The most premature baby in the world was born at 21 weeks of gestation. Surprisingly, the baby survived and has already celebrated his first birthday.
In modern medicine, babies who were born from 28 to 36 weeks of pregnancy are considered premature. They are nursed in special incubators and often the process of "additional development" is successful. Babies “under” 28 weeks of gestation are extremely premature. From the point of view of doctors, the chances of such a baby for survival tend to zero. However, last year, a child from the United States turned all medical canons upside down. He was born at 21 weeks pregnant with a weight of only 420 grams. Contrary to the forecasts of doctors, Richard Hutchinson survived, got into the Guinness Book of Records and celebrated the first year of his life.
Beth Hutchinson started preterm labor due to medical complications. The child, who was born at 4 months of its intrauterine development, was so tiny that it could fit in the palm of an adult. It weighed only 11.9 ounces (420 grams) and its head was the same size as a hen's egg.
Premature baby was born with a weight of 420 grams / open sources
The neonatologists who delivered the baby gave the baby a “zero chance of survival,” but they still placed premature baby into the incubator and supplied oxygen. “I had a feeling that if the child can survive the first few weeks, he will survive,” one of the doctors, Stacy Kern, told CNN. The kid did it, and spent almost six months in the incubator.
Doctors did not give the child a chance of survival / open sources
Due to quarantine restrictions, Richard's mom and dad could not stay in the hospital to be closer to the child. Therefore, they had to go to their son from home, covering 400 km every day. However, the parents did not complain, they were firmly convinced that by their presence they were helping Richard to fight for his life.
The child was discharged from the hospital six months after birth / open sources
The child was discharged from the hospital only in the seventh month after birth. To maintain his life, he still needed an oxygen concentrator, his parents fed him through a special tube, and were taken to examinations several times a month. However, the family was able to overcome these difficulties: this summer, Richard celebrated his first birthday, and according to doctors, he has already caught up with his peers in many indicators of development.
The child spent his first birthday at home / open sources
The fact of the birth of Richard Hutchinson is officially entered in the Guinness Book of Records. Now he is considered the most premature baby in the world who managed to survive, contrary to all doctors' predictions. Richard broke the record that used to be held by Frida Mangold: she was born in Germany in 2010 at 22 weeks of gestation with a weight of 450 grams and a height of 28 cm.
Richard Hutchinson hit the Guinness Book of Records / open sources
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