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'World's smallest' surviving premature baby released from US hospital | 'World's smallest' surviving premature baby released from US hospital |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A baby born weighing just 245g (8.6oz), believed to be the tiniest on record to survive premature birth, has been discharged from hospital in the US. | A baby born weighing just 245g (8.6oz), believed to be the tiniest on record to survive premature birth, has been discharged from hospital in the US. |
Baby Saybie weighed the same as a large apple when she was born at 23 weeks and three days in December 2018. | Baby Saybie weighed the same as a large apple when she was born at 23 weeks and three days in December 2018. |
Fighting for life, she was transferred to the intensive care unit at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital in San Diego, California. | Fighting for life, she was transferred to the intensive care unit at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital in San Diego, California. |
Doctors told Saybie's parents she had just hours to live. | Doctors told Saybie's parents she had just hours to live. |
But five months on, she was discharged weighing a healthy 5.6 pounds (2.5kg), confounding all expectations. | But five months on, she was discharged weighing a healthy 5.6 pounds (2.5kg), confounding all expectations. |
A nurse who cared for Saybie as she battled for survival said her recovery and release earlier this month was a "miracle". | A nurse who cared for Saybie as she battled for survival said her recovery and release earlier this month was a "miracle". |
The Tiniest Babies Registry said Saybie is thought to be the world's smallest surviving premature baby. | The Tiniest Babies Registry said Saybie is thought to be the world's smallest surviving premature baby. |
The previous record was held by a baby girl from Germany, born weighing 252g (8.9oz) in 2015, according to the registry, operated by the University of Iowa. | The previous record was held by a baby girl from Germany, born weighing 252g (8.9oz) in 2015, according to the registry, operated by the University of Iowa. |
A baby, born weighing just 268g (9.45oz) in Japan earlier this year, is thought to be the smallest boy to have survived premature birth. | A baby, born weighing just 268g (9.45oz) in Japan earlier this year, is thought to be the smallest boy to have survived premature birth. |
Saybie's mother gave birth to the little girl by emergency C-section three months ahead of schedule after she was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia - a pregnancy complication involving high blood pressure which can prove fatal for mother and baby. | Saybie's mother gave birth to the little girl by emergency C-section three months ahead of schedule after she was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia - a pregnancy complication involving high blood pressure which can prove fatal for mother and baby. |
In a video released by the hospital, the mother described the birth as the "scariest day of my life". | In a video released by the hospital, the mother described the birth as the "scariest day of my life". |
"I kept telling them: 'She's not going to survive. She's - I'm only 23 weeks [pregnant]'," the mother, who has chosen to remain anonymous, said. | "I kept telling them: 'She's not going to survive. She's - I'm only 23 weeks [pregnant]'," the mother, who has chosen to remain anonymous, said. |
Her birth was so premature, doctors considered her a "micro preemie" - a baby born before 28 weeks' gestation. Babies are typically born between 37 and 42 weeks into pregnancy, the hospital said. | |
She was so small she could "fit in the palm of the hands of her care team", it said. | She was so small she could "fit in the palm of the hands of her care team", it said. |
Her survival, doctors believe, could be attributed to the fact that she suffered no serious complications after birth. | Her survival, doctors believe, could be attributed to the fact that she suffered no serious complications after birth. |
"Saybie experienced virtually none of the medical challenges typically associated with micro preemies, which can include brain bleeds, and lung and heart issues," the hospital said. | "Saybie experienced virtually none of the medical challenges typically associated with micro preemies, which can include brain bleeds, and lung and heart issues," the hospital said. |