Being premature in the developing world

These are the two newest additions to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.  They are twin brothers, born at 29 weeks 4 days of gestation (roughly 7 months into the pregnancy), and today they are 13 days old.  They are not only very premature, but they are very small - the first twin weighs 1.25kg (2lb 12oz), and his brother weighs 0.9kg (1lb 11oz).  They are being fed through tubes going through their noses into their stomachs, because they are too young to breastfeed - they can’t coordinate when to swallow and when to breathe, so they would end up inhaling the breast milk.

The NICU here at St. Martin de Porres Catholic General Hospital is different from the NICU’s in the US.  Here, the incubators are made of wood and plexiglass, and they are heated by 4 lightbulbs.  We have 5 incubators, and currently 2 are occupied - one by the twins, and the other by a premie born at 29 weeks, who just turned 1 month old.  When the electricity goes out, if the generator cannot be turned on, then we use hot water bottles to keep the babies warm.  There is also an oxygen concentrator, but no other means of respiratory support, and no monitors.

Although it does not seem like much, this NICU is all that stands between these tiny babies and certain death.  I’m proud to be working at a hospital on the front line of healthcare!