Jayme was born at 23 weeks weighing only 680 grams, slightly bigger than an adult hand. His birth and the following months were a very difficult and anxious time for his parents, Randal and Yumi, though they felt well supported by the medical team. Despite additional complications at 18 months with a liver tumour, Jayme is now thriving. His father Randal says. “We did not have great hope and were preparing for the worst. He has amazed us. He not only survived but is thriving.”

In the next decade, Yumi wishes that preterm birth was an openly discussed topic. “Parents should not have to rely only on the internet for information.”

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Katherine went into preterm labour in February 2020, and her son, Santiago, was born at 25 weeks. Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 pandemic, her husband, Pablo, had limited access to his wife and son during the delivery and after. “I was not allowed to see my son. Only mothers and women could enter the area, no men were allowed in. I felt so powerless.” Santiago was discharged when he was 4 months old, and was later diagnosed with cerebral paralysis and West Syndrome. Today, his parents enjoy every moment and milestone.

In the next decade, they would like to see stronger partnership between medical practitioners and patients.

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Rachel was hospitalized 21 weeks into her pregnancy due to major bleeding. Her hospital stay was traumatic. “I was in absolute agony, but nobody took me seriously until I became septic. They were all talking about me, but no one was talking to me.” Rachel went into preterm labour at 26 weeks, suffering from sepsis. She was rushed into surgery where she gave birth to Estelle, who was taken to the NICU. Estelle, now seven years old, is happy, healthy and “a ray of sunshine.” However, Rachel still suffers from PTSD relating to the experience of Estelle’s birth.

In the next decade, Rachel would like to see better communication between medical staff, families and mental health care for the entire family.

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Gabriela and Jerome were excited about welcoming their third child to the family. Unfortunately, Gabriela went into preterm labour, and their son, Jalen, was stillborn having died of a common bacteria known as group B streptococcus or GBS. “I held on to hope but never imagined to hear, ‘there is no heartbeat’.” This traumatic experience made Gabriela and Jerome realize the lack of resources for families that suffer a pregnancy or infant loss. They started an organization in honour of Jalen to help other affected families.

In the next decade, Gabriela and Jerome would like to see more awareness about GBS in pregnancy as well as support to parents, especially to fathers, after a stillbirth.

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Anita gave birth to Abhishek and Koresh at seven months pregnant; she was worried, having previously had a miscarriage, and feared a repetition of that loss. The twin boys were taken to the NICU at Bharatpur Hospital. “They took good care of me and my babies. They wrapped my babies in clothes, washed and cleaned up all the blood, and put me into bed. I felt very good.” Anita was able to provide Kangaroo Mother Care and breastfeed both babies. “Health workers used to come and see me and take care of my babies. They helped when I was not feeling well, and they helped me to produce and feed milk to my babies.”

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When 17-year-old Ashley found out that she was pregnant, she felt “lost.” Ashley left boarding school but could not return to her parents’ rural home as she registered to take the national exams. Ashley was hospitalized following abdominal pains 28 weeks into her pregnancy and gave birth to her baby girl, Ainsley, at 30 weeks. Just six weeks after her baby was born, she sat for her secondary school national exams. Ainsley is now 6 months old and thriving, despite some breathing complications.

In the next decade, Ashley would like to see more support for teenaged and young mothers. “Don’t write off a girl, just because she got pregnant early. It is depressing and stressful, but it is not the end of life.”

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Jayme was born at 23 weeks weighing only 680 grams, slightly bigger than an adult hand. His birth and the following months were a very difficult and anxious time for his parents, Randal and Yumi, though they felt well supported by the medical team. Despite additional complications at 18 months with a liver tumour, Jayme is now thriving. His father Randal says. “We did not have great hope and were preparing for the worst. He has amazed us. He not only survived but is thriving.”

In the next decade, Yumi wishes that preterm birth was an openly discussed topic. “Parents should not have to rely only on the internet for information.”

Read more