Expectant American Mothers Help Raise Funds for Mothers in Developing Nations

Every 90 seconds a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth. That’s 1,000 girls and women a day, more than half a million women every year.  Additionally, more than 1 million babies are stillborn each year because their mothers could not access the proper medical care.  And yet experts say more than 80 percent of these deaths could have easily been prevented

The fight to safeguard an unborn child’s life and ensure that their protection, health and rights are secure regardless of where they are born seems daunting.  However once and a while the efforts to help moms in developing countries is not only sweet and simple, but powerful and moving.  Recently ABC News put forward a challenge to moms-to-be in the United States to describe their hopes and dreams for their new baby, in five words or less, and to write them on their baby bumps.  The challenge was part of a contest sponsored by the Million Moms Challenge, in partnership with ABC News and the United Nations Foundation, which is working to engage a million Americans with millions of moms in developing countries around issues that impact pregnancy, child birth, and children’s health.  The Million Moms Challenge is part of ABC News’ year-long global health series, “Be the Change: Save a Life,” sponsored in part by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and focused on health conditions endured by those in poor developing countries.

Get involved in the conversation about healthy moms and babies around the world and follow @AMillionMoms on Twitter and use the hash-tag #AMillionMoms.  Johnson & Johnson has pledged to donate $1 for every “Like” on the Million Moms Challenge Facebook page, up to $100,000, which will go to several of the largest NGOs helping moms and babies around the world, so give it a click and help millions of moms today! Over 450 expectant mothers submitted photos to the Imagine Me & You contest, for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Sydney, Australia, where the winning mom and her newborn will be photographed by world-renowned photographer  Anne Geddes.  Good Morning America unveiled the twelve semi-finalists last week on the Million Moms Challenge Facebook contest page, and opened voting to America to choose the three finalists.  Photographer Anne Geddes herself will chose the grand prize winner from the three chosen  finalists.  This morning on Good Morning America the three finalists were announced: “Waiting to Meet My Hero” by Abby Loomis – “May You Stay Forever Young” by Allison Dearstyne – “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” by Kitty Martin.

To learn more about the need to increase access to healthcare and the challenges faced in developing nation’s please watch, “Making Life: A Risky Proposition”, an eye-opening hour report on challenges faced by mothers in developing countries, as well as low-cost, low-tech solutions that can help save millions of lives. The report airs on a Diane Sawyer “20/20” Special tonight, Friday, December 16 (10 p.m. – 11 p.m. ET) on the ABC Television Network.