Abu Dhabi: A baby born at 25 weeks of pregnancy and weighing just more than half a kilogram in the capital was finally taken home from the hospital by his parents this week.
Henrid Digo was born on March 21 to Henry Digo, 43, and Riza Digo, 39, when Riza developed pre-eclampsia, a condition marked by high blood pressure during pregnancy.
After being hospitalised, doctors decided that it was safest to deliver the baby boy via emergency caesarean section, despite the risks of survival posed by pre-term delivery.
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“I was so afraid when I heard that my baby had to be delivered, for both my wife and my son. All I could do was pray, especially as little Henrid weighed just 580 grams at birth,” Digo, an engineer from the Philippines, told Gulf News.
“This is why it was such a God-given blessing for us to be able to bring our son home last Saturday. My daughters, who were not able to see him while he was kept in the neonatal intensive care unit, were delighted to finally welcome their brother,” he added.
Complications
Although premature babies born at 25 weeks have an 80 per cent chance of survival, there can be various other complications, including cardiac problem, sepsis and haemorrhage.
“But we had to deliver [Henrid] because of severe hypertension in the mother. At birth, he was in respiratory distress, and his lungs had not yet fully developed their ability to function,” said Dr Govinda Shenoy, head of neonatology at Medeor 24x7 Hospital.
Henrid was hospitalised for 102 days after delivery, and initially even kept on mechanical ventilation. After about two months, he began to be fed orally.
“My wife and I used to go over to the hospital four times a day just to feed and hold Henrid, and were so grateful to God that he never developed any other health complications.”
When he was discharged, Henrid was finally 1.88 kilograms, and is now gaining weight steadily, to the joy of his parents.
“Our friends all came by to see our baby on Saturday and wish us well. We are so grateful to God, and to the hospital, for everything so far,” Digo added.
