For many Aeta mothers living in remote mountain communities, childbirth often happens at home. While health workers encourage mothers to give birth in health facilities, distance, lack of transportation, and financial hardship make hospital deliveries difficult. Because of this, many mothers continue to give birth in their homes, relying on their own strength, their families, and sometimes the help of local midwives.

For Nanay Rosalie G., preparing for childbirth begins when the pain starts to intensify. Like many mothers in their community, she waits for the contractions to grow stronger before laying out a place where she can give birth.

“Kapag alam ko na pong mabigat na ang tiyan ko, nagpapahinga muna po ako nang mga dalawang oras. Tapos kapag nararamdaman ko na pong sumasakit na at kumikirot, naglalatag na po ako ng banig… Pagkatapos, iire ko na po ang bata.”

But in the mountains, even simple materials like a mat are not always available. Instead, families improvise with whatever they have.

“Dito po sa bundok, wala pong banig. Yung sako na lang po ang binibiyak at nilalatag, tapos nilalagyan ng plastik sa ibabaw. Para po kapag lumabas ang bata, hindi siya direktang mapunta sa magaspang na sako.”

Without access to proper medical supplies, mothers and their families must rely on improvised tools during childbirth. Nanay Rosalie recalled how they managed without even the most basic equipment.

“Wala naman pong gunting sa bundok po, kundi yung buho, tapos po yung sako po, yun na po ang pinangtali namin, tapos pinangputol na po.”

Sometimes, the only person present during childbirth is a family member. Over time, husbands learn how to assist their wives during labor.

“Kami lang pong mag-asawa yun… Hanggang sa doon sa pangalawa, doon sa pampito ko po, siya na rin ang nagpaanak sa akin.”

Through repeated experience and guidance from midwives, mothers gradually learn techniques to help themselves during labor and delivery.

“Tinuturuan naman po ako ng auntie ko na midwife. Sabi niya, kapag lalabas na ang inunan, ikutin lang daw ang pusod at hilutin nang kaunti ang tagiliran.”

Even mothers who plan to give birth in hospitals sometimes end up delivering at home when labor progresses too quickly. Nanay Kim experienced this when her contractions became too strong before she could reach a health facility.

“Sumasagad na po yung sakit, pumutok na rin po yung tubig… Kinokontak na po ng tita ko pong BHW yung miwdwife na si Lola Menchie.”

By the time help arrived, it was already too late to bring her to the hospital.

“Pagdating po nila rito, lumabas na po ang bata. Hindi na po nahintay na madala sa ospital.”

The experience was frightening not only for her but also for her family, who did not know what to do.

“May kaba din pong naramdaman ang nanay ko. Hindi niya po alam kung ano ang gagawin niya dahil first time din po niyang magpa-anak.”

She described the experience simply, “Sobrang hirap po.”

When emergencies happen, midwives like Ms. Menchie are often called to help. Even when home births are discouraged, she still responds when mothers are already in labor and cannot reach a health facility in time. She recalled being called in the early morning to assist Nanay Kim.

“Madaling araw, dumating yung asawa nakatricycle, sabay sabi, ‘Auntie, Auntie, manganganak na si Kim.“

Because home births were no longer allowed, she did not have proper equipment with her.

“Wala akong gamit kasi bawal na nga. Wala talaga akong pang-tahi, pang-inject… Kailangan mo ng oxytocin, kaya wala talaga.”

Instead, she had to improvise using whatever was available.

“Sinulid ang pinangtatali… Wala akong gunting, surgical scissors sana. Eh, wala, no choice talaga.”

Despite the risks, she felt responsible for helping mothers in labor.

“Lagi kong sinasabi na kailangan mong puntahan ‘yun kahit wala kang gamit kasi ikaw ang may alam eh.”

In some cases, she had no choice but to assist deliveries with no equipment at all.

“Wala talaga akong gamit—bare hands. Talaga, pinaanak ko siya ng bare hands.”

For many mothers, giving birth at home is not a matter of preference but of necessity. Nanay Rosalie explained that although they understand the risks, their situation often leaves them with no other choice.

“Alam na po namin, pero syempre po, sa hirap po ng buhay namin, mas mabuti na lang po dito sa bundok.”

Transportation is one of the biggest challenges they face when trying to reach a hospital.

“Kung pupunta pa po kami sa ospital, tapos gaya po diyan, wala pong sasakyan, ang hirap po talaga makisakay.”

Despite the pain and difficulty, many mothers endure childbirth at home for the sake of their children. For Nanay Rosalie P., the experience is something that must simply be endured.

“Kinakaya naman po para lang mailabas ang bata… Pero pag makaraos ka na, okay na.”

For Nanay Kim, the hardship of childbirth was followed by relief and happiness once her baby was born.

“Noong lumabas na po si baby, parang sumaya po ang puso ko—lumabas na nga po siya at nakita na rin namin siya.”

For Aeta mothers like Nanay Kim, Nanay Rosalie G. and Nanay Rosalie P., home birth remains a reality shaped by distance, poverty, and limited access to healthcare. In the absence of medical facilities, they rely on their own knowledge, the support of their families, and the presence of midwives who come when called. Through these experiences, each birth becomes a story of endurance, resourcefulness, and the determination to bring new life safely into the world.