Baby susan A., 1

Baby Susan is the only child of her mother. She lives with her mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, uncle, and aunt in a two-roomed, mud-walled house. Her mother, who recently completed secondary school, is currently unemployed, and the entire family depends on the grandmother, who works as a casual laborer to support them. Baby Susan’s mother reported that she initially began feeling unwell and informed her grandmother, who suspected she might be pregnant and encouraged her to visit a health facility. The pregnancy was confirmed, and she began attending antenatal care (ANC). However, due to the long distance—requiring a one-hour walk—she was unable to attend all her scheduled visits. As the pregnancy progressed, Baby Susan's mother developed severe symptoms, including a persistent throbbing headache, dizziness, and episodes of vomiting. These symptoms persisted for some time, but she was unable to seek medical care due to lack of funds. On the day of the incident, she recalls very little, only that she later regained consciousness in the hospital after undergoing surgery. She was subsequently informed that she had developed seizures and collapsed at home. Her grandmother, with the help of neighbors, rushed her to a nearby health facility, where she was stabilized and referred to Siaya County Referral Hospital. There, she underwent an emergency caesarean section due to eclampsia, a severe and life-threatening pregnancy complication characterized by seizures in women with preeclampsia (high blood pressure and protein in the urine) and brought forth Baby Susan, who is a preterm baby with low birth weight.

Baby Susan was admitted to the new born unit for management after being born prematurely of low birth weight. She was fed via nasal gastric tube on EBM which she retained. Later she was able to be introduced to breast milk and was able to breastfeed well. She was also administered antibiotics which she retained. She was eventually discharged on orals having put on weight upto 1650 grams

After delivery, Baby Susan was assessed and diagnosed with Prematurity and Low Birth Weight. Due to these conditions, Baby Susan’s organs, especially the lungs, digestive system, and immune system, are not yet fully developed, placing her at increased risk of complications such as breathing difficulties, infections, feeding challenges, and problems maintaining body temperature. As a result, she requires specialized neonatal care, including close monitoring, assisted feeding, temperature regulation, and treatment to prevent infections. The medical team has recommended continued care in the neonatal unit. The prognosis for Baby Susan will depend on the level of specialized care she receives and her response to treatment. With proper medical support, careful monitoring, adequate nutrition, and infection prevention, many premature babies with extremely low birth weight can gradually gain strength and grow over time.