Babies born at an extremely low birth weight (under 400 grams, or 13 ounces), are considered high risk and more likely to experience unfavorable outcomes than babies born at a heavier weight.
However, in the case report, “Long-term Follow-up of 2 Newborns With a Combined Birth Weight of 540 grams,” in the January 2012 Pediatrics (published online Dec. 12, 2011), researchers report on the normal development of the smallest and third-smallest surviving babies in the world, now at 5 and 20 years of age, respectively, and both born at Loyola University Medical Center in Illinois.
Madeline was born in 1989 at 26 weeks gestation with a birth weight of 280 grams, and Rumaisa was born in 2004 at 25 weeks gestation with a weight of 260 grams, the lowest documented in the world. Both babies experienced normal motor and language development by three years of age, and developmental milestones were achieved at appropriate age levels.
Study authors feel that advances in neonatal care will continue to allow the resuscitation and survival of smaller and smaller newborns, but ethical and medical issues will continue to be discussed.
Healthy Children Radio: Premature Births (Audio)
Jonathan K. Muraskas, MD, comes on the Healthy Children Radio show to discuss his Pediatrics study that tracked the long-term progress of two micro-preemies — the smallest and third smallest infants ever to survive.
Segment 1: Tracking The Long-Term Progress of Two Micro-Preemies
