Baby Maureen K., 1

Baby Kemunto is the first and only child of his parents. The family lives in a modest two-roomed mud house that previously belonged to the child’s late paternal grandmother. Both parents are peasant farmers with no stable or formal source of income, surviving largely on subsistence farming and earning just enough to meet daily needs. During her pregnancy, the mother began experiencing persistent fatigue and noticed that she had missed her monthly periods. After sharing her concerns with her husband, the couple visited a nearby health centre, where she was confirmed to be pregnant. Due to financial constraints, she was only able to attend one antenatal clinic (ANC) visit, as transport costs and other associated expenses were unaffordable. One evening, she developed abdominal pains which progressively worsened. The following day, she sought care at the hospital for evaluation. While at the facility, she went into labour and delivered prematurely at seven months’ gestation. The baby was born with difficulty in breathing and required immediate admission to the Newborn Unit for specialized care and monitoring. While at the hospital, the family learned about Helpster Charity through a hospital staff member and a social worker who informed them that vulnerable families with financial hardship could receive assistance. Given their inability to afford the cost of neonatal care, they were guided on how to seek support from the organization.

Baby Maureen was born with difficulty in breathing, he was admitted to the new born unit where he was put on antibiotic cover, she was fed on EBM via the NGT tube , she was able to respond well to treatment and was able to breath spontaneously and also able to breastfeed feed, she gained upto 1640 grams. He was eventually discharged on orals and a follow clinic booked, a call to the mother revealed he was okay, and reaching his expected milestones.

Baby Kemunto was born prematurely at seven months’ gestation and presented with respiratory distress at birth. Prematurity places newborns at significant risk because their organs — particularly the lungs — are not fully developed. Difficulty in breathing at this stage is commonly due to lung immaturity and may require oxygen therapy, close monitoring, and specialized neonatal support. Immediate admission to the Newborn Unit was necessary to stabilize breathing, regulate body temperature, prevent infection, and provide adequate nutritional support. Premature infants are also vulnerable to complications such as hypothermia, low blood sugar, infections, feeding difficulties, and jaundice. The prognosis for Baby Kemunto is cautiously optimistic, provided she continues to receive appropriate neonatal care. Many babies born at seven months can survive and thrive with adequate medical support, though they require close monitoring during the early weeks of life.