Two at Once

Twins who started KMC within 2 hours of birth return healthy to their first check up.

When Anjali's* twins were born just before Christmas - one at 2150 grams and a smaller one at 1830 grams - both were low birth weight and needed extra care. Within just two hours of delivery, once both were assessed as stable, they were enrolled in Ansh's Kangaroo Mother Care program at Bharatpur District Hospital.

A determined start

Anjali threw herself into KMC. Over two days of close support in the hospital, she gave more than eight hours of skin-to-skin care a day, learning to position both babies and keep them warm and thermally stable. Feeding was the early challenge — both twins struggled to suck — so she began with expressed breast milk given by cup, feeding every two hours and burping each baby for a good 25 minutes afterwards. Formula was used only when the doctor advised it, with breast milk always the mainstay. Her mother-in-law's steady help made it possible to keep going.

"We are caring for our babies just the way you taught us" — Anjali

Going home

The twins were discharged in a stable condition, and around two weeks later, Anjali returned with her mother-in-law for a check-up. Both babies had gained weight well, reaching 2200 and 2098 grams.

Even at home, Anjali and her family had kept up the cup feeding and skin-to-skin care, confident and consistent. For twins born small, a family pulling together to start KMC early and continue consistently can make all the difference.

*Name changed to protect privacy