Baby Cynthia A., 1

Baby Cynthia's mum had always experienced regular menstrual cycles, so when she missed her period that month, she immediately suspected she was pregnant. Unsure and overwhelmed with fear, she kept the news to herself as she tried to figure out her next steps. At the time, Baby Cynthia's mum was still a student and felt completely unprepared for motherhood, especially since the child’s father was also a fellow student. After being sent home from school for not paying her fees, baby Cynthia's mum chose not to return, fearing the stigma and judgment from her peers. When she finally confided in the baby's father, he pressured her to terminate the pregnancy and threatened to leave if she didn’t comply. She stood her ground, and he walked away. Her own mother sternly warned her never to consider abortion, even threatening to kick her out if she did. She attended her first antenatal clinic at three months pregnant, walking over 30 minutes to the nearest health center. By the fifth month, she began to feel unwell but dismissed it as typical pregnancy symptoms. However, her condition worsened into the sixth month, prompting a referral to Siaya County Referral Hospital. Doctors suspected that either the baby was in distress or had possibly died in the womb. An ultrasound revealed that the fetus was extremely underdeveloped. That evening, as she walked back from the hospital, she felt sharp pains in her lower abdomen. Upon arrival at the hospital, the nurse in charge examined her and found the baby’s head already emerging through the birth canal. She was immediately assisted in delivering a premature baby at six months, who was extremely small and had a low birth weight. The newborn was quickly placed in an incubator for close monitoring.

Baby Cynthia was born before the usual 37 weeks of gestation, and as a result, she was also of low birth weight. This warranted admission to the NBU (newborn unit), where she was placed in an incubator and fed and monitored. She stayed in the NBU for two weeks, upon which she gained weight , from 1236 grams to 1660 grams, a significant improvement. Having gained weight and being able to breastfeed, she was discharged home. A visit by the volunteer to her home revealed that she was growing well as expected; she was feeding as expected too.

A baby born at 28 weeks and 1200g has a good chance of survival (85–90%) with modern care and a moderate risk of long-term complications—many of which can be mitigated with early and consistent intervention. If the baby is not urgently addressed they risk suffering ; Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS): Very common; typically managed with surfactant and ventilatory support. Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH): Risk of bleeding in the brain, especially before 28 weeks. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC): A serious intestinal problem; monitored carefully. Infections (sepsis): Immature immune system increases susceptibility. Apnea and bradycardia: Pauses in breathing and slow heart rate, common in preterms.