Prime with Love: Through the eyes of a KPCC New Born Unit (NBU) nurse

By Petterson Njogu

Meet Eddah Wambui, a dedicated neonatal nurse who works in the New Born Unit at KNH Prime Care Center (KPCC). She has been working in the unit for over four years.

After normal pleasantries, we dove into understanding who a neonatal nurse is, and their role in the care process of a newborn:

A new born baby

PHOTO | STOCK

A neonatal nurse is specialized in neonatal care (newborn babies who are born prematurely); those that are between the ages of 0-28 days old.

Various types of nurses work very closely with doctors to ensure that babies recover fast. They include; neonatal nurses, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses, and general nurses.

“Neonatal nurses in particular handle different kinds of cases such as preterm neonates- these are babies who are born before 37 complete gestation weeks. We also have neonates with congenital anomalies- birth defects or disorders that may develop after birth. For instance, babies born with cleft lip and palate, club foot, and limb deficiencies just to highlight a few,” she explained.

Additionally, all sick babies between the ages of 0-28 days who have not gone home may find their way to our NBU. The reason behind this is to strictly mitigate risks that may be brought about by unknown infections. Infection Prevention Control measures oftentimes take precedence in such situations.

These unwell babies mostly suffer from a condition called neonatal sepsis (blood infection amongst infants) and jaundice. Infant jaundice occurs when the baby’s blood contains excess bilirubin – a yellowish pigment of red blood cells. Another common condition in babies who develop Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is when a baby does not cry after birth; this may be a sign of brain damage. Also, the newborn may contract respiratory distress that is caused by a low supply of oxygen.

For all the aforementioned medical conditions that the babies may face, KPCC NBU is wellequipped to handle such cases with the help of highly experienced and dedicated professionals, added Eddah.

Despite Eddah’s warm and upbeat demeanor, her job involves long hours, stressful situations, and most importantly emotional toll that comes with her line of work.

She vividly recalls baby Rachel who was born weighing 600g sometime back at KPCC. The baby was emaciated, dehydrated, and had a skin infection and breathing complications. Baby Rachel’s survival chances were slim but Eddah took her under her wing. She would spend every moment she could spare with her, holding her, and talking or singing to her.

Days turned into weeks, and baby Rachel started gaining weight and strength. Her parents were also delighted to see the difference in their baby’s health. After two months of thorough nursing care provided by Eddah and her team, the baby was eventually strong enough to go home weighing two (2) kilograms.

Watching Baby Rachel get discharged to go home with her parents made Eddah realize that she and her team may not have all the answers but one thing remains for sure- every baby that comes to her is a miracle, and she’s honored to be part of their journey to good health.

Eddah is still in touch with Baby Rachel and her parents. She constantly receives major milestones in Rachel’s life; videos of her when she started weaning and taking her first steps, the latest being her second birthday celebration photos.

On the downward also, the job comes with its share of emotional demands.

She mentioned the heartbreak she experiences when a baby doesn’t make it out of the NBU and seeing couples devastated after hearing the devastating news.

At that moment it dawns on her that hers is more than a job, she also provides love and comfort to families going through difficult moments.

To sum it all up, Eddah describes what her job entails, “At KPCC New Born Unit, we just give the love and care that every baby deserves,” she concluded.

Happy Valentine’s from the KPCC family! #PrimeWithLove