330-gram premature Chinese baby defies the odds to reach 2.5kg in 105 days, heads home
A premature baby born at 23 weeks and weighing only 330 grams has been discharged from a Shenzhen hospital after 105 days of intensive care. The infant, now weighing 2.5kg, is considered the lightest premature baby to survive in Guangdong province.
Why it matters
This story showcases significant advancements in neonatal medical care and the survival rates of extremely premature infants.
A premature baby in southern China, weighing just 330 grams and measuring as large as an adult’s palm, was discharged from the hospital in good health after a 105-day stay.
The newborn baby boy was born on May 20, when his mother was only 23 weeks and four days pregnant, at Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, as reported by the South Daily.
Nicknamed Little Zebao, he is recognised as the lightest premature baby in Guangdong province.
His skin was as thin as a cicada’s wing, with tiny blood vessels visible beneath the surface. The soles of his feet were smaller than an adult’s thumb, according to the report.
Doctors discovered that the baby’s intestinal tract was as thin as a piece of hair and his immune system was not yet developed.
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