Recent data by UNFPA indicates that the escalated bombardment of Lebanon has impacted more than 11,000 pregnant women whilst 1,300 of them are expected to give birth in the upcoming month, and 4,000 are expected to deliver in the next three months. All of this while an estimated one quarter of the country’s infrastructure has been destroyed and over 1.2 million internally displaced. 

Displaced pregnant women in shelters face numerous challenges, including limited access to clean water, lack of privacy and space, scarce electricity, risk of spread of diseases, limited meal distributions and limited warmth. Beyond these hardships, they live in constant fear for their unborn children and endure uncertainty throughout their pregnancy journey.

Lebanon’s health system was already under immense strain before the current war and displacement crisis. Now, the situation has pushed hospitals and healthcare services to the brink, with nearly 100 primary healthcare centres forced to shut down.

According to government figures, Israel’s intensified bombardment of Lebanon since late September has displaced more than a million people and claimed over 3,000 lives.

Obstetrician Jihad Hammoud works amid the beeps of machines monitoring premature babies in a Saida hospital, but now he contends with the burst of bombs falling around the city. He says he has seen a rise in premature births and infant mortality since hostilities ramped up between Israel and Hezbollah.

He says he has had mothers coming for deliveries only to have no home to return to.

Dr. Jihad told NOW: “The environment that most of these women are in poses serious health risks, including increased chances of infections and complications such as preterm labour and hypertension. The stress and trauma of ongoing bombardment have also caused a surge in anxiety and stress-related pregnancy issues.”

Access to safe anti-natal, post-natal and paediatric care has also become increasingly difficult.

For many women, the uncertainty surrounding their pregnancy journey is overwhelming, and for medical professionals, they are constantly battling to deliver care under very challenging circumstances.

“As an expectant mother for the first time, of course I feel deeply heartbroken and frightened, firstly for my own safety because that will reflect on the baby’s safety, and secondly because I should be living a joyful and peaceful time in my pregnancy, rather than fear and stress,” Zahraa Bazzi, a pregnant woman who was displaced from the south’s Nabatieh to Bhamdoun.

Zahraa’s baby will be one of 4,000 that the United Nations expects to be born in Lebanon in the coming three months, many of whom will have no home to come to.

Many families are arriving at hospitals without IDs or any form of documentation to prove their identity, including marriage certificates that are needed to identify the father. That is creating a challenge for hospitals to issue birth certificates for the families and in many cases, the babies are being registered under their mothers’ names only, which could present complications for the Lebanese state in managing these registrations in the future once the war ends.

Crippling healthcare system

The healthcare system is severely overwhelmed, not only by the growing number of casualties but also by the spread of viral infections and diseases that are prevalent in shelters and among displaced communities living in overcrowded conditions.

The Lebanese state is very much dependent on the flow of aid from international organisations and regional states like the Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar who have established air bridges to deliver medical aid and food supplies amid the influx of displacement. It is also important to remember that Lebanon has been reeling from a deep financial and economic crisis, the worst in its modern history since 2019.

Routine interrupted

Some gynaecologists in Lebanon are observing an increase in premature births, sometimes as early as five months. They predict this to be the intensity and pressure of the bombing, which can trigger early contractions, causing the mothers’ water to break and resulting in early delivery.

The difficulty in accessing regular check-ups with their usual doctors has added health challenges to pregnancies. This includes a lack of reassurance and the inability to diagnose problems or prescribe necessary treatments. Additionally, many have lost their sources of income and are struggling financially, making the cost of doctor consultations and medications another significant source of stress.

The crisis has also led to soaring prices of essential goods overall, adding a further challenge for displaced women seeking safety.

“The whole situation is overwhelmingly stressful, we were just barely getting by, there is a daily medication that I have to take to keep my pregnancy going and I’m finding it more difficult each day to afford it.” Fatema Hamzeh who was displaced from Tyre to the Chouf region told NOW.

“I also worry about my baby’s delivery, will I be able to go to a hospital? Will I deliver safely if the situation continues like that?” Fatema questioned in distress.

Mental, not just physical pressure

The psychological toll of war, including stress and anxiety, further jeopardises maternal and foetal health. All these challenges, whilst humanitarian aid remains insufficient which highlights the urgent need for targeted support for pregnant women in dire circumstances.

Ola, a midwife who works for MAP (Medical Aid for Palestinians) has been offering her support to pregnant displaced women in Lebanon. She said: “All the women we visited were tired and sometimes distressed, as they had endured a harrowing journey under the sounds of missiles to reach this shelter. This stress adds to the difficulties they face in maintaining their health and caring for their children.”

The government’s ability to support the Lebanese is almost null. The health sector is only coping now because the flow and delivery is still ongoing.

Rodayna Raydan is a Lebanese-British journalist. You can follow her on Twitter @Rodayna_462

The views in this story reflect those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of NOW.