According to hospital officials in Bengaluru, the infant was delivered at 24 weeks of gestation via emergency intervention after the mother developed hypertension and diabetes related complications that necessitated preterm delivery.
At birth, the baby weighed 480 grams, placing the infant well below the 1st percentile for gestational age and classifying the newborn as a micro preemie. Immediately after delivery, the neonatal team initiated advanced resuscitative measures, like providing steroids and magnesium for lung and brain development; and thermoregulation, and cardiovascular stabilization, before transferring the infant to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
The baby required prolonged ventilatory support due to severe respiratory immaturity and was managed with a carefully titrated oxygen strategy to minimize lung injury.
Hospital clinicians reported that the infant demonstrated steady weight gain and physiological stability over the course of more than 140 days. The parents remained closely involved in the baby’s care, participating in measures like Kangaroo care and counseling sessions with neonatologists and nursing staff regarding treatment milestones, potential complications, and long-term follow-up needs.
After achieving stable breathing without invasive support, adequate feeding tolerance, and consistent weight gain, the baby was discharged with a structured plan for continued pediatric, neurological, and developmental monitoring.
A micro preemie refers to a baby born before 26 weeks of gestation or weighing less than 750 grams at birth. These infants are born during a period when multiple organ systems, including the lungs, brain, digestive system, and immune system are still in critical stages of development.
At 24 weeks, fetal survival is possible but remains medically complex, often requiring prolonged intensive care and advanced neonatal technologies.
Premature infants are commonly classified based on gestational age:
Born between 34 and 36 weeks
Often require short-term monitoring
Born between 32 and 34 weeks
May need respiratory or feeding support
Born before 32 weeks
Higher risk of complications
Born before 28 weeks
Includes micro preemies
Require prolonged NICU care and advanced life support
Micro preemies fall within the extremely preterm category and represent the highest-risk neonatal population.
Infants born at 24 weeks face multiple life-threatening complications due to immature organ systems. Common medical challenges include:
Underdeveloped lungs lacking surfactant
High risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)
Prolonged dependence on ventilators or CPAP
Risk of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH)
Potential long-term neurodevelopmental delays
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a heart condition common in preterm infants
Immature immune defenses increase susceptibility to sepsis
Risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a serious intestinal condition
Need for parenteral nutrition before gradual transition to breast milk or fortified feeds
These complications often occur simultaneously, requiring coordinated multidisciplinary care.
Care for micro preemies typically involves:
Mechanical ventilation and respiratory support
Temperature regulation using incubators
Continuous monitoring of oxygen levels and vital signs
Gradual nutritional advancement
Prevention and treatment of infections
Regular neuroimaging and eye examinations
Hospital stays for extremely premature infants can extend for several months, often until the baby reaches a corrected gestational age closer to full term.
(Rh/TL)
