𝐖𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐨 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞

…𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒏-𝒕𝒐-𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒆𝒔

By Yeshi Dolma

In a quiet room inside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck Mother and Child Hospital, a young mother holds her tiny newborn against her chest. There are no monitors beeping loudly or incubators buzzing- just warmth, breath, and life supported by the simple act of skin-to-skin contact. This moment marks an important step in the survival of Bhutan’s most vulnerable infants.

On 15 May 2025, as Bhutan joins the global community in observing International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day, the country celebrates not only progress but also the people behind it. Mothers, fathers, grandparents, and healthcare workers have all played roles in helping newborns survive and grow through Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC). This approach has become a key part of neonatal care in Bhutan, combining medical practice with family involvement.
For Phurpa Yangzom, giving birth two months early was a frightening experience. “When I first held my daughter skin-to-skin, I was scared she might break,” she says. “But then I felt her warmth and I knew we were healing each other.” Born fragile, Phurpa’s daughter’s survival was uncertain. However, the hours spent in the kangaroo position, with the baby resting on her bare chest, brought stability and strength. For Phurpa, the warmth replaced worry, and her embrace became a source of healing.

This experience reflects the broader reality in Bhutan’s NICUs. The phrase “In your arms, I thrive” is not just a sentiment but a truth lived by families choosing KMC. It is a way of building bonds that go beyond medical treatment and shows that care and connection are vital for newborn survival.

Beside Phurpa, her husband Jigme takes over the next KMC session. “At first, I didn’t know if I was doing it right,” he admits. “But the nurses encouraged me. Now, I feel closer to my baby than I ever imagined.” In Bhutan, fathers have become essential caregivers in newborn care. Their active participation during the earliest days supports both the baby and the family.

Ugyen, a 49-year-old grandmother, shares her own story. Her twin grandchildren were born at just 33 weeks and 4 days, with their mother too ill to hold them after birth. “At first, I was uncomfortable,” Ugyen says. “We had to take off our clothes for the babies to lie on our bare skin, and I felt shy. But when the nurse explained how it could save their lives, I was relieved. I realized this was something I could do.” Together with the babies’ father and the recovering mother, Ugyen helped provide at least 18 hours of KMC daily. “We became a team,” she says, “and our babies got stronger in our arms.”

This collective effort has been crucial to KMC’s success in Bhutan. Communities have come together, supporting each other while caring for newborns. Every moment of warmth and connection strengthens families and helps write a story of survival.

Healthcare workers are central to this movement. In the NICU, a nurse guides Sangay, a first-time mother, preparing for her first KMC session. Sangay’s baby is connected to breathing tubes and IV fluids. Hesitant at first, Sangay listens as the nurse explains: “KMC is safe, even for babies on support. It helps stabilize vital signs, builds immunity, and most importantly, helps you and your baby bond.” Encouraged, Sangay carefully follows instructions. As she holds her baby against her chest, her expression changes from fear to calm. “She’s so small but she’s mine. And I can help her,” she whispers.

These moments reflect the “First Embrace” philosophy at the heart of Bhutan’s KMC program. The first hours of life are critical, and the close contact between parent and newborn provides warmth, comfort, and connection needed for survival. Prioritizing this embrace has led to significant improvements in survival rates.

Bhutan’s KMC journey began in 2013 with the opening of the first unit at the National Referral Hospital. The country made further progress in 2017 by becoming the first in the region to scale up Early Essential Newborn Care and KMC nationwide. Hundreds of health workers have since been trained, and KMC is now standard practice across Bhutanese hospitals.

Statistics show the impact of these efforts. In 2024, the NICU at JDWNRH admitted 410 newborns, including 159 preterm infants. Babies born before 28 weeks faced a mortality rate of 52.6 percent, while those born between 34 and 36 weeks had a survival rate of 96.8 percent. Birth weight was also a factor, with infants under 1000 grams experiencing a 46.7 percent mortality rate, compared to 3.4 percent for those over 3500 grams. Overall, 91.2 percent of newborns admitted to the NICU survived, demonstrating the effectiveness of early and family-inclusive care.

Anantalal Adhikari, whose baby was born at seven months, describes his KMC experience as both emotional and empowering. “I take turns holding my baby in the kangaroo position with my wife,” he says. “She stays warm, and I feel her heart beating. I know this is helping her live.” He adds, “We are lucky. The staff here are not just skilled, they’re kind. They showed us that love and care are part of the treatment.”

From Mongar to Thimphu, Bhutan’s newborn care approach combines compassion, tradition, and science. Hospitals and clinics mark Kangaroo Care Awareness Day with education sessions, parent celebrations, and renewed support for family participation in neonatal care. Bhutan’s message is clear: the smallest babies deserve the strongest commitment. Whether it is a grandmother overcoming hesitation, a father finding his role, or a mother holding her baby for the first time, each act of care contributes to survival.

At a time when high-technology medicine draws global attention, Bhutan is demonstrating the power of simple care and family involvement. Through KMC, the country continues to improve newborn survival and offers an example of how warmth and connection support life.