I am pleased to report that the answer to these questions is No. A very firm No.

The 2 million mothers and children who die during birth do so far removed from any professional care- both antenatal and during labour. 58% of these women deliver with no skilled attendant at all. No GP, no midwife- sometimes without even a traditional doula. Of the life threatening complications that took babies lives at birth less than 1% required advanced level intervention. The other 99% of cases could have been handled by a trained birth attendant. It is primarily the health and social systems which have failed these women and their babies.

The 3 main barriers to safe childbirth in low income countries are money, distance from health care facilities and other socio-economic factors. We have to question a world in which not all lives are valued equally. And we have to ask ourselves- what can I do to help? Visit www.savethechildren.org and www.gatesfoundation.org for information on initiatives they drive to save newborns and their mothers. Both of these organisations supported the research and publication of this groundbreaking review on maternal and child health which, for the first time ever, has provided health professionals and the public with clear evidence on what the real causes of this health crisis are- and points the way to sustainable solutions across the globe.