Growing Your Baby - Parenthood from Pregnancy to Pre-school » Micro-preemie

Amazing Micro-preemie Defies Odds By Surviving Without A Pancreas

Lisa — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:22:06 +0000

When tiny Sarah Innes was born, doctors struggled to believe what they were seeing, let alone determine how to save the remarkable girl.

Despite being the only baby born in Australia without a pancreas, Sarah has defied her grim odds and is now thriving with the help of her loving family and a team of medical miracle workers.

Arriving nine weeks premature on November 28 last year, Sarah underwent her first major surgery at just six days old. That’s when Royal Children’s Hospital doctors discovered Sarah’s internal organs were a mirror image of a normal person’s, including a back-to-front bowel and appendix. Her missing pancreas caused her blood glucose levels to be up nine times what they should be.

Sarah was also missing a gall bladder and will need surgery before her second birthday to repair a heart valve.

But it is the absence of a pancreas that has made her early life a battle for survival. Without it Sarah does not produce any insulin and has suffered all the dangers of diabetes since birth.

She also faces the extra danger of not producing the enzymes required to break down her food, so she cannot put on weight or absorb the nutrients she needs to survive.

At just 735g, Sarah became the youngest person ever fitted with an insulin pump, which sits outside her body and sends a tiny dose of insulin through a needle in her leg every three minutes.

She will also have to take food supplements containing enzymes for the rest of her life to break down her food, but Royal Children’s neonatologist Dr John Mills said it was remarkable Sarah had even made it home.

“Having those two things for a person of any age is a very serious illness. But for a newborn baby — and especially a premature baby who weighed less than half a normal baby – it is a disastrously serious thing to happen,” he said.

With a simple cough or cold presenting a major danger to Sarah and the constant need to adjust her insulin levels, Dr Mills said the devotion of her mother was the true reason for Sarah’s survival.

Some babies are just born to live. Sarah has fought from before she arrived. I hope continues on her amazing path.

SOURCE

23 Weeker Defies Odds By Breathing Just One Week After Birth

Lisa — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:58:54 +0000

Arriving last Monday at just 23 weeks of gestation, Berselia Hernandez Chavarri defies odds by breathing on her own inside her incubator. The baby’s chances of survival are still being assessed, but it is definitely a good sign that she is already breathing independently.

Borselia surprised doctors at Trujillo, Peru when she was born weighing just 450gms (less than a pound).

Her mom Sonia Chavarri is shown here watching on as she sleeps.

PHOTOCREDIT: AP/Karel Navarro

Preemie Profile: Drayton’s Story

Lisa — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:12:32 +0000

This story was sent to me by one of our readers Heather.

I became pregnant with identical twin boys in January of 2008.

At 23 weeks and 2 days my water broke and though the doctors held off contractions just long enough to get the steroid shots in me. Drayton and his identical twin Phoenix, were delivered by C-section at 23 weeks 3 days (Friday, June 27th).

At birth, Drayton weighed 420 grams (15 ounces) and was 11 inches long. Phoenix weighed 550 grams (1 pound 3 ounces) and was 12 inches long. After three days of life Phoenix developed a large pulmonary hemorrhage and died. We all miss Phoenix very much and feel very fortunate to have had the time with him that we did have.

During his NICU stay, Drayton was intubated and on a ventilator for 7 weeks, on CPAP for 5 weeks, and on a nasal cannula (low Flow) until a week before he came home – surprisingly without having to be on oxygen.

He was in the NICU for a total of 5 months and 5 days.

During that time he had his PDA ligated when he was a month old, laser surgery for his retinopathy of prematurity, surgery for bilateral inguinal hernias, a LADD procedure for a lower intestinal malrotation (along with an appendectomy), and a broviac put in for a central line. A G-tube was surgically put in in order to help with his feedings (his lung reserve was lacking so he was struggling to take all of his feedings by mouth).

Currently his lungs are doing well but even though he requires some inhaled medications and diuretics. He has some GERD and is on two reflux medications, but that is it.

We are amazed at how well he has done after he was initially only given a 3% chance of survival (and that was with having multiple severe lifelong disabilities). So far, he has developed well and has managed to dodge any brain hemorrhages, Necrotizing Endocolitis, blindness, cerebral palsy and mental retardation.

Our Miracle baby is now seven months old and he weighs 11 pounds 13.5 ounces!

We pray that Drayton will continue to grow stronger and healthier every day.

Controversy Over ‘Preemie In The Pocket’ Picture

Lisa — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:37:15 +0000

A senior nurse at Haifa’s Bnei Zion Medical Center’s neonatal unit was photographed recently with a premature baby-girl in her uniform pocket – as a humorous gesture.

The nurse is considered one of the ward’s most dedicated employees, with a career spanning more than a dozen years.

The weird part about the story is that the photo was taken as part of a presentation meant to be screened for parents of premature babies hospitalized in the the neonatal unit.

Dr. Amnon Rofe, director-general of the Bnei Zion Medical Center, said

“It Illustrates the ‘kangaroo method’ which is supposed to teach parents how to create a direct physical bond with the preemies. After we realized that when people see the photo they either smile or are completely shocked, we decided to take it out of the presentation.”

The nurse shown in the photo, stressed Dr. Rofe, “is a senior nurse, who’s very good at her job. All she did was pose for the photo, she didn’t initiate it.”

Any parent that has had a premature baby in an NICU will know that what this nurse is doing the NOT the ‘Kangaroo Method’.

Kangarooing your baby refers to skin to skin contact between the parent and baby to create a bond and give the baby security and warmth. Sticking a, what appears to be a 2.5 – 3lbs, baby in a pocket is not only the exact opposite of Kangaroo Care, but it was probably scary and cold for him/her.

This hospital definitely needs to re-evaluate how they teach parents to create a bond with their baby!

SOURCE

24 Week Baby Kept Alive With Bubble Wrap

Lisa — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:41:53 +0000

I am always amazed at the lengths that doctors will go to to keep a micro-preemie alive.

When Gregor Craig arrived at just 24 weeks weighing a tiny 1lb 14oz, he was so small that his father’s wedding ring fitted over his arm.

His chances of survival were slim, but doctors wanted to give him every chance.

So they wrapped him in the bubble wrap to keep him warm. Hospitals often use plastic wrap to help premature babies retain their body heat, but this was the first time the doctors in Kintyre, western Scotland, had used the bubble variety.

At just 24 weeks gestation Gregor’s mom began suffering severe stomach pain. Doctors found that her she was suffering from a urinary tract infection that triggered labor and they couldn’t stop the baby from arriving.

After he arrived, doctors only gave Gregor a 10 per cent chance of survival.

After spending 17 weeks in the special care nursery, this little fighter has persevered through many set backs including laser eye surgery at ten weeks to stop him going blind as the blood vessels in his eyes hadn’t developed properly.

When Gregor reached 7lb, he was allowed home, even though he needs to still have daily oxygen, and his parents have had to learn how to resuscitate him if necessary.

Mrs Craig said: ‘He is now a happy six-month-old and incredibly all he seems to have is some slight hearing problems. It’s a small price to pay for having him here with us.’

While it is common to wrap babies this small in plastic wrap second after birth to maintain their body temperature, I am not sure what benefit the bubbles adds…

Every baby that arrives and survives at this gestation is a miracle. We wish this little fighter the best for the future.

SOURCE

Amillia Taylor Turns 2!

Lisa — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:18:53 +0000

The world’s most premature baby ever is celebrating a very special birthday.

Amillia Taylor, born at just 21 weeks and weighing only 10 ounces, turned 2 years old yesterday.

Her proud parents told Local 10’s Laurie Jennings that Baby Amillia now weighs a healthy 26 pounds and is 26 ½ inches tall.

Amillia is also taking steps in their Homestead home and sounding out her few words and developmentally progressing very well.

And some more great news — Amillia’s mom is pregnant. A sister for the miracle baby is due Christmas Day!

The Amazing Journey Of A 22 Weeker

Lisa — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:08:33 +0000

In most of North America, a baby under the age of 24 weeks may not be resuscitated if delivered before that gestation.

Doctors in Missoula, Montana must have seen something that made them think that this baby was different because on April 27 at 1 pound, 1.7 ounces, Sasha is the most premature baby born at Community Medical Center’s NICU. Nine in 10 infants at her gestational age die.

Even though at birth doctors had told new mom, Jacqueline Peterson, to be ready to say goodbye to her daughter, the little fighter had different plans.

Arriving prematurely at 22 weeks and six days, Sasha’s footprints were only slightly larger than the print of her moms right index finger.

She had no body fat, the size of a pinky finger and needed to stay in a special isolette that kept helped decrease the amount of water loss and infection.

Leaning over Sasha in the delivery room, Dr. Jan Hiller, 58, one of two neonatologists at the hospital had heard the baby trying to cry.

“It was a sign that we might have something we could work with, but it’s no guarantee,” Hiller says. “The majority of neonatologists do not actually attempt to resuscitate under 23 weeks. The chances of survival are so slim. The majority of us feel it is futile, if not cruel, to put them through all the procedures.”

The doctoring is intense, especially for the first 10 days of the baby’s life, and Sasha is given about a 15 percent chance of surviving her first week. The NICU team is vigilant, watching for typical complications including brain bleeds, stiff lungs and the vision problems. The premature babies have immature immune systems, making them more susceptible to infections and liable to get sicker than other babies. More problems can arise when nurses start feeding the babies, because of their immature gastrointestinal systems.

In the next couple of weeks Sasha will undergo a fairly common preemie surgery to fix a condition called patent ductus arteriosus. The surgery closes the fetal blood vessel which has failed to shut after birth, depriving her of sufficient oxygen.

Just before leaving the hospital, she also has laser surgery to correct abnormal growth of the blood vessels to her eyes, called retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), which can lead to retinal detachment. Even after the surgery, there’s a one in three risk of vision problems later.

While her NICU stay is fairly un-eventful, a baby born at this gestation should not have survived at all.

At 22 weeks gestation, a baby’s eyes are still fused shut and will not open for up to 3 weeks. These little guys have yet to start to hear and they normally measure just 10 inches long.

After only spending 122 days in the special care nursery, Sasha goes home on oxygen. Her parents are just happy to have her at home.

We wish this family they best!

SOURCE

23 Weeker Shocks Everyone By Coming Back To Life

Lisa — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:37:41 +0000

UPDATE: This little fighter passed away this morning just 24 hours after being found alive. The baby’s mom was quoted as say:

“The doctors told us she lost her pulse again this morning. We were both next to her and you could she was really gone this time. You can’t imagine what we’re going through.”

Dr. Moshe Daniel, deputy chief of staff at the Nahariya hospital, told Ynet

“The medical team did everything in its power to save this baby, but unfortunately, a premature baby in the 23-week-old pregnancy has very little chance of surviving”

Originally posted: Since starting this website, I feel like I have covered this same story many times. Micro-preemies are such amazing little fighters!

Medical staff at Nahariya hospital were stunned after premature baby showed vital signs five hours after being pronounced dead, while being kept in the hospital cryolab.

The baby’s mother arrived at the hospital a few days before the baby’s birth for a series of prenatal tests.

The tests showed that she was experiencing some intrauterine bleeding and that her fetus had no pulse. This is when doctors scheduled a second-trimester termination procedure.

Once the procedure was completed, the medical staff followed protocol and verified that the 23 weeker was not breathing, subsequently pronouncing her dead.

The baby was then transferred to the hospital cryogenic laboratory (cryolab), before being sent on to the pathology lab for a battery of routine postmortem tests, meant to give the doctors and her parents more answers as to the cause of her death.

The baby had spent five hours inside the cryolab’s cooler when her father, accompanied by the medical staff, asked to see the body.

Upon opening the cooler, the baby began showing signs of spontaneous breathing. She was rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit and placed in an incubator and on a respirator, to assist her breathing.

Doctor’s believe that it was the cold that kept the baby’s metabolism rate and use of oxygen low, adding that medical literature is familiar with case of children and adults who have “come back to life” after being seemingly frozen.

SOURCE

24 Weeker Born In Toilet Is Thriving After Low Odds Of Survival

Lisa — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:40:26 +0000

If is not traumatic enough to be born at 24 weeks, little Latiya arrived 16 weeks early while her mom was going to the bathroom.

On arrival, Latiya’s mom thought the little fighter, who weighed just a pound, was not alive.

Reliving the dramatic moment Marie, 38, said: “Latiya wasn’t breathing and her body was blue. “My brother called 999 and the call taker Graeme Maylor gave instructions to him.

“Graeme reassured him that the ambulance was on its way and within minutes a rapid response vehicle arrived.”

Steve Clarke was the first paramedic on the scene.

He resuscitated Latiya, who was no bigger than the palm of his hand, before paramedics John Mitchell and Danielle Bond rushed her to Liverpool Women’s hospital.

Just moments after arriving at the hospital paramedics ran the baby up to the NICU and put the baby in incubator, hoping it could help save her life.

The one pounder remained in the incubator for 10 days before being transferred to Alder Hey hospital for an operation on her bowel.

She then remained in an incubator for another three-and-a-half months and then probably to a crib when she was old enough to control her own temperature. Latiya has been diagnosed as being deaf in one ear, but that is currently the only problems she is believed to have.

This could change when she starts to walk and talk but the fact that she is able to breathe independently and doesn’t need assistance being fed is definitely a good start! Seconds after my son was born, he was wrapped in plastic and rushed into a room where there was a team of 7 people waiting to work on him

The fact that this baby did not benefit from having a Neonatalogist look after her moments after birth AND she still survived is amazing!

SOURCE

UPDATE: The Russian Quints Born In UK Doing Well

Lisa — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 06:33:17 +0000

The set of quints that was born in the UK last month are doing so well that 2 of them are breathing independently.

Their parents Dimitri and Varvara Artamkin have just one wish for the New Year – for that the babies to be strong enough to leave their incubators and be held all at once.

Unfortunately that won’t happen anytime soon due to the fact that the babies are being looked after by two different hospitals.

Just one day after the five girls were born two were whisked to London’s Queen Charlotte hospital and then, on December 10, transferred to Stoke Mandeville hospital in Buckinghamshire because so much specialist equipment was needed to care for them.

Three remain at the John Radcliffe where they were born.

The couple rents an apartment in Oxford spends their days travelling between the two hospitals to check on their babies’ progress.

The girls were born at 26 weeks gestation weighting between just 1lb 13oz and 2lb 2oz. Despite doctors’ predictions that they could not all survive, the girls have continued to surprise everyone with their fighting spirit.

During Varvara’s pregnancy, the couple had a hard time finding a doctor that would care for her during her pregnancy. Most refused saying they believed the risks were too high.

Eventually, they found one who wanted to help, but he warned them that in order to give their children the best possible chance, they should leave Russia, to seek better care elsewhere.

Dimitri says: “He told us that in his opinion the best place for looking after premature babies was Britain, and he gave us the name of the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford.

“We had a friend in Oxford at the time, so we sent her some papers explaining our situation and asked her to pass them on to Dr Lawrence Impey, the top consultant at the hospital.

“She spoke to him and he agreed that if we travelled to Oxford, he would treat us. He said that although he would have given us the same facts and figures about selective terminations, he would have left it to us to make the choice.”

A wealthy friend of the family offered to pay all of the medical bills, ensuring that the quints have not placed burden on the NHS.

“He said, ‘Just don’t worry about money,’” says Dimitri. “He is a very kind and generous man and he wanted to help us. He has paid for everything, from our medical care to our living expenses here. Without him, we could not have come here.”

SOURCE