Mother & Baby Home

Key statistics

The Mother and Baby Home (locally known as Baan Sukruthai) offers a temporary refuge for vulnerable women from all parts of Thailand. Currently supporting 16 mothers, the home provides accommodation, nourishing food, and other personal necessities to mothers and their children until they are able to return to their homes (if possible) or stand on their own (Photos are blurred to protect residents identities).

million women live in Thailand
36
births per 1,000 females aged 15-19 (compared to 11 in Australia)
45
mothers are currently staying at the home
16

Through a carefully considered program, the women gain vital knowledge including sex education, basic healthcare, and an understanding of child development.

As a part of each individual woman’s care plan, they are provided with one-on-one counselling at least once a week and group counselling once a month.

Each day, for around 30 to 45 minutes, the mothers practice their parenting skills, bonding with their children and learning practical caring skills. Pregnant mothers also learn relaxation techniques. Postnatal classes include breastfeeding lessons for the first 3 months, correct holding techniques, and communication to support infant development. Group activities include games, storytelling, and sharing lessons learned and healing processes that are working in their lives.

The Good Shepherd Sisters have become adept at coordinating and collaborating with government service units and private sectors such as hospitals, clinics, attorneys, psychologists, and social workers.

Families in the area are still facing the impact of COVID-19 with many grieving the death of loved ones.

Stories from the ground:

Tuk’s* is from north-eastern Thailand. Her parents separated when she was young. She was placed, with her younger brother, under the care of their single mother.

Tuk fell pregnant while still at high school as a result of sexual assault. She was pressured by many people to end her pregnancy and as a result decided to move away to Bangkok where she found the Mother and Baby Home.

Tuk asked the Sisters for assistance in talking with her mother so that she could stay at the home to give birth to her child. It took time and patience to help Tuk’s family understand the situation. Building trust and confidence was an important part of the process. The home helped Tuk continue her studies and take her final exams online so she could still graduate high school on time.

Tuk has now returned home and is living happily with her mother and family again.