24 wk Tamera Dixon

Tamera Dixon weighed slightly more than 11 ounces and measured 10 inches when she was born in April at 25 weeks gestation.

She now weighs four pounds, five ounces.

“She was so tiny, she could hold in the palm of her hand. She was so emaciated, skin and bones really and she didn’t look human to me,” mother Andrea Haws said.

She only had a 15 percent chance of survival and many consider it a miracle, including her mother.

Tamera was delivered by Caesarean section at Capital Health System’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit when her mother’s kidneys started failing and Tamera stopped growing.

She was so small, doctors worried that the equipment wouldn’t fit.

Dr. Moffitt said all indications point toward an excellent prognosis for Tamera to develop on a normal schedule.

The second smallest baby to born and survive in New Jersey, and now a sister with two big brothers.

Advances in technology are giving these tiny fighters better chances of survival, but that does not rule out developmental delays later on.

These parents will probably not know if they are going to have issues until Tamera is at least 8/9 months old.

We wish this family luck. They are very fortunate to be able her home in such a short time.

24 wk baby

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When Adele De Bondi was 20 weeks pregnant during a routine ultrasound doctors noticed that her baby was only about 17 weeks in size.

They gave her a course of steroids in hopes of stimulating the baby’s growth, but her placenta was dying, taking with it - the baby.

Undeterred by the prognosis, Ms De Bondi demanded a caesarean section despite the risks of losing not only her child but her fertility and her own life.

Elora was born after only 24 weeks in the womb.

Elora De Bondi’ was born on January 29 weighing 319 grams, making her possibly the smallest baby born alive in Australia. Her arms barely spanned the length of her mother’s finger.

Before she was delivered 16 weeks’ premature, doctors at the Royal Women’s Hospital doubted she would live. But her mother, Adele, even after being told by doctors that they held no hope, never lost her own hope.

Elora spent seven months in intensive care attached to ventilators and came close to dying countless times.

She battled infections, renal failure and the stress of her surroundings. Many times doctors advised Ms De Bondi to switch off Elora’s life support. Her mother remained steadfast, trusting that her fragile daughter, who she had barely touched, would pull through.After months in a critical condition, Elora grew to 4.4 kilograms. She left hospital on August 27, astounding doctors with her survival.

Elora’s pediatrician said her story was “miraculous but the journey is long and uncertain for extremely tiny babies”.

“Families, and the staff who care for such premature babies, have faced the most difficult decisions of survival and quality of life,” said Sue Jacobs, director of the Royal Women’s neonatal services.

Before Elora, the smallest surviving baby at the Royal Women’s was Adriana Cassar, born 13 weeks premature, at 374 grams, eight years ago.

*Elora faces many hurdles. She is fed through a gastronasal tube and her immune system is weak. While her lung disease is expected to clear in childhood, doctors will wait at least two years before giving the all-clear.*

Everytime I read one of these stories it makes me realize that you can’t underestimate the power of a micro-preemie. I also hope that it shows parents who are currently in this situation that you have to believe that your baby can be far more than doctors think they can be.

I hear of too many parents disconnecting their preemies because of long term health fears. Not all babies make it out with nothing wrong, but most parents of special needs children will tell you that their child has taught them a new way to look at life.

21.5 wk baby

Kelly Thorman was born prematurely in 1971 at 21½ weeks after conception*. This picture was taken three weeks later. Sadly, Kelly died of pneumonia (this is a particular danger with premature babies). When she died, nobody said that "part of the mother's body" had gone or that "the products of conception" had disappeared.

Kelly was "wanted" and given the best available care, while babies born alive in abortions who may have survived if given care have been left to die - although at this stage measures are often taken, and are recommended by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), to ensure the delivery of a dead baby.

With advances in technology and in understanding of human fetal development, premature babies' chances of survival are improving. The RCOG stated in Preterm Labour and its Consequences (1985) that: "In 1984, 72 per cent of liveborn infants of 22 to 27 weeks' gestation* born at the Bristol Maternity Hospital survived, as did 64 per cent of infants of 500 to 999 grammes birthweight." These percentages had increased on those of previous years.

21 wk old baby

The world's most premature living baby, born at 21 weeks and six days, is headed home after spending four months in a neonatal intensive care unit, Baptist Children's Hospital in Miami announced today.