A Birth in Burundi: Welcoming Our Second Daughter
In May 2023, I gave birth to our second daughter at Kira Hospital in Bujumbura, Burundi. Reflecting on the experience, I’m reminded of the blend of emotions I felt when I first found out I was pregnant again—scared and excited all at once. Having heard the horror stories of childbirth complications and mistreatment, I couldn’t help but be terrified at the idea of giving birth in a different country. But at the same time, I knew that being in Burundi, surrounded by family, was mentally the best place for me.
I was lucky to have my husband, aunts, cousins, and many family friends who supported me throughout the pregnancy. They took care of me before, during, and after I gave birth. It was such a different experience from when I had my first child in the U.S. where I remember feeling overwhelmed and alone postpartum. This time, I had a nanny for our older daughter and a chef and driver. Friends were around me daily for the first six months, allowing me to heal and rest. It was the kind of care that made me wonder how different it would’ve been if I were in the U.S.
Our second daughter decided to arrive fashionably late—seven days past her due date. She made her grand entrance just one day before Alex had to leave Burundi to return to work in the States. That night was long, but I was prepared, thanks to a delicious dinner of grilled umukeke, a fresh tomato, onion, avocado salad, and igitoki coje—one of my favorite meals.
I had found an amazing OBGYN at Mutima Clinic who listened to my fears and followed me closely throughout the pregnancy. He also worked at Kira Hospital, so when I called to let him know that labor had started, he notified the hospital, and we arrived within 10 minutes. The midwives were already waiting for us when we got there.
The experience at Kira Hospital was surprisingly pleasant. Alex brought my birthing balls with us, and the staff joked with him, asking if he was headed to the gym! We had to advocate for him to stay in the room, as it's not customary in Burundian culture for men to be present during childbirth. But thanks to the birthing class we took in Nashville when we had our first child, we felt confident in making our wishes known.
She was born just four hours after we arrived at the hospital, a much faster delivery than our first daughter, who took 36 hours to make her debut. The care I received from the midwives, nurses, and doctors was fantastic, and the entire experience was affordable—less than $400! We were fortunate to have a smooth birth with no complications, and we went home the next day.
Reflecting on this experience, I highly recommend considering giving birth in a different country. It was affordable, reliable, and most importantly, safe. I couldn't have asked for a better place to welcome our second daughter into the world.