Latest news with #childbirth
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
'I know say I dey between life and death each time I enta labour room for Nigeria'
At di age of 24, Nafisa Salahu dey in danger of becoming just anoda number for Nigeria, wia woman dey die wen dem give birth evri seven minutes, on average. Going into labour during doctors strike mean say, despite say you dey hospital, no expert go fit help on hand once complication start. Her baby head hook and dem just tell am make she just lie down during labour, wey last for three days. Eventually dem recommend Caesarean and dem prepare one doctor make im carry am out. "I thank God becos I almost die. I no get any strength again, I no get anytin," Ms Salahu tell di BBC from Kano state for di north of di kontri. She survive, but tragically her baby die. Eleven years on, she don go back to hospital to give birth several times and take e dey depressing. "I know [each time] I dey between life and death but I no dey fear again," she tok. Ms Salahu experience na normal tin. Nigeria na di world most dangerous nation to give birth. According to di most recent UN estimates for di kontri, wey dem compile from 2023 figures, one in 100 women dey die in labour or in di following days. Dis put am at di top league table of kontris wey dey di data. In 2023, Nigeria account for well ova one quarter - 29% - of all maternal deaths worldwide. Dat estimate total of 75,000 women wey dey die in childbirth in one year, wey make am one death every seven minutes. Warning: Dis article contain foto of new born pikin . Di frustration for many be say large number of di deaths – nafrom things like bleeding afta childbirth (wey pipo sabi as postpartum haemorrhage) – e dey preventable. Chinenye Nweze bleed to death at age 36 for one hospital in di south-eastern town of Onitsha five years ago. "Di doctors need blood," her broda Henry Edeh tok. "Di blood wey dem get no dey enof and dem dey run around. Losing my sister and my friend na sometin wey no go wish on my enemy. Di pain dey unbearable." Among di oda common causes of maternal deaths na obstructed labour, high blood pressure and unsafe abortions. Nigeria "very high" maternal mortality rate na di result of a combined number of factors, according to Martin Dohlsten from di Nigeria office of di United Nations children organisation, Unicef. Among dem, e tok say, na poor health infrastructure, shortage of medics, costly treatment wey many no fit afford, cultural practices wey fit lead to some distrusting medical professionals and insecurity. "No woman deserve to die while she dey give birth to her child," Mabel Onwuemena, national co-ordinator of di Women of Purpose Development Foundation. She explain say some women, especially for rural areas, believe "say visiting hospitals na total waste of time" and choose "traditional remedies instead of seeking medical help, and e fit delay life-saving care". For some, dem no fit reach hospital or clinic on time becos of lack of transport, but Ms Onwuemena believe say even if dem manage to, dia problems no go finish. "Many healthcare facilities lack di basic equipment, supplies and trained personnel, e make am difficult to provide quality service." Nigeria federal goment currently spend only 5% of dia budget on health – well short of di15% target wey di kontri commit to in 2001 African Union treaty. For 2021, na 121,000 midwives dey for population of 218 million and less dan half of all births na im skilled health worker dey involve. Di kontri need estimate of 700,000 more nurses and midwives to meet di World Health Organization recommended ratio. Also dem dey experience lack of doctors. Di shortage of staff and facilities put some off seeking professional help. "I honestly no trust hospitals much, we get many stories of negligence, especially in public hospitals," Jamila Ishaq tok. "For example, wen I born my fourth child, complications dey during labour. Di local birth attendant advise us make we go to di hospital, but wen we get dia, no healthcare worker dey available to help me. I go back home, and na dia I eventually give birth," she explain. Di 28-year-old from Kano state dey expect her fifth pikin. She add say she go consider going to private clinic but di cost dey high. Chinwendu Obiejesi, wey dey expect her third pikin, fit pay for private health care for hospital and " she no go consider to give birth anywia else". She tok say among her friends and family, maternal deaths dey rare, whereas she don dey hear about dem quite frequently. She dey live in wealthy suburb of Abuja, wia hospitals dey easier to reach, good roads dey, and emergency services dey work. More women in di city also dey educated and know di importance of going to di hospital. "I always attend antenatal care… E allow me to speak wit doctors regularly, do important tests and scans, and keep track of both my health and di baby," Ms Obiejesi tell di BBC. "For instance, during my second pregnancy, di doctors dey expect say I fit bleed heavily, so dem prepare extra blood in case we need transfusion. Thankfully, I no need am, and evritin go well." However, one of her family friend no dey lucky. During her second labour, "di birth attendant no fit deliver di baby and try to force am out. Di baby die. By di time dem rush am to di hospital, e don late. She still undergo surgery to deliver di baby's body. e dey heart-breaking." Dr Nana Sandah-Abubakar, director of community health services at di kontri National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), acknowledge say di situation bad, but e tok say new plan dey in place to address some of di issues. Last November, di Nigerian goment launch di pilot phase of di Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (Mamii). Eventually dis go target 172 local goment areas across 33 states, wey account for more dan half of all childbirth-related deaths in di kontri. "We identify each pregnant woman, know wia she dey live, and support her through pregnancy, childbirth and beyond," Dr Sandah-Abubakar tok. So far, 400,000 pregnant women in six states wey don find house-to-house survey, "wit details of weda dem dey attend ante-natal [classes] or not". "Di plan na to start to link dem to services to ensure say dem get di care [dem need] and dem go deliver safely." Mamii aim to work wit local transport networks to try and get more women to clinics and also encourage pipo make dem sign up to low-cost public health insurance. E dey too early to say weda this get any impact, but di authorities hope say di kontri fit eventually follow di trend of di rest of di world. Globally, maternal deaths don drop by 40% since 2000, thank to di expanded access to healthcare. Di numbers also don improve in Nigeria ova di same period - but only by 13%. Despite Mamii, and oda programmes, being welcome initiatives, some experts believe say dem need to do more – including greater investment. "Dia success depend on sustained funding, effective implementation and continuous monitoring to ensure say di intended outcomes dey achievable," Unicef Oga Dohlsten tok. In di meantime, di loss of each mother in Nigeria - 200 every day - go continue to be tragedy for di families wey dey involved. For Oga Edeh, di grief ova di loss of im sister still dey fresh. "She step up to become our anchor and backbone becos we lost our parents wen we dey grow up," e tok. "In my lone time, wen she cross my mind. I dey cry bitterly."
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Nigeria maternal mortality: The world's worst country to give birth
At the age of 24, Nafisa Salahu was in danger of becoming just another statistic in Nigeria, where a woman dies giving birth every seven minutes, on into labour during a doctors' strike meant that, despite being in hospital, there was no expert help on hand once a complication baby's head was stuck and she was just told to lie still during labour, which lasted three a Caesarean was recommended and a doctor was located who was prepared to carry it out."I thanked God because I was almost dying. I had no strength left, I had nothing left," Ms Salahu tells the BBC from Kano state in the north of the survived, but tragically her baby years on, she has gone back to hospital to give birth several times and takes a fatalistic attitude. "I knew [each time] I was between life and death but I was no longer afraid," she Salahu's experience is not is the world's most dangerous nation in which to give to the most recent UN estimates for the country, compiled from 2023 figures, one in 100 women die in labour or in the following puts it at the top of a league table no country wants to 2023, Nigeria accounted for well over a quarter - 29% - of all maternal deaths worldwide. That is an estimated total of 75,000 women dying in childbirth in a year, which works out at one death every seven This article contains an image depicting childbirth The frustration for many is that a large number of the deaths – from things like bleeding after childbirth (known as postpartum haemorrhage) – are Nweze was 36 when she bled to death at a hospital in the south-eastern town of Onitsha five years ago."The doctors needed blood," her brother Henry Edeh remembers. "The blood they had wasn't enough and they were running around. Losing my sister and my friend is nothing I would wish on an enemy. The pain is unbearable."Among the other common causes of maternal deaths are obstructed labour, high blood pressure and unsafe "very high" maternal mortality rate is the result of a combination of a number of factors, according to Martin Dohlsten from the Nigeria office of the UN's children's organisation, Unicef. Among them, he says, are poor health infrastructure, a shortage of medics, costly treatments that many cannot afford, cultural practices that can lead to some distrusting medical professionals and insecurity."No woman deserves to die while birthing a child," says Mabel Onwuemena, national co-ordinator of the Women of Purpose Development explains that some women, especially in rural areas, believe "that visiting hospitals is a total waste of time" and choose "traditional remedies instead of seeking medical help, which can delay life-saving care".For some, reaching a hospital or clinic is near-impossible because of a lack of transport, but Ms Onwuemena believes that even if they managed to, their problems would not be over."Many healthcare facilities lack the basic equipment, supplies and trained personnel, making it difficult to provide a quality service."Nigeria's federal government currently spends only 5% of its budget on health – well short of the 15% target that the country committed to in a 2001 African Union treaty. In 2021, there were 121,000 midwives for a population of 218 million and less than half of all births were overseen by a skilled health worker. It is estimated that the country needs 700,000 more nurses and midwives to meet the World Health Organization's recommended is also a severe lack of shortage of staff and facilities puts some off seeking professional help."I honestly don't trust hospitals much, there are too many stories of negligence, especially in public hospitals," Jamila Ishaq says."For example, when I was having my fourth child, there were complications during labour. The local birth attendant advised us to go to the hospital, but when we got there, no healthcare worker was available to help me. I had to go back home, and that's where I eventually gave birth," she 28-year-old from Kano state is now expecting her fifth adds that she would consider going to a private clinic but the cost is Obiejesi, who is expecting her third child, is able to pay for private health care at a hospital and "wouldn't consider giving birth anywhere else".She says that among her friends and family, maternal deaths are now rare, whereas she used to hear about them quite frequently. She lives in a wealthy suburb of Abuja, where hospitals are easier to reach, roads are better, and emergency services work. More women in the city are also educated and know the importance of going to the hospital."I always attend antenatal care… It allows me to speak with doctors regularly, do important tests and scans, and keep track of both my health and the baby's," Ms Obiejesi tells the BBC. "For instance, during my second pregnancy, they expected I might bleed heavily, so they prepared extra blood in case a transfusion was needed. Thankfully, I didn't need it, and everything went well."However, a family friend of hers was not so her second labour, "the birth attendant couldn't deliver the baby and tried to force it out. The baby died. By the time she was rushed to the hospital, it was too late. She still had to undergo surgery to deliver the baby's body. It was heart-breaking." Dr Nana Sandah-Abubakar, director of community health services at the country's National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), acknowledges that the situation is dire, but says a new plan is being put in place to address some of the November, the Nigerian government launched the pilot phase of the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (Mamii). Eventually this will target 172 local government areas across 33 states, which account for more than half of all childbirth-related deaths in the country."We identify each pregnant woman, know where she lives, and support her through pregnancy, childbirth and beyond," Dr Sandah-Abubakar far, 400,000 pregnant women in six states have been found in a house-to-house survey, "with details of whether they are attending ante-natal [classes] or not"."The plan is to start to link them to services to ensure that they get the care [they need] and that they deliver safely."Mamii will aim to work with local transport networks to try and get more women to clinics and also encourage people to sign up to low-cost public health is too early to say whether this has had any impact, but the authorities hope that the country can eventually follow the trend of the rest of the maternal deaths have dropped by 40% since 2000, thanks to expanded access to healthcare. The numbers have also improved in Nigeria over the same period - but only by 13%.Despite Mamii, and other programmes, being welcome initiatives, some experts believe more must be done – including greater investment."Their success depends on sustained funding, effective implementation and continuous monitoring to ensure that the intended outcomes are achieved," says Unicef's Mr the meantime, the loss of each mother in Nigeria - 200 every day - will continue to be a tragedy for the families Mr Edeh, the grief over the loss of his sister is still raw."She stepped up to become our anchor and backbone because we lost our parents when we were growing up," he says."In my lone time, when she crosses my mind. I cry bitterly." More BBC stories from Nigeria: 'I scarred my six children by using skin-lightening creams'Why British boarding schools are so eager to open in NigeriaThe Nigerian queer parties that offer liberation'I've been sleeping under a bridge in Lagos for 30 years' Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Norma Meras Swenson obituary
In 1958, Norma Meras Swenson, who has died aged 93, gave birth to her daughter, Sarah, in Boston, Massachusetts. The experience opened her eyes to how little agency American women had over something as natural as childbirth, and this set her up for a lifetime of activism. She became an expert in reproductive health and women's rights and the book she co-wrote, Our Bodies, Ourselves, changed the landscape of women's health. It brought into the open subjects such as contraception, birth and masturbation and has been compared to Dr Spock's Baby & Child Care in terms of impact. Since 1970, it has been through nine editions, sold more than 4m copies and has been translated into 31 languages. In 2012, it featured in the Library of Congress exhibition Books that Shaped America. Swenson's story began when she went into labour. She was offered the drug scopolamine and, not knowing what it was, she padded down the corridor to a pay phone to call Harvard University's medical library. She discovered it was given with morphine to induce 'twilight sleep'' in childbirth. Not wanting to be knocked out during such a momentous life event as giving birth, she refused it. She was appalled at the other women on the ward who were taking the drug and who were hallucinating, crying out and having their babies extracted with forceps. Swenson said: 'These women were not being helped, they were being controlled.' Scouting around for like-minded people afterwards, Swenson came across the Boston Association for Childbirth Education, one of the first organisations in the US to focus on natural childbirth. In 1964 she became its president, promoting discussion of issues such as breastfeeding. In 1969 she heard about a female liberation conference taking place at Emmanuel College in Boston and attended a 'women and their bodies' workshop. At this time, the only information on subjects such as menstruation and contraception was in medical textbooks, and a group of women at the workshop, who became the Boston Women's Health Collective, wanted to put information into the hands of ordinary women. They made a list of topics such as anatomy, birth control, pregnancy and menopause, pooled their experience, and in 1970 wrote a 192-page book. Having raised $1,500, they commissioned New England Free Press to publish it, first as Women and Their Bodies and later as Our Bodies, Ourselves to reflect women taking ownership of their bodies. It sold 250,000 copies by word of mouth, something the commercial publisher Simon & Schuster was quick to notice. They became its publisher for subsequent editions from 1972, with the collective insisting there should be a 70% discount for health clinics purchasing copies. Swenson was the oldest member of the collective and unlike some of the group she had a child. Her expertise in pregnancy and childbirth made her the perfect choice for writing the chapters on those subjects. As well as the original chapters, she contributed to later editions and to other titles, including Ourselves, Growing Older (1987) and Ourselves and Our Children (1978). Norma was born in Exeter, New Hampshire. Her father, Halford Meras, ran the family business – the town's furniture store – and her mother Nellie (nee Kenick) was its bookkeeper. Norma was an only child, who loved fashion and dancing, and her father encouraged her from an early age to be a free thinker, to challenge authority and to debate politics and civil rights. She attended Boston Girls' Latin school (now the Boston Latin Academy) and from childhood had an abiding interest in botany and nature. She studied at Tufts University in Massachusetts, majoring in sociology, and graduated in 1953. In 1956 she married John Swenson, a decorated second world war pilot, who sold insurance and was a postal worker. Her trajectory as a 1950s housewife however was interrupted in 1958 when her daughter was born and she found activism. Swenson remained heavily involved with the Boston Women's Health Collective all her life, its members becoming like family to her. Tall and beautifully dressed, she was an eloquent speaker, and, as the collective's first director of international programmes, she worked to support the women's groups around the world who were translating and adapting Our Bodies, Ourselves (eventually there were 34 foreign editions). She and another member of the group, Judy Norsigian, in 1977 went on a whirlwind trip to 10 European countries, forging connections with fellow activists and natural childbirth pioneers including Sheila Kitzinger. She also represented Our Bodies, Ourselves and the collective at the UN Conferences on Women between 1975 and 1995. Swenson was keen to educate herself as much as possible, so she undertook postgraduate studies in medical sociology at Brandeis University in 1977-78, followed by a master's degree in public health at Harvard University. She created and taught the course Women, Health and Development from a Global Perspective at the Harvard School of Public Health from 1998 to 2015. In later life, Swenson was a co-chair of the Latina Health Initiative Committee, supporting feminists in Puerto Rico. She spoke out about subjects such as sterilisation abuse and rape in care homes, and supported numerous causes including the Massachusetts Dignity Alliance and the Black Women's Health Imperative. Her husband died in 2002 and afterwards she reconnected with her former college sweetheart Leonard van Gaasbeek, remaining close friends with him until his death in 2019. She retained a gallant 'can-do' spirit even in old age: she joined the 2017 Women's March in Boston despite limited mobility, sending a message to colleagues, 'Have cane, will travel!' Swenson is survived by Sarah. Norma Lucille Meras Swenson, writer, sociologist and women's health activist, born 2 February 1932; died 11 May 2025
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Healthy start, healthy you – June classes and programs for your growing family
Prepared: A Maternity Tour is offered in person at 6 p.m. June 9 and 23 at Spartanburg Medical Center. Register online at Visit or call 864-560-BABY. OB hospital walking tours are offered at Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside. Day tours are at 10 and 11 a.m. and noon June 30, July 7, July 28 and Aug. 4. Evening tours are at 4, 5, 6 and 7 p.m. June 5, Aug. 7 and Aug. 28. Tours are free. Register online at or call 864-675-4400. Maternity Center tours are offered at 2 p.m. June 1, June 22 and July 20 at AnMed Medical Center. Tours are free. Register online at A virtual tour of Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital is available. Call 864-455-BABY (2229) or visit for more information. Prepared Parents: Childbirth is offered June 10, June 26, July 8 and July 24 at Spartanburg Medical Center. Visit or call 864-560-BABY to register. Childbirth Preparation is offered at Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside. A half-day class is 6 – 9 p.m. June 9, July 14 and Aug. 11. Register online at or call 864-675-4400. Childbirth Education Classes are offered in a three-session course July 9, 16 and 23 at the AnMed North Campus. Expectant mothers are encouraged to register for classes by their fifth month of pregnancy to secure preferred dates. The series should be completed four to six weeks before your due date. For details and registration, visit Prepared Childbirth Classes are offered online and in person from Prisma Health. For details and registration, visit A Breastfeeding Class is offered at 6 p.m. June 4 and Aug. 6 at Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside. Register online at or call 864-675-4400. Introduction to Breastfeeding is offered at 2 p.m. June 8 at the AnMed North Campus. The class is free. Dads or other support persons are welcome to attend with mom. For details and registration, visit Prepared Parents: Breastfeeding is offered in person June 17, July 15 and Aug. 19 and online June 18, July 16 and Aug. 20 at Spartanburg Medical Center. Visit or call 864-560-BABY to register. Nourish Integrative Lactation and Wellness offers programs in Greenville and Spartanburg. A free infant feeding and postpartum support group meets 10 a.m. – noon on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. For details, visit A Breastfeeding Class is offered at Prisma Health – Patewood and at the Prisma Health Greenville Memorial campus. For details and registration, visit Baby Basics is offered at 2 p.m. June 29 at the AnMed North Campus. The class is free. Gain the confidence you need to safely care for your new baby once you go home. For details and registration, visit Caring for Your Newborn is offered at 6:30 p.m. June 26, July 24 and Aug. 21 at Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside. Register online at or call 864-675-4400. Prepared Parents: Infant Care is offered from June 12, July 10 and Aug. 14 at Spartanburg Medical Center. Visit or call 864-560-BABY to register. Nurtured Beginnings, a therapeutic healing program for newly postpartum moms, is tailored for new moms struggling with postpartum distress (basically you don't feel the way you expected). This group offers six 90-minute sessions focused on your emotional well-being for the postpartum period and beyond. Led by an expert in perinatal mental health, each session provides a safe space for you to connect, learn, and thrive. Babies in arms are welcome. The program meets 9:30 – 11 a.m. Wednesdays, July 16 – Aug. 20 at 25 Woods Lake Road, Suite 402, Greenville. For cost, details and registration, visit Reproductive Journey Counseling & Support at New Mom School Greenville is open for registration and will begin programs in July. Programs focus on helping new mothers navigate postpartum challenges, offering practical guidance, emotional support, and a safe space for connection, covering essential topics from newborn care to maternal well-being, fostering a strong community of moms who feel empowered and supported. For details, visit Sibling Preparation is offered at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside. Prepare your child to be a big brother or big sister through a virtual tour, story time and activities. Children will learn the differences, abilities and needs of an infant so they can be the best helper. This special experience is for ages 3 – 8 with their parents. Register online at or call 864-675-4400. Navigating Motherhood, a free support group for new and expecting moms, is offered by Reproductive Journey Counseling and Support. The groups are free, but online registration is requested. Groups meet 10:30 a.m. – noon the first Monday of each month at Nourish Integrative Lactation and Wellness and 7 – 8:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at Reproductive Journey. These free gatherings are open to any mom with young children (infancy through preschool age) wanting to feel better, share experiences and connect with other moms. For details and registration, visit Safe Kids 101 for New and Expecting Parents is offered regularly by Safe Kids of the Piedmont and Spartanburg Medical Center. To register, visit Free Ultrasounds – The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Greenville Technical College offers free OB ultrasounds at its OB Ultrasound Clinic on the Barton Campus. Ultrasounds are performed by students under direct supervision. Live 4D scanning will be performed and 3D pictures will be provided to all patients. Scanning labs are for expectant mothers between 22 and 30 weeks gestational age at time of the appointment. For registration, details, and COVID protocols, call 864-250-8290. For more information, visit The Doula Group offers a variety of classes, including an Evidence Based Birth Childbirth Class), VBAC and Cesarean Support Circle, and a Group Spinning Babies Parent Class (class to help parents learn Spinning Babies techniques that will help their baby get into an optimal position for labor and birth). For details, visit Table for Two is offered from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays in June at Spartanburg Medical Center. A certified lactation specialist facilitates an open, supportive forum to talk about the challenges and joys of breastfeeding. This is a casual gathering for breastfeeding moms and breastfeeding babies from birth – 6 months. Registration is required. For details, visit Getting Ready for Baby is offered at Prisma Health Patewood. For details and registration, visit Grandparent Preparation/ CPR is offered at 6 p.m. Aug. 27 at Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside. Learn what's new in pregnancy, birth and care. Help create healthy communication with the new family and learn the best way to protect your grandbaby's health/safety. This class also includes Family CPR. Register online at or call 864-675-4400. Infant Safety is offered at 6:30 p.m. July 31 and Aug. 28 at Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside. This class covers safe sleep, car seat safety, when to call the doctor and other important topics such as taking baby's temperature, diaper rash, and navigating postpartum depression. Register online at or call 864-675-4400. Girl Care is offered at 6:15 p.m. July 30 and Oct. 29 Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside. The cost is $25 per mom/daughter. This class is designed for mothers and daughters. It focuses on the emotional and physical changes during puberty for the 9- to 11-year-old female and her mother or female support person. Information is presented on a level so that participants find it easy to understand and that encourages further discussion for mom and daughter. Register online at or call 864-675-4400. Safe Harbor offers survivor support groups and classes for survivors to learn more about the cycle of violence and how to parent their children in the wake of domestic violence. Safe Harbor employs multiple bilingual staff, with outreach available in English, Spanish and Arabic. For details, visit English and Spanish: Back in Control – Parent Enrichment Course is offered regularly at Just Say Something. The course is for parents of adolescents and teens. It is free for Greenville County residents. Residents of other counties do have a fee. For more details, visit English and Spanish: Parenting Wisely – Enrichment Course is offered regularly at Just Say Something. The course is for parents of children from birth to age 8. It is free for Greenville County residents. Residents of other counties do have a fee. For more details, visit Learn Infant and Child CPR at 6:30 p.m. June 3, July 16, July 22, Aug. 19 or Aug. 26 at Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside. The course is offered at 11 a.m. June 12, July 2 and Aug. 12. Register online at or call 864-675-4400. Prepared Parents: Infant CPR is offered regularly at Spartanburg Medical Center, 101 E. Wood St., Spartanburg. For details and registration, visit Child Passenger Seat Safety Inspection from Safe Kids of the Piedmont and Spartanburg Medical Center is offered monthly at Spartanburg Medical Center, 101 E. Wood St., Spartanburg. For details, visit or call 864-560-6845. Triple P – Positive Parenting Program is offered by Just Say Something. A Spanish language program is also offered. Parents of young children can enhance their parenting skills and gain confidence as a parent. Call 864-467-4099. Visit Julie Valentine Center's Online Support Group (OSG) is an anonymous online group chat that allows members of the community who have been affected by sexual violence to connect with one another. OSG can be a great support for caregivers and loved ones of children who have experienced child abuse and/or survivors of child abuse and/or sexual assault. OSG is offered from 7 – 8 p.m. Mondays and noon – 1 p.m. Wednesdays. Access the group at these times online at Registration is not needed. For more information, contact Jamika Nedwards at 864-331-0560 or jnedwards@ Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, offered by Greenville First Steps, is a parenting and family support system designed to prevent – as well as treat – behavioral and emotional problems in children and teenagers. Learn more at Youth Impact Sports (YIS) Program is offered by Just Say Something. This is a free flag football, basketball, and soccer training camp for ages 6 – 12. It provides a fun, athletic outlet while promoting togetherness and character-building skills. Call for specific dates, times, and locations. For more information, contact Stacey Ashmore at 864-467-4099 or stacey@ or visit Free: Strengthening Families Program is offered by Just Say Something for English-and Spanish-speaking parents. This is a 14-week course designed for parents of children ages 6 – 11 to reduce at-risk behaviors among while improving school performance, parent-child bonding, and effective parenting skills. Call for specific dates and times. For more information, contact Kristin Seward at 864-467-4099 or kristin@ or visit June 2025: More than 175 things to do in Greenville, Spartanburg and beyond! Weekly events: Big sports week ahead Your guide to June arts classes, family fun, learning and more New products for summer fun and more Register now for Upstate summer reading programs How to reduce the risk of food allergies: Here's what to know Hunger season: Food insecurity in summer This article originally appeared on Greenville News: June prenatal classes – pregnancy and family health
CTV News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Cassie Ventura welcomes third child: reports
Cassie Ventura, seen here at an event on March 31, 2025 in New York City, has welcomed her third child. (via CNN Newsource) Singer Cassie Ventura, who recently testified as a central witness in the federal criminal trial of her ex-boyfriend Sean 'Diddy' Combs, has given birth to her third child, multiple outlets have reported. Ventura and her husband, Alex Fine, welcomed a son. They are also the parents of two young daughters, Frankie and Sunny. CNN has reached out to representatives for the couple for comment. In February, they announced a new addition was joining the family. Earlier this month, Ventura gave nearly 20 hours of often graphic testimony during Combs' trial, speaking about the violence she said she endured at Combs' hands and detailing drug-fueled sexual encounters, known as 'Freak Offs.' Ventura was the third witness to be called and referred to by both the defense and prosecution as an important witness in the case. Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges that include racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted on the most serious counts, he could face up to life in prison. Combs and Ventura's longterm relationship is part of the ongoing criminal case against him. She was identified as 'Victim 1' in the federal indictment against Combs. Ventura first detailed years of disturbing abuse allegations in a civil lawsuit filed against Combs, who she dated on and off between 2007 and 2018, in November 2023. The two settled her claim for $20 million one day after it was filed, according to Ventura's testimony at the trial. On the stand, Ventura said she was treated for mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder, after the relationship ended. Combs has faced dozens of other civil lawsuits in recent months, accusing him of sexual assault. He has denied all the allegations. On the opening day of Combs's trial, the jury was shown graphic video of him physically assaulting Ventura in a California hotel in 2016. During pretrial hearings, the defense unsuccessfully attempted to keep the jury from being able to see the video of the incident during the trial. Prior to Ventura's testimony at trial, Combs' defense team made their best effort to have Ventura seated at the witness stand before the jury entered the courtroom. 'I'm going to ask that victim number one, when she testifies, be already in the jury box when the jury comes in. Only as to her. Only because of her physical condition,' Combs' attorney, Marc Agnifilo, said in court ahead of Ventura's testimony, according to a court-provided transcript of the exchange. 'There is – there is a quality to her walking in front of the jury that I think is easily avoidable.' Judge Arun Subramanian, who is overseeing the case, ultimately denied the request. Outside the court on May 13, Ventura's attorney Douglas Wigdor said: 'The jury is going to judge her based on her testimony – not based on her appearance, hopefully.' After she completed her time on the stand, Ventura issued a statement through her attorney that said in part, 'I hope that my testimony has given strength and a voice to other survivors, and can help others who have suffered to speak up and also heal from the abuse and fear.'
