Portable Ultrasound, Maternal Health, and the Power of Access

This International Mother’s Day, Emergency Project is reflecting on the reality that for millions of women around the world, pregnancy and childbirth still remain among the most dangerous moments in life.

In the rural highlands of the Dominican Republic, many families live hours from the nearest healthcare facility. During one of our recent clinics in Mozoví, our team performed an ultrasound for an expectant mother and discovered she was carrying twins, immediately identifying her pregnancy as significantly higher risk and changing the course of her care.

The moment, featured in our newest video alongside our partners at Butterfly Network, highlights both the challenges many underserved communities continue to face and the growing role portable diagnostics can play in improving maternal and newborn outcomes worldwide.

Using portable ultrasound technology in rural clinics, refugee settings, and underserved regions globally, Emergency Project teams are helping frontline providers identify high-risk pregnancies earlier, guide referrals, support local training efforts, and expand access to care where even basic imaging has historically remained out of reach.

The video also highlights the importance of pairing technology with education. Alongside clinical care, our teams continue conducting maternal health and high-risk pregnancy trainings within the communities we serve, helping strengthen local capacity long after missions conclude.

This Mother’s Day, we celebrate mothers everywhere while recognizing the urgent need to continue expanding access to safe pregnancy care around the world.