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Tiny baby survives against all odds
A premature baby that doctors say spent less time in the womb than any other surviving infant is scheduled for release from a South Florida hospital yesterday.
- AP
- Published: 00:00 February 21, 2007
- Image Credit: AP
- A healthcare worker holds Amillia Sonja Taylor.
Miami: A premature baby that doctors say spent less time in the womb than any other surviving infant is scheduled for release from a South Florida hospital yesterday.
Amillia Sonja Taylor was just 24.13cm long and weighed less than 284 grams when she was born on October 24. She was delivered after just under 22 weeks of pregnancy; full-term births come after 37 to 40 weeks.
Neonatologists who cared for Amillia say she is the first baby known to survive after a gestation period of fewer than 23 weeks. "We weren't too optimistic," Dr William Smalling said on Monday. "But she proved us all wrong."
The baby has experienced respiratory problems, a very mild brain haemorrhage and some digestive problems, but none of the health concerns are expected to pose long-term problems, her doctors said.
"We can deal with lungs and things like that but, of course, the brain is the most important," Dr Paul Fassbach, who has cared for Amillia since her second day, said over the phone on Monday. "But her prognosis is excellent."
Amillia is the first child for Eddie and Sonja Taylor of Homestead. She was conceived by in vitro fertilisation, which made it possible to pinpoint her exact time in the womb, and was delivered by Caesarean section.
She now is between 64 and 66cm long and weighs 2kg. "It's a prize baby," Fassbach said. "A miracle," Smalling added.
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