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More than 22,000 babies have been born in Ukraine since the beginning of the Russia’s invasion. Pregnant women are extremely dangerous to stay in Kyiv, Mariupol, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhia. Some of them had to come to Lviv to give birth to their children safely. Lyudmyla gave birth to a daughter in Lviv while her husband and father are defending Kyiv, and her brother is serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The road to Lviv
Lyudmyla arrived from Kyiv in early March. She is 34 years old, and this is her first childbirth. Now the woman and her daughter, who is only a few days old, are safe.
She says that if it weren’t for her pregnancy, she would have stayed in Kyiv, helped, volunteered, and done everything she did during the revolutions. However, she had to think about the most important thing – the birth of a child.
«I came to Lviv to give birth because it so happened that the war began. For a long time I could not decide to leave my hometown. My husband and father are defending Kyiv, and my brother, is also defending Ukraine from the occupiers in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, remained there, « – she said.
Lyudmyla says that when she and her mother realized that it was becoming dangerous in Kyiv, they took a bag with children’s things, quickly packed their suitcases and went to the train station. Lyudmyla remembers that it was quite difficult to go by train: there were a lot of people, nothing to breathe. But when they got to Lviv and went to the platform, they felt calm: realized that everything would be fine.
«Back at the station, my mother and I were amazed at how sincerely and cordially everyone here welcomed us. They offered food and delivered it to their destination free of charge. Frankly speaking, I didn’t even expect it, « – the settler expresses her surprise.
During the first days, Lyudmyla and her mother lived with their aunt. Aunt has three children, but somehow they settled in a small apartment. When the due date approached, she contacted the Lviv Perinatal Center.
The woman called there, saying where she was from, and doctors invited her immediately. Then they were referred for ultrasound, performed the necessary tests and registered. And, as Lyudmyla says, they didn’t take a penny for it.
«I was a little confused at that moment, because I understood that I had to pay for everything. On the contrary, I they told that I didn’t need anything, and they also gave me the most necessary things: hygiene products, even a toothbrush and toothpaste,» – the woman continues.
However, Lyudmyla was more worried because she had already agreed to give birth in Kyiv. She had to give birth in one of the capital’s private maternity hospitals. She has already paid part of the money; she had the installments for the rest. The total amount was 100 thousand hryvnias.
However, negotiations are underway to return the money paid to her. So far to no avail. And the worst thing is that the capital’s maternity hospital still withdraws money from the woman’s account under the loan agreement. Lyudmyla says that if she fails to act in the legal field, she is ready to make the case public.
The woman gave birth to a daughter in Lviv on March 21. The birth was very difficult, but thanks to the obstetrician-gynecologist Orest Oshurkevich, who received them, and other medical staff, everything is fine.
«I always thought that the best maternity hospitals in Kyiv. But no, in Lviv. It may not be appropriate to say this during the war, but we are safe here, « – says Lyudmila.
Lyudmyla is still thinking about her daughter’s name, but she still chose a few options.
«Given the current realities, I thought to name daughter Javelina. But, probably, it is very paradoxical, – she says, smiling. – As the options, we consider the names of Anastasia, Eugene, possibly Victoria from «victory».
And although Lyudmila took a few things, now she and her daughter and mother have enough of everything. Volunteers brought a lot to the maternity hospital, the husband sent some from Kyiv, and relatives from America have sent some things.
Volunteering in the maternity ward
After the birth of her daughter, the woman does not want to view the news and photos of her native Kyiv or does so «in moderation». She says that for the sake of the newborn it is necessary to keep the emotional state, keep calm and take care of lactation. However, nothing prevents her from volunteering. She did it at the beginning of the war in Kyiv and is doing it now in Lviv.
«At first I helped my brother, looking for equipment for him and his mates: helmets, bulletproof vests. Now we help children from Kharkiv region who had to move to Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk with clothes and shoes, « – says Lyudmyla, explaining that her family makes shoes and sews in Chyhyryn, Cherkasy region.
A few days ago, the woman saw a photo of the area, the house where she and her husband and daughter were to move.
«We have not lived there yet. We bought an apartment in a new building on credit, we still pay for it. And in this house «orcs» with the rockets already bombed the first floors. It came under fire because it was located near the Antonov Aircraft Plant. But… somehow it will be, the main thing is that we win,» – she says.
When I asked if Lyudmyla wants to return to Kyiv and when she plans to do so, the answer was as follows: «We will definitely be in Lviv in the next month, because our daughter is tiny, we will have to do screening several times. Also we managed to rent an apartment for the next month. I am definitely not going to go abroad, although there was such an opportunity. «
After thinking for a minute, the woman added: «We all want to win, so I think we will not stay here long, we will return to Kyiv. As soon as Arestovych says that women can return to the capital, we will leave immediately. I hope to hear even sooner that «orcs» are no more on our earth, and the main «orc» is dead. «
Every woman receives help here
There are many women in the perinatal centre who had to move to Lviv. More than 150 pregnant women and more than 70 women who gave birth are registered. Among them are residents of Kyiv and Kyiv region, Luhansk region, Donetsk region, Zaporizhzhia.
According to Oleksandr Simkin, deputy director of medicine and obstetrician-gynecologist at the Lviv Regional Clinical Perinatal Center, patients who had to move from other regions were coming here since the first days of the war, on February 25. Many are referred by family doctors, but most of them apply because they have heard positive reviews about this medical institution.
«Every day, the number of internally displaced women who come to us varies. Today there may be two or three, and tomorrow three times more. For example, last night we had 20 births, five of which were in IDPs. That is, a quarter of the total number of births per day are women from other regions, « – he explains.
According to the doctor, most of them had to stay in the occupied territories or under fire for a long time, so they were very worried. Fortunately, there were no significant health problems or threats to the fetus. A staff psychologist helps those who have a high psycho-emotional state.
There are cases when pregnant women come without documents, lost or forgotten at home, do not have exchange cards for pregnancy. However, no one is denied admission and assistance at the perinatal centre. Pregnant women are registered in a women’s clinic, and those who are about to give birth are given the necessary tests, examinations, and deliveries. All services here are free, we provide woman with all necessary medicines.
The average length of stay in the perinatal centre is short: after natural childbirth – two days, after a cesarean section – four. And then women decide for themselves what to do. Some rent apartments in Lviv and stay here, others go abroad. However, most still do not give up the idea ofreturning home.
There is a shelter in the Lviv Perinatal Center, where women go down during an air alarm. Hospital is looking for funds to install another more comfortable and safer shelter with all the necessary material and technical base so that women can give birth in it if necessary.
Olha Shveda
Translated by Kateryna Bortniak
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