Six mothers share their experiences of pregnancy, childbirth, and life with a young bab

Great expectations

The subject of World Health Day 2005 was maternal and child health.

In Great expectations, six mothers living in different countries of the world are sharing their experiences of pregnancy, childbirth, and life with a young baby. The babies are now one year old. This is the final instalment of Great expectations. The series was launched over 12 months ago to highlight World Health Day 2005 – the theme of which was maternal and child health.

Happy birthday, babies!




One year after giving birth, our mothers – Damiana from Bolivia, Samah from Egypt, Hiwot from Ethiopia, Renu from India, Bounlid from Lao People's Democratic Republic, and Claire from the United Kingdom – celebrate their baby's first year.

At one year, our babies are becoming little people. They are taking their first steps and speaking their first words. They are also, thankfully, healthy. Every child, with the exception of Lang in the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is fully immunized against childhood diseases. All six children are now eating solid foods and four are still breastfeeding.

WHO recommends that all children receive immunizations against polio, tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, measles, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenzae type B by their first birthday. Starting at six months, WHO also recommends that infants be fed freshly-prepared, nutrient-rich food while continuing to be breastfed for up to two years.

Some of the parents want to have another child. WHO recommends that couples wait at least two years from one birth to the time a woman attempts to become pregnant again.

At WHO we are grateful to the families for giving us, and the world, unique insight into their lives. We hope that you – our readers – do too. Please feel free to wish the babies happy birthday at internet@who.int. We will make sure that your best wishes are conveyed to the families.