Project Society for Promotion of Rural Education and Development (SPREAD)

Jayanti, a 22-year-old pregnant woman, was in the third trimester of her pregnancy. CRY America’s project team learned from the Mother’s Group that she had not accessed Antenatal Care (ANC) services because she didn’t register herself at the health care center. Concerned about her well-being, they immediately intervened and conducted a home visit.

During the visit, the project team, along with ASHA workers, encouraged Jayanti to register with the Anganwadi Center (AWC) for her first ANC appointment. However, she hesitated, expressing a sense of shame as this was her fourth pregnancy. After much persuasion, Jayanti finally agreed to register. Upon reviewing her health status, she was diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy due to being underweight and having a low hemoglobin level of 9.2 g/dL.

As her pregnancy progressed, her low hemoglobin levels caused frequent episodes of unconsciousness during her seventh month. Recognizing the urgency, the ASHA workers referred her to the Community Health Center (CHC) for immediate treatment, which required a blood transfusion within 24 hours. The project team supported her throughout the transfer process, and after receiving proper medical care for seven days, she was out of danger.

Two months later, her family hesitated again to admit her to a maternity home for institutional delivery, the project team counseled and convinced them of its importance. A week after her admission, Jayanti safely gave birth to a healthy baby boy weighing 2.4 kg. With the continued support and guidance of the project team and frontline workers, both mother and baby are now leading a healthy life.