Premature Baby Weighing 520gms Survives at Fortis Hospital

Doctors at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru successfully treated 26 weeks premature baby weighing only 520gms. The baby was treated by a team of doctors consisting of Dr Hariram, Consultant Neonatologist, and HOD Paediatric, Dr. Ashok, Dr. Tejal (Pediatricians), Dr Manisha Singh, Consultant Gynecology and IVF Specialist and Dr Mangala Ramachandra Consultant Obstetrics & Gynaecology.

The baby is healthy now and weighs 2.25kg. Poornima, the mother of baby Vaishanavi, had delivered three babies (triplets), out of which only one survived.

Dr Hariram, Consultant Neonatologist, and HOD Paediatric said, "The average weight of a baby born between 37- 40 weeks (term) is 2.5 kgs, whereas baby Vaishanavi was born in the 26th week, weighing just 520gms. With round-the-clock vigilance and management of treatment-related issues for 3 months in NICU, she now weighs 2.25kg. The chance of survival of such babies is slim due to extreme prematurity, but this baby girl has made it thanks to the advance care in Neonatal Intensive care at Fortis Hospital and determined efforts of doctors and nurses."

According to WHO, India has the greatest number of preterm births with nearly 3519100 preterm births every year. Every year an estimated 15 million babies are born preterm (before 37 completed weeks of gestation) and this number is rising.

Baby Vaishanavi was conceived through IVF (In Vitro Fertilization). IVF is a common and effective type of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) that helps women to conceive. The IVF procedure involves fertilizing an egg outside the body, in a laboratory dish, and then implanting the embryo in a woman's uterus.

Dr. Manisha Singh, Consultant Gynecology and IVF Specialist, Fortis Hospital, said, "The couple had a difficult journey through the management of subfertility. I met the couple three years ago and we embarked on their first IVF cycle which was successful straightway, but unfortunately, she suffered the miscarriage at 18 weeks of pregnancy. She subsequently needed a myomectomy for removal of fibroids and then embarked on her second cycle of IVF but conceived triplets. Unfortunately, only one baby, the smallest of all the three babies survived and we treated her for 140 days to give her optimum weight and health at discharge."

Baby Vaishanavi's mother said, "God has been so kind to us. My brave little baby has gone through so many odds and I'm so overwhelmed at her progress. I'm very thankful to the team of doctors at Fortis who took immense care of her."

Across 184 countries, the rate of preterm birth ranges from 5% to 18% of babies born. The chance of survival of such babies has increased because of medical advancement.