Samah's baby

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

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Damiana Mamani: Bolivia "My eldest daughter helps me" Samah Mohamed : Egypt "I returned to work after four weeks" Hiwot Abraham: Ethiopia "Her father's family will raise her"

Renu Sharma: India "I breastfeed around 10 times a day" Bounlid: Laos "I'll have to take her to work" Claire Roche: UK "We go for check-ups each week"

Samah Mohamed, 26, from Cairo, Egypt, says her third daughter, Basant, is "happy and healthy" at six weeks of age.

Basant's name means 'beautiful flower'

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 wakes up a lot at night'

"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.