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blenchi
 Posted:
Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:52 pm |
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miracle baby
| Quote: | Premature baby to stay for checks
At birth, Amillia was only as long as a pen
Amillia at 22 weeks
Doctors in Miami are delaying the release of the world's most-premature baby, saying she will stay in hospital a few more days for checks.
They had earlier said Amillia Taylor would be allowed to go home on Tuesday.
Amillia 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. Babies under 14 ounces were thought to stand no chance of survival.
'Miracle baby'
A spokeswoman at the Baptist Children's Hospital gave no details on the doctors' decision, simply saying: "They want to observe her a couple more days."
Doctors held out little hope of Amillia surviving
Amillia 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 measured just 9.5in (241mm).
"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".
Even though she's only four pounds (1.8kg) now, she's plump to me
Sonja Taylor,
Amillia's mother
Q&A: Premature babies
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.  |
Look at those little feet. I hope this baby will be healthy. So many premature babies have had health problems later in life.
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Shakin' my moneymaker!
Joined: 03 Jun 2006
Posts: 1327
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| LiveNLearn
Posted:
Thu Mar 08, 2007 5:52 pm |
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I remember seeing this a few weeks ago and talking to my husband about it at supper that evening.
I marvel at modern medicine, and, am gratefull to it so many ways and thankfull.
It's amazing what they can do, but, do you ever wonder if sometimes things have gone to far in the quest to maintain life?
I lost a baby very early on over 30 years ago.
I wonder about that baby girl, but, had medicine been able to sustain her life back then, what would her life be like now?
Obviously, I'm speaking in terms of her living with what was available then, which was really nothing.
In our case, she was stillborn, so, these modern day medical technologies wouldn't have been of use.
But, to look at a baby so small, my God ~ it's amazing, scary, awe inspiring, and it just leaves you speechless.
I hope also that this baby can grow into a healthy and happy young woman.
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Joined: 23 Mar 2006
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Location: Lounging Around StateSide USA
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