Dam Burst of Emotion

Abstract

WHO estimates that every year around 15 million babies are born preterm. Of these, around 1 million babies die due to complications of preterm birth. Survival is dependent on the quality of health care available to these babies. It is estimated that more than 3/4th of babies can be salvaged by timely and appropriate care. The author considered herself to be one of the privileged members of society, being a doctor themselves, living in a metropolitan society and having access to the best healthcare in the country. However, this overconfidence was rudely shaken when they ran from one hospital to another in search of a ventilator for their as yet unborn baby. The author's pregnancy and child birth brought them closer to the millions of parents who undergo the trauma of having a premature baby.