HELPING BABIES BREATHE AND HELPING MOTHERS SURVIVE

This Hearts in Motion program provides educational courses in neonatal resuscitation techniques and management of postpartum hemorrhage to health care workers including firefighters, EMTs, nurses, and skilled birth attendants.

OVERVIEW

Helping Mothers Survive (HMS) and Helping Babies Survive (HBS) are learning modules that address critical care needs for women and newborns. By building the capacity of the health workforce to provide care before, during, and after birth, needless deaths can be prevented.

Targeting providers at all levels who attend births or who are called upon to manage complications, HMS and HBS equip frontline health workers to provide evidence-based, high-quality care and to promptly identify and manage life- threatening complications.

Understanding that care for women and babies must be integrated for the best possible outcomes, HMS and HBS both use hands-on, interactive approaches. Modules include team-based learning, skills practice, and simulation with immediate practice and feedback. Each module utilizes low- dose, high-frequency (LDHF) interactive learning followed by repeated, team-based practice at the worksite to strengthen and maintain skills. HBS students learn how to use an ambu bag and mask and a washable suction bulb to resuscitate babies.

The HMS Bleeding after Birth Complete (BABC) training package is designed for teams of providers who care for women at birth. These include skilled birth attendants such as midwives, nurses, and doctors, and those who assist them.

Nurses in Carpajá

PARTNERS

Helping Babies Survive (HBS) is an initiative of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Laerdal Global Health, and a number of other global health partners.
Helping Mothers Survive (HMS) is a Jhpiego (Johns Hopkins University Affiliate) program in collaboration with Laerdal Global Health and global stakeholders.

Helping Babies Breathe Action Plan Poster in the Labor & Delivery room at the Gualan Health Clinic

Bomberos working with a Mama Natalie birth simulator

APPROACH

• The use of highly pictorial learning materials and low-cost, purpose-built simulators makes the HBS and HMS suite of programs very accessible to audiences in resource-limited countries around the world. Programs include visual guidebooks, flipcharts and posters containing clear, specific instructions for healthcare providers to follow after the birth of a baby. Because no electricity or specialized technology is required, HBS can easily be taught anywhere learners can come together.

Trainers Jane, Peg, and Margaret working with nurses in Zacapa

HIM TEAM AND WORK

The team generally consists of about four to eight volunteers and at least one interpreter.
On most mission trips we arrive a day early to prepare the equipment, and then teach six day-long courses during the week.
We choose our worksites based on communication with Bert Echeverria, the Hearts in Motion Field Director in Guatemala, and by monitoring our complete database of classes, locations, and students in order to identify areas of need and students who are due for refresher training.
We work in the Guatemalan departments of Zacapa, Chiquimula, El Progreso, and Izabal.

Jan 2025 team Connie, Taitum, Ellina, Barbara, Colleen, Mary, Margaret, and Brenda at the Hearts in Motion house in Teculután.

June 2024 team member Dalit and student

PROJECT LEADERS

• Barbara Engers, RN, HBS & HMS Master Trainer

• Margaret Moore HBS & HMS Master Trainer

Barbara & Comadrona

Margaret & Comadrona

GUATEMALAN LEADERS

The HBS HMS team strives to identify and train regional leaders to teach the courses to their colleagues and students.
Post-COVID we have distributed 5 NeoNatalie training dolls along with the corresponding course materials and medical equipment to our Guatemalan partners.

Nurse Jovita supervises and trains nurses and skilled birth attendants in her service area in Chiquimula

Bombero Leaders

Nurse in Jocotán with a NeoNatalie ready to work with her colleagues in order to train their fellow nurses and the dozens of skilled birth attendants they supervise in remote mountain villagesy

HISTORY

Barbara Engers, RN brought the Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) program to HIM in Guatemala in October, 2012 after attending a multi-day master trainer course.
Margaret Moore joined the team as a layperson in July 2014. She became a master trainer through coursework in the US and through hands-on training with Barbara in Guatemala.
As of January, 2025, the HIM HBS HMS team has taught classes to 1,165 students, many of whom have taken the class two or more times. We have provided a total of 75 HBB classes and 10 HMS classes.

Comadrona in Jocotán

Nurses in San Agustín Acasaguastlán. While the subject matter is serious, moments of levity are commons

Barb and Comadrona Clementina. She returns for refresher training at every opportunity

HOW YOU CAN HELP

VOLUNTEER

Volunteers are welcome to join the team! While most team members work in the medical field, laypeople are also welcome to volunteer. Advance preparation is highly recommended in order to familiarize yourself with the coursework and learning methods.
If you have questions about this program, desire to donate, or want to get involved, feel free to contact Barbara Engers at 303-817-5236 (brengers813@gmail.com) or Margaret Moore at 801-232-4936 (moorem3309@gmail.com) Alternatively call Hearts In Motion directly at 219-924-2446 (email information@heartsinmotion.org)

Lunch break with master trainer Jane and comadronas in Carpajá

DONATE

When students demonstrate the ability to safely and successfully know when and how to use an ambu bag and suction device to resuscitate a baby, they are gifted with their own set of equipment. These cost approximately $44 each, a reduced price generously underwritten by Laerdal Global Health.
A NeoNatalie training doll retails for approximately $135, also purchased from Laerdal at a reduced price.