http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17237979/
MIAMI - A premature baby who doctors said spent less time in the womb than any other surviving infant will remain in a hospital a few extra days as a precaution, officials said Tuesday. Amillia Sonja Taylor, born Oct. 24 after just under 22 weeks in the womb, had been expected to be sent home Tuesday. Barbara Moore, spokeswoman for Baptist Children’s Hospital, said she did not have details on why doctors changed their minds about releasing the infant.
Doctors say Amillia is the first baby known to have survived after a gestation of less than 23 weeks. She was just 9½ inches long and weighed less than 10 ounces when she was delivered by Caesarean section. Full-term births come after 37 to 40 weeks. A database run by the University of Iowa’s Department of Pediatrics lists seven babies born at 23 weeks between 1994 and 2003. Amillia, the first child for Eddie and Sonja Taylor of Homestead, now weighs 4½ pounds and is between 25 and 26 inches long. "We weren't too optimistic," Dr. William Smalling said about Amillia Sonja Taylor, seen here in October. "But she proved us all wrong."
She has suffered respiratory and digestive problems, as well as a mild brain hemorrhage, but doctors believe the health concerns will not have major long-term effects. “We can deal with lungs and things like that but, of course, the brain is the most important,” Dr. Paul Fassbach said Monday. “Her prognosis is excellent."
Amillia was conceived in vitro and has been in an incubator since birth. She will continue to receive a small amount of supplemental oxygen even after she goes home. “We weren’t too optimistic,” Dr. William Smalling said. “But she proved us all wrong.”
“She’s going to be in a normal crib, she’s going to have normal feedings, she’s taking all her feedings from a bottle,” Smalling said.
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My son was born early at 33.5 weeks and he's now advanced in his development for his age. Talking at a 2nd grade level at age 3 1/2. Great to see this little one is doing so well.
MIAMI - A premature baby who doctors said spent less time in the womb than any other surviving infant will remain in a hospital a few extra days as a precaution, officials said Tuesday. Amillia Sonja Taylor, born Oct. 24 after just under 22 weeks in the womb, had been expected to be sent home Tuesday. Barbara Moore, spokeswoman for Baptist Children’s Hospital, said she did not have details on why doctors changed their minds about releasing the infant.
Doctors say Amillia is the first baby known to have survived after a gestation of less than 23 weeks. She was just 9½ inches long and weighed less than 10 ounces when she was delivered by Caesarean section. Full-term births come after 37 to 40 weeks. A database run by the University of Iowa’s Department of Pediatrics lists seven babies born at 23 weeks between 1994 and 2003. Amillia, the first child for Eddie and Sonja Taylor of Homestead, now weighs 4½ pounds and is between 25 and 26 inches long. "We weren't too optimistic," Dr. William Smalling said about Amillia Sonja Taylor, seen here in October. "But she proved us all wrong."
She has suffered respiratory and digestive problems, as well as a mild brain hemorrhage, but doctors believe the health concerns will not have major long-term effects. “We can deal with lungs and things like that but, of course, the brain is the most important,” Dr. Paul Fassbach said Monday. “Her prognosis is excellent."
Amillia was conceived in vitro and has been in an incubator since birth. She will continue to receive a small amount of supplemental oxygen even after she goes home. “We weren’t too optimistic,” Dr. William Smalling said. “But she proved us all wrong.”
“She’s going to be in a normal crib, she’s going to have normal feedings, she’s taking all her feedings from a bottle,” Smalling said.
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My son was born early at 33.5 weeks and he's now advanced in his development for his age. Talking at a 2nd grade level at age 3 1/2. Great to see this little one is doing so well.