Most premature baby set for home

[BoyBach]

A baby girl said to have spent the shortest time in her mother's womb is to be released from the hospital in Miami where she was born.

Amillia Taylor is believed to be the first baby to have survived following a gestation period of less than 22 weeks.

She weighed a mere 10 ounces (284 grams) at birth on 24 October.

Doctors generally consider that babies born weighing less than 14 ounces (400g) at birth stand no chance of survival.

'Miracle baby'

At the time of her birth at the Baptist Children's Hospital last October, Amillia measured 9.5in (241mm).
She spent a little under 22 weeks in her mother's womb, a world record according to the University of Iowa which keeps track of premature babies born throughout the world.

Initially, doctors held little hope for her survival.

"She's truly a miracle baby, " said Dr William Smalling, neo-natal expert at the Baptist Children's Hospital.

"We weren't too optimistic. But she proved us all wrong," he said.

Amillia has experienced respiratory problems, a very mild brain haemorrhage and some digestive problems, but doctors now say her "prognosis is excellent".

Her parents named her Amillia - which means resilient in Latin, a fighter and hardworking - to reflect her survival against the odds.

"It was hard to imagine she would get this far. But now she is beginning to look like a real baby," said Sonja Taylor, Amillia's mother.

"Even though she's only four pounds (1.8kg) now, she's plump to me," Mrs Taylor said.

She said the worst thing had been not being able to hold her baby for more than six weeks after she was born.

On Tuesday, Amillia is going home after spending nearly four months in the hospital's neo-natal intensive care unit where her every move was monitored 24 hours a day.

Doctors say she will still have to be monitored closely after her release, requiring asthma medication and extra oxygen for months to come, as she still weighs less than 4lb 6oz (2kg).

Amillia's survival demonstrates the dramatic advances in neo-natal care in recent years, correspondents say.

This is extraordinary.

 

[rdowns]

This picture really puts into perspective how tiny this baby was.

 

[.Andy]

 

[Bobdude161]

This picture really puts into perspective how tiny this baby was.

That's a big baby!!!!!!!

 

[Scarlet Fever]

did the babie come out of it functioning normally? a lot of the time, premature babies end up with some major problems, some of which can arguably make the persons life worse than death.

 

[Abstract]

I was thinking the same thing. What does "excellent condition" mean in terms of a premie? Maybe the baby will live, but will the baby live a life of poor health?

 

[Allotriophagy]

This is great news for the modern woman whose career simply does not allow the time for full pregnancy.

 

[DavidLeblond]

Wow... when she was born she was even bigger than my daughter (who is, thankfully, still in the womb)

Kinda neat to see, now I know what she looks like in there.

This is great news for the modern woman whose career simply does not allow the time for full pregnancy.

Heh your avatar is so perfect...

 

[dllavaneras]

Wow, that's a tiny baby!

And Allotriophagy, you always have the right thing to say

 

[jdechko]

Wow. That's gotta be tough. My son came out with some minor respiratory problems, and he was born at almost exactly 40 wks (39w 6d). He spent about 20 hours in NICU, and that was hard for us. But looking around at some of the other babies that were in there, our son looked great by comparison. I can't imagine how it felt for this family, but I'm certainly glad that things are looking good.

 

[mojohanna]

I have good friends who just had twins in November. One 24 weeks gestational and the other 25 (if I remember correctly). This is not something I would wish on anyone. It has been extremely difficult for them as there were many many complications that the twins had to overcome. Unfortunately, their son, the younger of the two did not make it. It is very hard to imagine going through losing a child, let alone that early in life. On the bright side of the story their daughter is doing very well now and they are talking about bringing her home soon.
Modern medicine can produce miracles, but IMO, many other factors including luck and postitive thought (for those of you who are religious please include prayer) play a role.

Here is to hoping that this baby can grow up to lead a happy and normal life despite the early challenges she has faced.