A lifeline for new parents
How mobile-based follow-up care can build confidence and save lives.
Caring for a newborn can be both joyful and overwhelming. The early days bring sleepless nights, moments of worry, and a constant stream of questions — especially for first-time parents still learning what’s expected and what might be a cause for concern.
These feelings were all too familiar for 35-year-old Ranjan Shrestha and his wife, Nima Sherpa, who live in Baneswor, a residential area of Nepal’s capital city, Kathmandu. Earlier this year, they welcomed their first child — a baby girl — and began navigating the steep learning curve of parenthood.
Yet even in those early, exhausting days, Ranjan says one memory outshines everything else: “Seeing my daughter for the first time was the happiest moment of my life.”
However, like many new fathers, he admits he didn’t know much about newborn care and relied on his mother’s experience during the first few days postpartum. The nurses too stepped in with reassurance and practical guidance via a Care Companion Program (CCP) session, explaining newborn feeding techniques, what signs to watch for, and when to seek help. While this eased some of their anxieties, Ranjan and Nima were still unsure about how they’d be able to manage everything once they were home.
As they were being discharged, the nurses shared one more layer of support — the mobile-based component of the CCP designed to help families continue receiving care and guidance once they’re home.
“The hospital gave us a health records folder which included a QR code to register for the service. The nurses said if we ever had questions, we could scan the code, send a message, and that doctors and nurses would be there to reply to our concerns. That’s why I joined. I scanned it while we were still at the hospital, and then again at home on my wife’s phone,” he shared.
For Ranjan and Nima, the service became a lifeline once they were back home. Through multimedia WhatsApp messages, it offered them reassurance whenever doubts or new challenges came up.
Ranjan recalls how some of the pre-recorded videos were invaluable in easing their anxieties. “At first, we didn’t know how to feed the baby properly. However, there were several resources that I was able to get when I messaged. By watching them, Nima was able to learn more about breastfeeding.”
However, he recalls one instance where information shared by the service helped him save his baby’s life. “One day our baby had a cough, so I asked a question about it. We learnt that coughing can happen due to common issues like a cold, milk choking, or dust, and we were also informed about the danger signs that require a visit to a hospital.”
A couple of days later their daughter started making grunting sounds, which was one of the warning signs mentioned. They immediately took her to the doctor’s clinic, where she was prescribed medicines. The same night the baby vomited, so they rushed her to the hospital. The doctor diagnosed her with a viral infection, and she was admitted for a week.
“My baby is completely fine now. But without the danger signs messages that the service shared, we wouldn’t have known whether it was a normal behavior or a serious issue requiring medical attention,” Ranjan shares.
He adds that this makes him trust the service more, since it has helped him make the right decisions for his baby’s care. “Because of these messages I don’t feel unnecessarily anxious and know when and how to act.”
Having this medically-accurate and timely guidance has made everything much easier and saved them multiple trips to the hospital and clinic. Ranjan shares that he also recommended the service to his friend who also recently became a first-time father. “My friend is busy at work and doesn’t have too much time. So, since I told him about the service and he started using it, he’s been very relieved. The older fathers already know many things, but new fathers like us don’t know much and panic about small things. Because of this service, we don’t have to rush to the hospital for every minor concern,” he concludes.
This article was made possible by writing support from Shreya Adhikari, editing by Tanaya Jagtiani, illustration by Vinayak Jayasree, and story sourcing and coordination by Rachana Deshpande and Rabina Shah — thank you!
