Mothers around the world: Bounlid

The World Health Organization is following six women around the world to compare their experiences of pregnancy and childbirth. Here, Bounlid from Laos 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"

Bounlid is 27. She lives in the Vientiane province in Laos.

'We have another mouth to feed'

She gave birth to a healthy baby girl on January 23, but has not yet named her daughter, who is her fifth child.

Bounlid told the WHO: "My labour lasted around 36 hours. It was incredibly painful and I'm exhausted.

"I gave birth at home, with no medical assistance. I am so relieved my husband Nga was with me.

"Nga cut the umbilical cord with a splinter of bamboo - it has a razor-sharp edge and is naturally very clean. This is a traditional practice where we live."

Her husband washed the floor as soon as Bounlid had given birth, and the house was back to normal within 10 minutes.

Bounlid added: "All that's changed is that we have another mouth to feed."

"I feel worn out. I will have to return to work in the fields again soon.

"We have to start earning money again as I have a family to feed. We only had rice and bananas for dinner today."

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Seven months

Bounlid told the WHO she was unsure about when her baby will be born, but she had a feeling it was a girl.

Bounlid makes a living making bamboo baskets. They are sold for 1,000 Lao kip each (10 US cents).

She continued to work during her pregnancy.

When she was seven months pregnant, Bounlid said: "It's extremely heavy work - bending, stretching and carrying - and I can only manage a little at a time before I have to take a break."

Bounlid plans to give birth to the baby at home. Her family cannot afford to have a skilled attendant present.

Just 19.4% of births in Laos are assisted by a skilled attendant, such as a midwife, doctor or nurse.

And only 29% of pregnant women have at least one antenatal check up during their pregnancy.

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Five months

Bounlid and her husband Nga have three healthy children, but sadly their second daughter died when she was just six weeks old.

'I worry about emergencies'

She told the WHO: "I've had no antenatal care and I don't expect to have any for the rest of my pregnancy."

Bounlid plans to give birth at home, as she has with her other four children.

She added: "It is too expensive for most people to give birth with a skilled assistant at the clinic which, in any case, has very basic facilities and no telephone or ambulance if there were complications."

Bounlid said she does worry about emergencies.

Lao People's Democratic Republic has one of the highest rates of maternal death in the world.

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Where the women live

Photos courtesy of the World Health Organization.