Projects by MOM Center
Evidence-based education and support for medical professionals, mothers, and families across Armenia.
Large-Scale Tri-Component Breastfeeding Program
A nationwide initiative ensuring that every maternity hospital in Armenia now has coverage by a certified breastfeeding consultant — delivering lasting structural change across the country's maternity care system.
Childbirth Preparation Courses
This project increases the physical and psychological preparedness of pregnant women. It consists of 46 in-person and online courses conducted in polyclinics and birth centers in Yerevan and the Aragatsotn region. Approximately 375 women participated in sessions covering diet, pain relief methods, postpartum care, and the psycho-emotional role of a doula. The goal is to move women from being passive recipients of care to becoming confident beneficiaries who understand informed consent and their healthcare rights.
Fathers' Club
This initiative challenges traditional patriarchal ideals in Armenian society by providing a safe space for men to process parental emotions without the pressure to appear "strong." Fathers and expectant fathers meet to share successes and failures, discuss practical baby care, and find a genuine sense of belonging. The program addresses an often-overlooked gap: the emotional and practical preparation of fathers for the realities of parenthood.
The project conducted two training cycles in late 2025, involving 28 fathers and their spouses, alongside two dedicated sessions for healthcare workers — building empathy and understanding across the entire care ecosystem.
MOM for Artsakh Emergency Response
In September 2023, over 120,000 Armenians were forcibly displaced from Artsakh following a military offensive and a months-long blockade that cut off food, medicine, and basic supplies. Nursing mothers and infants became the most vulnerable — breastfeeding became a matter of survival. MOM specialists taught special relactation techniques one mother at a time, via video call, reaching thousands through Facebook lives and Zoom sessions.
Displaced by the Blockade
This 3-month program supports mothers from Artsakh by providing holistic knowledge on the social and cultural perspectives of motherhood — addressing body perceptions and personal politics, issues often overlooked by standard care providers. Each mother receives an informational summary booklet to support their continued education.
Multidisciplinary Prenatal and Postnatal Care Initiative
A multidisciplinary team of pediatricians, lactation consultants, and doulas provided prenatal and postnatal preparation to families. The project specifically addressed breastfeeding promotion and restoration, as well as mother-child mental health. A critical component was group post-traumatic psychological therapy for mothers who had lived through the post-war period and displacement.
Professional Ethics Rules for Health Workers
This course provides 20 hours of lectures aimed at senior and middle medical personnel. It is designed to satisfy the mandatory requirement for 10 Continuous Professional Development (CME) credits as mandated by the Minister of Health. The curriculum focuses on strengthening professional confidence and helping medical workers navigate complex ethical situations while acting within legal and professional responsibility.
Safe Life from the First Breath
This project targets Primary Healthcare (PHC) workers, including family physicians, pediatricians, OB-GYNs, and neonatologists. Out of 140 registered applicants, 50 specialists were selected due to regulations limiting lecture audiences to 50 people. The 27-hour course focuses on modern, evidence-based protocols for maternal and child health, child nutrition, and the management of pregnancy and childbirth. A key deliverable includes the publication of a 60-page professional book for specialists and a tri-fold A4 educational booklet for patients.
Current Issues in Maternal and Child Health
Developed under a Memorandum of Cooperation between the NIH and the MOM Center, this initiative aimed to train healthcare professionals in modern evidence-based practices. Across two phases, it provided 54 total hours of lectures to PHC medical workers, pediatricians, and nurses. The program awarded a cumulative total of 6,345 CME points across all participants. Topics included child supervision, maternal nutrition, and modern childbirth management.
National Educational Series on Physiologic Childbirth and Maternal Health
This educational series is designed to strengthen the skills of perinatal care professionals across all regions of Armenia. It promotes natural, physiologic management of childbirth with minimal interventions to improve maternal and child health outcomes. The series involved 80 Armenian and international speakers and covered 100 expert themes. More than 300 specialists earned 72 CME credits each through this program.