is a major milestone for any entrepreneur and he went on to ask: "Who here has been running their business or organization for five years or more?" I watched as only a few hands went up; while most stayed down—mine included, as I had only just begun my journey—what did I know then?

Today, as For Mom and Baby Foundation officially hits that five-year milestone, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude for the resilience it took to get here.

In a field where the first five years are often the most fragile, reaching this point feels like a great testament to our mission. We are still standing and leading impactfully because of an unwavering commitment to maternal & child health (reaching over 10,802+ women) and the incredible community that has supported our pulse and purpose every step of the way.

Shout out to 4 special people who have been and still are a part of this foundation from the very beginning Diang Sumbwe Yvette Bende Egbe Oneke Tubuo Cornelia Nicheng. Thank you all for believing in the vision even when it wasn’t clear enough yet.

Day finale at IMNHC 2026! ~ I started off my day by moderating a session on C-sections, and the huge turnout was clear e...
26/03/2026

Day finale at IMNHC 2026! ~ I started off my day by moderating a session on C-sections, and the huge turnout was clear evidence of just how pertinent this topic remains for maternal health.
Thank you Ishtiaq Mannan Medge Owen, Samuel Kiiru Ntirushwa David

Following the session, I had the incredible opportunity to visit The Action Foundation (TAF) and Nivishe Foundation.

Honestly, I have the utmost respect for Maria Omare’s work; seeing what she’s built from the ground up consistently over the past 16 years—including their beautiful new HQ and impactful therapy centers in Kibera—is very, very inspiring.

At Nivishe Foundation where Amisa Rashid is founder, I learned about their innovative field work and their brilliant mental health WhatsApp AI chatbot. I even walked away with a copy of their book, a great evidence to their commitment to community healing.

These visits were a masterclass in resilient, community-led leadership!

A big thank you to Everlyne Ngare & CPA Boniface Mundu for taking me around and showing me your work at TAF. Thank you to Miriam Ogwel of Nivishe Foundation.

Today was all about partnership, heritage, and health at the !It was every bit as super-charged and interactive as I’d ...
25/03/2026

Today was all about partnership, heritage, and health at the !

It was every bit as super-charged and interactive as I’d hoped and showing up in true Cameroonian style was a must for such a special day!

Gaia of WIRhE Foundation (Worldwide Initiative for Rh Disease Eradication) and I had a very successful share fair sharing on the impact of our partnership The 'For Mom and Baby' Foundation

I’m incredibly grateful for this work I’m privileged to do and the professional village I have in my corner. To keep the momentum going, my co-moderator David and I are ready for our session: "How do we make cesarean birth safer and smarter?" If you’re at IMNHC 2026, join us tomorrow at 9:00 AM in the Amethyst Tent to dive into this vital topic!

If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.That is my biggest takeaway for Day 2 at . In global health, if we aren'...
24/03/2026

If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.

That is my biggest takeaway for Day 2 at .
In global health, if we aren't actively advocating and participating in the high-level conversations, our priorities get decided for us—or worse, forgotten.

I attended a session focused on elevating stillbirths within the maternal and newborn health agenda.
It was eye-opening. We have to do better for parents. For example; A mother who has just delivered a stillborn baby should never be placed in the same room as a mother with a healthy newborn; she needs the space and dignity to process her grief.

Also, had a great meetup with the speakers for the session I’ll be moderating this Thursday! I can’t wait for us to do justice to our topic: "How do we make caesarean births safer and smarter?" Ishtiaq Mannan Medge Owen Samuel Kiiru.

If you’re here at the conference, please come by the WIRhE Foundation (Worldwide Initiative for Rh Disease Eradication) Share Fair tomorrow 2:30pm!
I’ll be sharing more about our work at The 'For Mom and Baby' Foundation and how we are working closely with WIRhE to end Rhesus disease—because it is entirely preventable.

My day wrapped up with a lovely intimate dinner for Embrace partners. Thank you, Melody Westen and Lauren Gilliss, for such a wonderful time! 🥂

It was amazing connecting with Ulrika Rehnström Loi and so many others.

Oh & I won a tote bag at a stand after playing an educative game😄

Onward to Day 3!✨

Over 1,800 delegates from 50+ countries have arrived in Nairobi for the International Maternal and Newborn Health Confer...
23/03/2026

Over 1,800 delegates from 50+ countries have arrived in Nairobi for the International Maternal and Newborn Health Conference 🇰🇪

I kicked things off by attending an intense 6-hour Midwifery Accelerator symposium—a session dedicated entirely to the life-saving, vital work of midwives, organized by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), World Health Organization, Jhpiego, and International Confederation of Midwives (ICM).

The message from the symposium was crystal clear; Investing in midwives is honestly the only real pathway to safer childbirth and offers a massive return on investment.

The opening plenary was energizing and motivational, showing that as a global community, the focus is exactly where it needs to be ~ on moms, babies, and the midwives who protect them.

I was delighted to reconnect with ICM CEO -Anna af Ugglas, ICM Chief Midwife -Prof Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, Hilma Inoukapo Shikwambi & to connect with FIGO President, Frank Louwen, and so many others.

It is going to be a powerful week & I look forward to connecting in person with more of you attending.

My first safari experience and it’s right here in Nairobi🇰🇪! 🐾There is nothing like a game drive to teach you that the b...
22/03/2026

My first safari experience and it’s right here in Nairobi🇰🇪! 🐾

There is nothing like a game drive to teach you that the best things in life require patience and a sharp eye. I finally get why they call it that.

Having Gaia as the best safari partner ever made every sighting even better. 😍

I’m Feeling centered and ready to get to work at the IMNHC this week! 🇰🇪✨

Honored to be Speaking at representing The 'For Mom and Baby' Foundation 🌍🇰🇪. I’ll be joining global leaders in this c...
19/03/2026

Honored to be Speaking at representing The 'For Mom and Baby' Foundation 🌍🇰🇪.

I’ll be joining global leaders in this critical space as we work together to accelerate progress in maternal and newborn health—one of the most urgent missions of our time.

On March 26th, I have the distinct honor of moderating a critical session titled "How do we make cesarean birth safer and smarter?".
With global C-section rates having risen to 21%—and projected to reach nearly 30% by 2030, addressing the dual challenge of lack of access in some regions and over-medicalization in others is vital for saving lives. I look forward to an insightful discussion with our esteemed speakers, Ishtiaq Mannan, Medge Owen, and Samuel Kiiru.

Beyond the stage, I’ll also be wearing my partner and African Board Member hat to co-host a stand during the Share Fair on March 25th alongside our partners at the WIRhE Foundation (Worldwide Initiative for Rh Disease Eradication), represented by Executive Director Gaia Mori.
If you are attending, please stop by to say hello and learn more about our collaborative efforts to eliminate Rh disease and improve health outcomes for mothers and babies across the continent!

AlignMNH

Half a decade. 5 years. That’s how long I’ve been building The 'For Mom and Baby' FoundationIt all started when I decide...
10/03/2026

Half a decade. 5 years. That’s how long I’ve been building The 'For Mom and Baby' Foundation

It all started when I decided to challenge the status quo.
Taking midwifery care directly to communities instead of just waiting for women to visit health facilities- Most times when the case is already complicated.

Today, the story has changed.

We have proactively saved the lives of hundreds & thousands of mothers and babies.

This work has taken me to more than 13 countries. It’s given my staffs many firsts.. first flights, first recognitions. So many..

Beyond healthcare, we are creating impact by employing young professionals and providing a space for volunteers to gain experience and job preparedness.

On a personal level, I have seen myself metamorphose into a more self-aware and selfless person. I have learned the power of partnerships and had the privilege of networking with amazing people across the globe.

All of this began with saying yes. I said yes to not conforming to the standards I saw during my early practice. I am glad I acted fast on an idea that has now materialized into a movement spreading across the nation and soon, Africa and the world.

What gives me the most joy is that our model is proven. It works.

We will be celebrating from April 2nd to 4th through our key focus areas ~ In Communities, by upskilling health providers and then, a main event with all stakeholders.

I invite you all to join us in our celebrations, support our mission, or become a partner. Send a message & be sure to impact lives.

To everyone who believed in this work from the very start: congratulations to us all on 5 years of pulse, purpose, and progress.

This is what my day looked like. Hands-on, high-energy and on the move. This raw snapshot captures the beautiful chaos o...
06/03/2026

This is what my day looked like.
Hands-on, high-energy and on the move.

This raw snapshot captures the beautiful chaos of taking midwifery-led care & education directly to rural and conflict-affected communities through The 'For Mom and Baby' Foundation.

It takes a total powerhouse of talent to pull off a community intervention like this. It’s an all-departments-on-deck effort to coordinate the magic you see in this photo.

We reached over 50 moms today (many who came along with their babies), but for us, it’s not about the headcount; it’s about the quality of care & health knowledge they carry back to their neighborhoods- which could be very much life saving.

We are so grateful for our Community Health Workers, who are the bridge that allows us to reach the mothers and babies who need our services the most. Shoutout to my entire team & Akem Nkwain who joined us on the field today.

I’m so grateful for this work—its very humbling, yet incredibly rewarding to see that we are able to influence real change!

📸Ngwashi Charlotte

The biggest myth in the nonprofit space is that treating your mission like a business somehow cheapens the heart behind ...
03/03/2026

The biggest myth in the nonprofit space is that treating your mission like a business somehow cheapens the heart behind it.

That’s so so wrong!!
In reality, passion without a sustainable model is just a hobby, and hobbies don't change the world.

To scale our impact at The 'For Mom and Baby' Foundation, we had to demystify the nonprofit stigma and embrace the high-stakes grind of keeping a complex system alive.

Whether it's supporting a new mom, training Midwives, Community Health Workers and ensuring a baby has a healthy start, that care requires a whole system running behind the scenes - from legal compliance and accounting to donor management and operational workflows.

I understood early and very quickly that we aren't just ‘doing good’; but we are actively managing a living organization that requires minimum 4+ hours a day of relentless fundraising, marketing, and navigating even rejections from grantors.

Impact is the goal, but a professional business structure is the vehicle; if you aren’t running it with that level of discipline, you simply won't have the resources to show up at your best for the long haul.

So, dear nonprofit founder/leader, I see you. Keep that engine fueled. The families waiting on the other side of your systems need you to stay the course. 🚀

I once attended a virtual meeting where someone walked past in a towel behind one of the attendees. Another person proba...
27/02/2026

I once attended a virtual meeting where someone walked past in a towel behind one of the attendees.
Another person probably forgot their camera was on and popped a whole boiled egg into their mouth mid-discussion!😅

We live in a digital world where statistics show that over 70% of professional meetings now happen virtually, making these ‘boxes on a screen’ our primary workspace.

I recently attended an insightful communication webinar by Alliance For Women And Girls and felt inspired to share some etiquette for the digital views we navigate almost every day.

~ Unless it’s a massive town hall, keeping your camera on really does foster connection. Just remember to notify those around you that you’re in a meeting, so a loved one doesn't accidentally stroll by in a towel!

~ A quick thumbs up or a great point in the chat goes a long way in validating others. It honestly doesn’t cost a thing to do that.

~ Focus!! Close those 20 other tabs to avoid getting pings from WhatsApp, an email etc. If you’re there, be all there.

~ Tech fails and barking dogs happen. A little patience makes the whole team feel more comfortable.

Nothing beats physical meetings. There is an energy in the room that technology can’t quite replicate.
But when we have to meet virtually, we must do our best to humanize them.

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