Labour pains in the Democratic Republic of Congo.<br/> <br />According to a report on Tuesday by charity Save the Children, it's the toughest place on earth to be a mother.<br/> <br />The State of the World's Mothers 2013 report ranks countries by how safe they are for mothers and newborns.<br/> <br />The index is based on access to health care, education and economic opportunity.<br/> <br />Finnish mothers stand the highest chance of their babies thriving, with Finland ranked No 1.<br/> <br />Of 179 countries rated, Nordic nations swept the top spots, while Southern African countries made up the bottom ten.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) ISHBEL MATHESON, SPOKESWOMAN, SAVE THE CHILDREN, SAYING:<br/> <br />"Since 1990 the child mortality globally has dropped by forty percent, that is extraordinary success, but there are a number of key challenge that remain and one of them is around newborns. A million newborn babies are still dying every year."<br/> <br />Many of these deaths could be prevented by introducing simple, low-c
