Mothers around the world: Damiana

The World Health Organization is following six women around the world to compare their experiences of pregnancy and childbirth. Here, Damiana Mamani from Bolivia describes her experience of having a baby.

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Damiana Mamani: Bolivia "It was an incredible experience " Samah Mohamed : Egypt "The birth was natural and easy" Hiwot: Ethiopia "Sometimes I wish I did not have her"

Renu Sharma: India "There were 25 women but just nine beds" Bounlid: Laos "My labour lasted 36 hours" Claire Roche: UK "I gave birth on Christmas Day"

Damiana Mamani, 29, gave birth her third child - a boy named Alberth Rafael on 10 December 2004.

She and her husband Abraham, who live in Cothuma, on the outskirts of La Paz in Bolivia, already have two daughters.

'My husband was with me before, during and after the birth'

Damiana was in labour for only five hours.

She told the World Health Organization: "We are both so happy to have a healthy son in the family.

"We have two daughters already and we wanted a baby boy to make our family complete.

"Abraham is thrilled at the idea of playing football with his new son."

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Seven months

Damiana was told at this stage of her pregnancy that she was expecting a baby boy.

She said: "I saw pictures of my baby for the first time when I had an ultrasound scan at the clinic. It was amazing and made me feel even more excited."

Just over two thirds of women in Bolivia attend at least one antenatal visit during their pregnancy.

The WHO recommends that pregnant women should have at least four antenatal check-ups during their pregnancy.

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Five months

The WHO first spoke to Damiana when she was five months pregnant.

She said then: "I consider myself lucky, because we have a health centre in our neighbourhood where I have been receiving antenatal care."

Damiana expects to rely a lot on her older children to help out when the new baby arrives.

Bolivia has one of the worst maternal death rates in Latin America. One in 47 women dies in pregnancy or childbirth.

Around 65% of births in Bolivia are assisted by a skilled assistant such as a midwife, doctor or nurse.

The WHO says all women should have access to such care.

Where the women live

Photos courtesy of the World Health Organization.