At Burao Hospital, a routine antenatal visit helped ensure a mother received timely care for the birth of her sixth child

On what seemed like an ordinary day at Burao Hospital, 41-year-old Aisha, from Cuqubo in Burao, arrived for her scheduled antenatal care (ANC) appointment. She was experiencing only mild back pain and expected the visit to be a routine check-up during her sixth pregnancy.

Instead, the visit marked the beginning of her journey to welcoming her sixth child.

When Aisha arrived at the ANC section, the midwives welcomed her and asked about her health and any changes she had noticed. She mentioned that she had been experiencing some back pain, which she initially attributed to tiredness, physical strain and the normal discomforts of pregnancy.

“ came to the hospital because it was my ANC appointment. I was only experiencing some back pain, and I thought it was because I was tired and experiencing the usual discomforts of pregnancy. I did not expect that I was already close to delivering my baby,” Aisha recalled.

The midwives did not dismiss the symptom. Following a clinical examination, they recognized that Aisha was already showing signs that her baby was ready to be born. They consulted the doctor and continued to monitor her closely while preparing her for delivery.

Just three hours after arriving for what she thought would be a routine ANC visit, Aisha gave birth through a normal vaginal delivery to a healthy baby.

A midwife at Burao Hospital explained that Aisha’s experience demonstrates why regular ANC visits are important, even when a mother feels well or experiences only mild symptoms.

This is why regular ANC follow-up is so important. A mother may come to the hospital thinking that everything is normal, while a clinical assessment can reveal that she is already in the early stages of labour. In Aisha’s case, the examination helped us recognize that her baby was ready to be born and allowed us to provide the appropriate care without delay.”

Following the delivery, Aisha and her newborn remained under the care and observation of the healthcare team. Both were in good health, and after assessment by the attending doctor, Aisha was cleared for discharge.

For Aisha, an ordinary ANC appointment ended with an extraordinary moment: meeting her sixth child.

Her story is also a reminder that antenatal care is more than a routine check-up. Each visit provides an opportunity for skilled health workers to monitor the health of both mother and baby, identify changes that may not be immediately apparent, and ensure that timely care is available when it is needed.

Through its partnership with KOICA, UNFPA supports efforts to strengthen access to quality sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health services in Somalia, including strengthening health facilities and the capacity of healthcare workers to provide timely, quality care to women and newborns.

For Aisha, that support was part of a health system that was ready to respond when her routine visit unexpectedly became the start of a new journey.