Samah's baby

The World Health Organization is following six women around the world to compare their experiences of pregnancy and motherhood. Here, Samah Mohamed from Egypt describes life with her six-month old baby.

Damiana Mamani: Bolivia 'His father's teaching Alberth football!' Samah Mohamed : Egypt 'She loves rice pudding' Hiwot Abraham: Ethiopia 'Elizabeth is happy and active'

Renu Sharma: India 'Monica is crawling at high speed!' Bounlid: Laos 'We can't afford clinic visits' Claire Roche: UK 'She's eating solid foods'

Samah Mohamed, 26, from Cairo, Egypt, says her third daughter, Basant, is a healthy and happy little girl.

'Her teeth are starting to come through'

She told the WHO: "She weighs 7kg and is 63cm tall. Her teeth are starting to come through.

"I have just stopped breastfeeding. Basant is now eating lots of vegetables and fruit, juices, cereals, eggs and yoghurt. She especially loves rice pudding."

Samah added: "I have a booklet where I keep track of Basant's weight, height, health problems and immunisations. It was given to us by our local clinic.

"She has been fully immunised against polio, diphtheria, whopping cough, tetanus and tuberculosis."

In Egypt, 11% of between six and 11 months are underweight. The WHO says six-month-old girls should usually weigh between 5.8 and 9.2 kg, and boys between 6.4 and 9.7 kg.

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At six weeks

She said: "I returned to work at the National Hospital Institute four weeks after Basant was born.

"My mother, sister and mother-in-law take turns looking after Basant while I'm at the office.

"This is easy to arrange as we all live in the same building."

In Egypt, one in 26 children die before the age of five.

The majority of deaths are due to preventable and treatable conditions such as pneumonia, malaria and measles.

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Seven days

Samah and her husband named Basant after the word for 'beautiful flower' in classical Arabic.

Samah told the WHO: "At one week, Basant is in very good health.

"She lost some weight the first few days after she was born, but she is now back up to her birth weight.

"She seems healthy and happy - her hair has grown slightly and her eyes are wide open now."

Samah added: "We had an appointment at the clinic this week and Basant received some vaccinations - but I'm not exactly sure what she was vaccinated against."

The WHO says that in Egypt, 16 out of every 1,000 babies die in their first week of life from preventable diseases.

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Childbirth

Samah told the WHO she was in labour for only two hours.

She told the WHO: "Pregnancy and birth are natural events for a woman.

Basant's name means 'beautiful flower'

"I already knew what to expect from previous births. I feel fine, very happy.

"The birth went well - it was natural and easy. One doctor and two midwives were with me throughout.

"The care I received was excellent."

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Seven months

When Samah was seven months pregnant she told the WHO: "I went to the clinic today and they told me that I'm expecting a baby girl. I'm so happy!" Samah told the WHO.

"That means there will be four girls in the family - me and my three girls."

This is the first time that Samah has worked while pregnant and she is finding it quite tough, but her family is helping out with child-care and the preparation of meals.

The clinic have told Samah to drink lots of fluids, eat more than three times a day, and to add more fruit and milk to her diet.

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Five months

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

"During my first two pregnancies, I had no antenatal care," Samah said.

"This time, however, I've had regular antenatal check-ups at a clinic in Old Cairo."

The WHO say just over half of pregnant women in Egypt attend at least one antenatal check up during their pregnancy.

Samah went back to work after her second daughter was born. She says she enjoys the small amount of financial independence it gives her.

In Egypt, one on 310 women dies in pregnancy and childbirth. Less than two thirds of women have a skilled attendant, such as a midwife, doctor or nurse, with them when they give birth.

The WHO recommends that all women should have access to skilled professional care to ensure the baby is delivered safely.

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Where the women live

Photos courtesy of the World Health Organization.