kaorder1999
02-21-2007, 10:28 AM
Preemie not going home yet
Doctors cautious about tiny girl born after 21 weeks in womb
11:22 PM CST on Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Associated Press
MIAMI – A girl born after fewer than 22 weeks in the womb – among the shortest gestation periods known for a live birth – will remain in a hospital a few extra days as a precaution, officials said Tuesday.
Amillia Sonja Taylor weighed less than 10 ounces at birth in October. Amillia Taylor, born Oct. 24, had been expected to be sent home from Baptist Children's Hospital on Tuesday. But tests indicated she was vulnerable to infection, said Dr. Paul Fassbach, who has cared for the baby since shortly after she was born.
"She has been fine," Dr. Fassbach said, but doctors are being extra cautious "now that she's going into the world."
Doctors say Amillia is among the few babies known to have survived after a gestation of fewer than 22 weeks. Full-term births come after 37 to 40 weeks.
Amillia was only 9 ½ inches long and weighed less than 10 ounces when she was delivered by Caesarean section. Eddie and Sonja Taylor's first child now weighs 4 ½ pounds and is a little more than 15 ½ inches long.
Amillia's mother and doctor talk about her progress
She has had respiratory and digestive problems, as well as a mild brain hemorrhage, but doctors believe there will not be major long-term effects.
Amillia was conceived in vitro and has been in an incubator since birth. She will continue to receive a small amount of supplemental oxygen after going home.
She was delivered because Ms. Taylor was suffering from complications. Dr. Fassbach said that if doctors had known Amillia's real gestational age, they might not have intervened. He said he thought she was at least 23 weeks, and doctors were shocked when the Taylors' fertility specialist pinpointed the exact date of fertilization.
Dr. Fassbach cautioned against rushing to redefine medical standards for fetus viability.
"We just don't know which 21- to 22-weekers are going to do well and which are not going to do well," he said. "I don't think we should change what we do, but it shows us we need to do more research and find out where our edge of viability is going to go."
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/wfaa/02-07/0220baby.jpg
Doctors cautious about tiny girl born after 21 weeks in womb
11:22 PM CST on Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Associated Press
MIAMI – A girl born after fewer than 22 weeks in the womb – among the shortest gestation periods known for a live birth – will remain in a hospital a few extra days as a precaution, officials said Tuesday.
Amillia Sonja Taylor weighed less than 10 ounces at birth in October. Amillia Taylor, born Oct. 24, had been expected to be sent home from Baptist Children's Hospital on Tuesday. But tests indicated she was vulnerable to infection, said Dr. Paul Fassbach, who has cared for the baby since shortly after she was born.
"She has been fine," Dr. Fassbach said, but doctors are being extra cautious "now that she's going into the world."
Doctors say Amillia is among the few babies known to have survived after a gestation of fewer than 22 weeks. Full-term births come after 37 to 40 weeks.
Amillia was only 9 ½ inches long and weighed less than 10 ounces when she was delivered by Caesarean section. Eddie and Sonja Taylor's first child now weighs 4 ½ pounds and is a little more than 15 ½ inches long.
Amillia's mother and doctor talk about her progress
She has had respiratory and digestive problems, as well as a mild brain hemorrhage, but doctors believe there will not be major long-term effects.
Amillia was conceived in vitro and has been in an incubator since birth. She will continue to receive a small amount of supplemental oxygen after going home.
She was delivered because Ms. Taylor was suffering from complications. Dr. Fassbach said that if doctors had known Amillia's real gestational age, they might not have intervened. He said he thought she was at least 23 weeks, and doctors were shocked when the Taylors' fertility specialist pinpointed the exact date of fertilization.
Dr. Fassbach cautioned against rushing to redefine medical standards for fetus viability.
"We just don't know which 21- to 22-weekers are going to do well and which are not going to do well," he said. "I don't think we should change what we do, but it shows us we need to do more research and find out where our edge of viability is going to go."
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/wfaa/02-07/0220baby.jpg