The World Prematurity Day celebrated on November 17 every year, brought together women and government officials in Makueni to commemorate the day and share their joy and embrace one another.
Hellen Mueni from Wote, could not hide her joy and unforgettable journey. Narrating her ordeal, Mueni said that she gave birth to a premature baby weighing 1.5kgs almost the size of a cup through caesarian section in 2011.
She admitted that the baby turns out to be a boy who is now in school and heading to grade 9 doing very well in class and general growth.
The mothers’ joy cannot be hidden when they remember they made it through the journey to and fro the neonatal care. The sound of the machines holding their children fragile lives and giving them hope with countless prayers, some shed tears of joy seeing their children out of the those machines.
“Thank God for technology advancement and skilled personnel, in the past many preterm babies could die. I just wish these incubators can be in every health facility to save more lives.” Mueni said
Mueni who delivered in Makueni county referral hospital saw the baby as a miracle and embraced him unlike many others who might have the notion of witchcraft , curse or even blaming the mother for ignorant during gestation period.
Like any other normal human being Mueni was shocked to get an underweight baby unlike the recommended weight of 2.5 kilograms for a new baby.
Mueni being abled differently and that being her first born, didn’t expect to give birth to a preterm baby.
“I had no problem at all until seventh month of my pregnancy. Infact, I came to clinic at 6 months so that my mother could believe that I was pregnant, considering my state,” Mueni said
During her 7th month, she started vomiting blood, went back to the hospital and was admitted for two weeks then onset of labor before one week to due date.
“My scan never showed any problem with my baby. We stayed in hospital for three weeks until the baby was 4.5kgs then we were discharged. Though I was uncomfortable staying in hospital, I later became used,” Mueni said.
Mueni notes that there is need for society sensitization on how to support mothers with preemies. She thanked her husband for being positive and supportive.
“I encourage other mothers who might get in the same problem to embrace the babies, thank God and ask for His favor to bring up the child and never see it as a witchcraft at all,” she said.
Mueni said that the journey calls for discipline, strictly following doctors’ call of visiting clinic up to 5 years.
Caroline Nyiva Ngumi who hails from Ikutha in Kitui County but married at Kilala of Makueni County, also shared her journey, saying that she gave birth on April 4,2025 to her third born at her 6th month.
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“I rushed to Makueni mother and child hospital at 8.00 am after onset of premature labor accompanied by bleeding. After nurses disputed that nothing like labor is happening, I was sent for scan and later told to go home then come back when real labor comes.” She said
She said that even though the scan showed everything was okay, she remained adamant that it was labour as she had had two more kids earlier. “I even asked them if they could give me some tablets which they prescribed I go and buy from outside the hospital, swallowed one tablet, however the bleeding never stopped, I went home but gave birth at 3.00pm the same day.” She said
After home delivery, they came back to the hospital, got admitted and the baby taken to newborn unit weighing 1.5kgs. Ngumi said she used to cry in those wards for fear that the preterm baby might not survive.
The trained workers who walked with her and other mothers, offered her all sorts of training on how to handle the baby, bathe and even how to feed them the breast milk.
As the nations commemorate the World Prematurity Day, a call for more community outreach has been made to curb preterm deaths.
There are 13 percent premature deaths in Kenya. In Makueni mortality rate stands at 21 percent out of 1000 live births. The county recorded 1411 preemies in the past year but 250 never made it in the first 28 days of their lives. The kangaroo care programme has also helped where 515 preemie births under the programme through skin to skin care saw 512 surviving.
By Lydia Ngoolo
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