Our bouncing babies!

Here's lookin' at you! Athman

Bouncing babies!

The two youngest members of our family, Athman and Neema, are pictures of health and testimony to our Happy House magic at work.

Nourishment and nurture plus lots of love, has given these two little ones a real chance in life.

Tragically, both children will never know their mothers.They died in childbirth - a scenario all too common in Africa.

Athman, born prematurely was three weeks old and weighed just 1.5k g, when he came to our family at the end of March with his brother Abu and sister Sudi.

His grandmum struggling bring up the  three little ones, was feeding him all she could afford -cow's milk diluted with water. He had constant diarrhoea. Fearing for her precious grandchild she called for help and Uncle Billy, our social worker, was contacted... Now this adorable little boy is doing well, growing all the time and tipping the scales at almost 5kg. He looks round when called by name and follows the movements of all those around him with interest.
The chuckles when tickled and pulls the some adorably cheeky faces.

Athman is in good health and loves company and cuddles - something he is never short of with so many brothers and sisters around and willing to oblige!

Baby Neema, too, is all smiles. She is bright as a button and playful and enjoys being with the other little ones in the baby banda.

Neema's mum died shortly after giving birth in January. Her father was trying to care for he and her three elder sisters, enlisting help where he could.  But looking after such a small baby became impossible for him whilst trying to earn a living to support all his children and Neema was placed in our care, giving him a chance to reorganise his life.

Sitting pretty: Neema

Neema now weighs a healthy 6kg, is able to sit upright without support and loves playing with toys, treating every day as a new adventure!

Both Athman’s grandmum and Neema’s dad have been to visit and are overjoyed to see the babies they love doing so well. 

*The safe arrival in hospital of Britain's new royal baby, Prince George, highlights the difference between the developed and the developing world.

For the majority of Western mums-to-be, the months leading up to the birth of a baby are full of scheduled antenatal appointments, classes and ultrasounds. The nine months of waiting are crammed full of information on how best to care for the growing life, which continues  when the baby arrives with postnatal care being an essential part of a midwife's role.

For many women in the Africa, poverty  and a lack of information and health education means they just don't know about the importance of antenatal and postnatal checks, or the value of giving birth at a health centre or hospital and too many mothers' and (or) babies die.