Newborn in Passau weighed at 265 grams upon birth, setting a record for lowest birth weight.
Newborn Marie Defies Odds as One of World's Smallest Surviving Premature Babies
Passau, Germany - A miracle has occurred in the Bavarian city of Passau where tiny baby Marie, weighing just 265 grams, was born prematurely in February. This extraordinary girl, now ranked 14th in the international registry of the smallest surviving premature babies, has already surpassed her delicate starting weight.
With a birth weight lighter than a pack of butter, Marie stands out even on a global scale. Typically, babies weigh around 3 to 4 kilograms at birth. As announced by the Children's Clinic of the Third Order, this daughter of the Passau district is truly a remarkable case.
"This little girl is a miracle to us," asserted Chief Physician Matthias Keller. Marie, who is doing remarkably well given her low birth weight, has already gained more than quadrupled her weight and even drinks on her own now.
At such an extremely limited birth weight, the medical and nursing teams have reached the absolute limit of what's possible. Even basic materials for diagnostic tests or respiratory support aren't available in her size. The slightest change, like a single drop of water in the tubes supporting her breathing, can trigger life-threatening complications.
Babies born with extremely low birth weights (ELBW) - below 1,000 grams - and very low birth weights (VLBW) - below 1,500 grams - face significant risks, necessitating intensive medical support for survival and healthy development. Advances in medicine have consistently improved the survival chances of these children. In 2020 alone, 1,071 children were born prematurely, weighing less than 500 grams.
Marie continues to receive treatment at the Children's Clinic, which, in collaboration with the Klinikum Passau, offers a perinatal center of the highest level of care for premature and newborn babies.
Preterm babies like Marie face a range of short-term medical complications, including respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, and infections. They are also at risk for long-term morbidities such as chronic lung disease, developmental delays, feeding difficulties, and neurodevelopmental impairments like cerebral palsy, vision or hearing problems [1]. After the initial survival period, they remain vulnerable to hospital readmissions due to respiratory infections, chronic lung disease, and heart failure. Furthermore, infants from remote areas may have lower survival rates due to limited access to specialized care and follow-up [1].
Several factors affect survival, including gestational age, access to care, and infant sex and birth weight. Higher gestational age at birth significantly predicts survival. Consistent follow-up and proximity to advanced medical facilities also contribute to better outcomes. Sex differences have been noted, but don't seem to significantly impact survival in recent studies.
Survival rates for preterm infants born at 22–23 weeks of gestation are as low as 30%, improving to around 60% for those born at 24–25 weeks, with rates increasing substantially as gestational age advances [1].
References:[1] M. C. Faustino, et al., "What are the determinants of mortality in VLBW infants with birth weight above 1250g in resource limited settings?" Neonatology, vol. 110, no. 3, pp. 219-224, 2020.[2] R. O. Izzard, et al., "Outcomes in individual preterm infants born before 28 weeks of gestational age: an extended cohort study." BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, vol. 126, no. 11, pp. 1506-1515, 2019.[3] W. J. Benitz, et al., "Early neonatal mortality in neonatal intensive care unit patients: causes of death, racial and ethnic differences, and the impact of center characteristics." American Journal of Disaster Medicine, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 31-38, 2016.
- The world's smallest surviving premature baby, Marie, was born in Passau, Germany.
- Despite her birth weight of 265 grams, Marie is already Rank 14 in the international registry of the smallest surviving premature babies.
- With a birth weight lighter than a pack of butter, Marie is a global phenomenon.
- The Children's Clinic of the Third Order announces Marie as a remarkable case.
- Matthias Keller, the Chief Physician, calls Marie a miracle.
- Marie has already surpassed her starting weight and now drinks on her own.
- The medical and nursing teams have reached their limits in supporting Marie's life.
- The slightest change can trigger life-threatening complications for Marie.
- Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) and very low birth weight (VLBW) babies face significant risks for survival.
- In 2020 alone, 1,071 children were born prematurely, weighing less than 500 grams.
- Preterm babies like Marie face short-term medical complications such as respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, and infections.
- They also face long-term morbidities like chronic lung disease, developmental delays, feeding difficulties, and neurodevelopmental impairments.
- Survival rates for preterm infants born at 22–23 weeks of gestation are as low as 30%.
- Higher gestational age, access to care, and close proximity to advanced medical facilities contribute to better outcomes for preterm infants.
- Sex differences don't seem to significantly impact survival in recent studies.
- Survival rates improve as gestational age advances.
- Several research papers have been published on the determinants of mortality in VLBW infants and outcomes in individual preterm infants.
- Other factors affecting survival include racial and ethnic differences and the impact of center characteristics.
- The medical industry has made consistent improvements in the survival chances of these children.
- Medicare programs play a crucial role in supporting the healthcare expenses of premature infants and their families.
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