Stella Kyalo’s journey into motherhood took a heartbreaking turn when she gave birth to her twins prematurely at just six months. Tragically, one of the babies did not survive. Overwhelmed with fear and grief, Stella poured all her energy into caring for her surviving child, determined to give them a fighting chance.
Stella’s experience is not unique. Many mothers of preterm babies face similar emotional and mental struggles as they navigate the challenges of caring for their fragile newborns.
According to Dr Cecilia Muturi Kariuki Neonatologist Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital seeing a preterm baby can be hard on a mother, Dr. Cecilia, who has worked closely with mothers of preterm infants, emphasizes the profound impact this journey can have.
“Seeing a preterm baby is not easy for a mom,” she explains. “Depending on how preterm they are, their skin can appear translucent, most of them are really tiny, and some have heads that are a bit bigger than their bodies. Their private parts may also look different. All of this can be hard for a mom to take in, but we give them hope and remind them that their babies have the potential to grow and survive.”
Currently in Kenya prematurity is the leading cause of neonatal death, this is according to Kenya Health Information Systems, and 37 per cent of deaths in 2023 were caused by prematurity related complications.
Ahead of World Prematurity Day, much of the attention is placed on ensuring access to quality healthcare for preterm babies. However, the emotional and financial toll on caregivers often goes overlooked. Caring for a preterm baby is an overwhelming journey, marked by immense emotional strain and significant financial challenges for families.
While the government has made strides in improving neonatal care standards, the full weight of this journey is often carried by the caregivers, especially mothers. They face immense physical, emotional, and financial challenges, as they navigate prolonged hospital stays, possible job loss, and significant stress.
The government has put in place standards of care that will aid in improving the survival of premature newborns including Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), a practice that Stella credits for saving her baby.
“Before KMC my baby was dropping in weight, she was born at 1.4 Kgs and dropped to 1.3 Kgs and then I started contionous skin to skin contact for over 8 hours a day every day. “Stella shared.
“While I was at KMC, my back ached from sitting for long periods,” She continued. “At first, it was a big challenge because I had twins, but after one passed on, I focused all my energy on the surviving baby. With KMC, you have to maintain strict cleanliness to avoid infecting your baby, and that was a constant source of anxiety for me.”
The financial burden of caring for a premature baby extends beyond the emotional toll, particularly for mothers practicing Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC). Unable to work during the prolonged hospital.
According to Dr Cecilia depending on the baby’s condition prematurity is often accompanied by long hospital stays especially for the caregivers, this can impact their jobs and lead to loss of said jobs. She noted that this can lead to a lot of strained relationships.
Calling for empathy she said, “Nobody ever sets out to have a preterm baby. However, when it happens, there’s a lot of blame involved—it’s stressful and a huge shock for most parents. The energy and mental tenacity needed is immense. The hospital stay can also be mentally taxing, often lasting two to three months, which means the mother, usually the main caregiver, might lose her stable job if she has one, and perhaps even parts of her social circle.”
As Kenya continues to strengthen its newborn care initiatives, including the distribution of equipment like CPAP machines and the implementation of Kangaroo Mother Care, there is a growing recognition that the journey of preterm birth extends far beyond the hospital room.it requires a collective effort and active male involvement, Dr Cecilia was quick to point that fathers too can practice KMC, this can help alleviate pressure from the mothers and improve the babies’ chance of survival.
Speaking to journalists Stella had a message of hope for other mothers going through the same journey, “there is hope, today my baby is 6 months old and hitting all her milestones, so do not give up and trust in the doctors’ advice,”
