How portable technology is saving mothers’ lives in Yemen

In Yemen, the first time many pregnant women see a doctor at a medical facility is when they are already in labor and they fear that something has gone wrong. In these critical moments, a scan from a portable ultrasound can tell the medical team if the mother or baby is facing imminent risk.  

Point of care ultrasounds (POCUS) are small devices used alongside a tablet computer at a patient’s bedside that let health workers make quick diagnoses. Moving ultrasound technology out of the radiology department and into the hands of frontline workers helps break down barriers to maternal care, especially in extremely low-resource settings. It allows for immediate triage and identification of complications for faster decision-making and care.

Here, Samah, a midwife activity manager with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Yemen, discusses how she and her team use POCUS to help their patients give birth safely.

Why is MSF focusing on maternal health in Yemen?

Samah: Maternal care is important in humanitarian settings because pregnant women are more vulnerable and face higher risks. MSF works in parts of Yemen where there are very few resources for pregnant women to get necessary prenatal care that can help keep them safe, support healthy births, and save lives.

One time a patient arrived in labor and she had no idea she was pregnant with triplets. This is an emergency; you need to have specialists and doctors on hand. She discovered this when we used the fetal doppler and found three heartbeats. Then, when we did the ultrasound, we found there were three babies, and she had to deliver by cesarean section because the first baby was breech [positioned buttocks or feet-first].

What surprises have you come across using the portable ultrasound in the maternity ward?

Samah: At the Al Qanawis Mother and Child Hospital, we had a case of a conjoined twins once!

We have many cases of a ruptured uterus after a difficult labor at home. Women giving birth at home are usually accompanied by traditional birth attendants. In many communities, they still prefer the privacy of giving birth at home. Many try to deliver at home — then the complications can start.

Another big problem is that there is no public transportation in many remote areas. The simplest option to go to the hospital costs a minimum of $50, which is very expensive for most people in the area.  

Why is the portable ultrasound essential?

Samah: The portable ultrasound is a very useful tool to gain time. There are complications and abnormalities that we can only discover when a patient turns up in the maternity department. A ruptured uterus is a life-threatening complication; if it is a big rupture, a patient could die within an hour without surgery, and the ultrasound can help differentiate the diagnosis within a minute.

What is your favorite part of working as a midwife?

Samah: Our job is not only to help deliver the baby. We as midwives help identify risks to avoid complications before they happen. When pregnant women come to MSF and are diagnosed with anemia, they are treated for it. If they have malnutrition, we provide supplemental therapeutic food and refer them to feeding centers.

Every birth is unique, and I don’t use the same approach every time. It’s like when you’re cooking: Sometimes you need a little salt, or some water, or something else, and you add what is necessary. You have to stay focused and flexible when responding to patients.