From fragile to flourishing
How Kangaroo Mother Care helps premature babies survive and thrive
Lahore, Punjab: Amid the hustle and bustle of the paediatric ward at the Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS) in Lahore, 11-week-old Muhammad Ahmed sleeps soundly in his mother Zunaira’s arms. As she speaks to him in a soft, soothing voice, his mouth curls into a smile, delighting the nurses and doctors around them.
Zunaira gave birth to Ahmed at a local clinic on 24 November 2024. Weighing a mere 2.4 kg, he was born prematurely at 35 weeks. Five days later, Zunaira noticed he was struggling to breathe and had developed a fever along with seizures. Alarmed by his symptoms, she and her husband rushed him to SIMS.
Due to their low birth weight and underdeveloped organs, premature babies have lower immunity and are often susceptible to various diseases.
By the time Ahmed was admitted to SIMS, his weight had already dropped to a distressing 1.7 kg. Doctors diagnosed him with meningitis, a life-threatening bacterial infection, and immediately placed him in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where he remained in an incubator for 14 days receiving intensive care.
“He was extremely weak and battling a dangerous illness,” says Dr. Rani Saba, Supervisor of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at SIMS. “We had to keep him under constant monitoring.”
It was during this time that Dr. Rani gradually introduced Zunaira to Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), a globally recognized, non-invasive method that involves prolonged skin-to-skin contact between a caregiver and an underweight, at-risk baby.
Every day in Pakistan, over 700 newborns die, with preterm birth being one of the leading causes. Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) has helped transform neonatal care, offering a simple, cost-effective approach to saving thousands of fragile lives. This practice strengthens the bond between mother and baby, reduces stress, and improves survival rates.
"When he was in the NICU for two weeks, the doctors told us anything could happen—his life was uncertain, and we felt completely helpless. I was desperate for him to get better," says Zunaira. She has two daughters, aged nine and four, and had hoped for a boy during her pregnancy which happened after a stressful miscarriage. When Ahmed was born, she was beyond grateful.
"I had already decided that if we lost him, I wouldn’t try for another child."
During Ahmed’s time in the NICU, Dr. Rani repeatedly encouraged Zunaira to hold her baby and breastfeed him with direct skin-to-skin contact. The concept was entirely new to Zunaira, but she was willing to try anything to save her son.
With the help of a lactation nurse, Zunaira was relieved to finally be able to breastfeed her son. The combination of KMC, dedicated medical care, and constant monitoring began to show results. As Ahmed’s health improved and his weight increased, Zunaira and her son were moved to the specialized KMC unit across the hall, where they stayed for six more days.
The KMC unit is a dedicated space for mothers with low-birth-weight babies who are no longer in critical condition but still need support to reach a healthy weight of 2.5 kg. Here, nurses and doctors guide mothers on how to properly hold their babies close to their chests, recognize hunger cues, and respond with breastfeeding.
"KMC has multiple benefits for both the baby and the mother," says Dr. Rani. "It helps mothers recognize their baby's hunger cues and regulate their precarious body temperature. Beyond the physical advantages, the emotional bonding nurtured through KMC has lasting benefits for the baby's development and the mother's own well-being."
Even fathers and other caregivers are encouraged to practice KMC to give mothers a break, whether at the hospital or at home.
"When he would be directly against my chest, I felt a deep sense of comfort and connection with my baby," says Zunaira. She recalls the overwhelming joy she felt when Ahmed was moved from the NICU to the KMC ward, where his weight steadily improved each day.
“Once a baby reaches the goal weight of 2.5 kg and is in stable health, we discharge them with guidance on how to continue KMC at home as much as possible,” says Dr. Rani. Mothers receive a UNICEF-provided kit containing essential KMC items, including a wrap to hold the baby skin-to-skin, a warm hat, and a cup for expressed breast milk.
Parents are advised to closely monitor their child and immediately seek medical attention if they notice any signs of concern, such as breathing difficulties, major fluctuations in temperature, feeding issues (not feeding for more than two hours), changes in skin colour, lack of urination, or diarrhoea.
After leaving the hospital, Zunaira says she continued practicing KMC at home for another two weeks and fed Ahmed on demand. Now, she is back at SIMS for his scheduled three-month follow-up visit. Dr. Rani and KMC Supervisor, Dr. Bareerah, carefully examine him. Thankfully, his weight has nearly doubled to 3.8 kg.
“His progress is excellent,” says Dr. Rani. “We checked all growth parameters, ensured his vaccinations are up to date, and there are no signs of malnutrition. With proper care and feeding, he is clearly growing stronger every day.”
Zunaira’s next visit with Ahmed will be in three months, when he turns six months old.
"I’m so satisfied with the KMC method and deeply grateful for the support the doctors and staff provided. It gave my baby a second chance at life!" says Zunaira, her face lighting up.
With UNICEF’s support, 65 KMC units have been established across Pakistan since 2018, helping over 18,000 premature babies survive. In a bid to save even more lives, UNICEF calls åfor comprehensive newborn care, including KMC, which builds on the foundation of quality maternal and neonatal services for all.
By 2027, UNICEF and its partners are prioritizing on an integrated approach to accelerate the implementation of essential neonatal services, from secondary-level hospitals to primary health care and community health —to give thousands more newborns a fighting chance at life.
