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The Smallest Survivors
Thursday, February 09, 2012 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
This is incredible. Amazing. Inspiring.
The physical development of our kiddos from inception to delivery is freaking amazing. Seriously. Stop and think about it. You start with a sperm and an egg. Months later, you get a kid with 10 fingers and 10 toes. Okay, it isn’t quite as simple as that, but I tend to get a headache if I try to analyze the process of development much more than this.
My “little” girl weighed in at 9 lbs. 2 oz. She was fully developed (two weeks past my due date). Although born via an emergency c-section, she was healthy and came home 48 hours later.
I’m reminded of my blessings when I hear that one of the tiniest babies ever born recently went home. Weighing only 9 ½ ounces at birth, she weighed less than a can of pop. Can you imagine?! Upon going home, she weighed 4 ½ pounds. Although she will be watched carefully for delays or other challenges with her development, she is healthy enough to head home, and I am betting that this is what really matters to her parents at this moment.
Born at 24 weeks, she is noted to have been the second smallest baby born in the United States and survive.
This little survivor isn’t alone in her early arrival. Statistics report that about 7,500 infants are born each year weighing less than 1 pound. Even with today’s medical technology, only about 10% of these tiny babies survive. Those who do may have further challenges with their development, and of course, some may develop just fine!
Was your arrival early or late?
How big or small?
We all have our stories; here’s looking forward to hearing yours!
