Tweet
Miracle Baby
Doctors in Miami are delaying the release of the world's most-premature baby, saying she will stay in hospital a few more days for checks.
They had earlier said Amillia Taylor would be allowed to go home on Tuesday.
Amillia is believed to be the first baby to have survived following a gestation period of less than 22 weeks.
She weighed a mere 10 ounces (284 grams) at birth on 24 October. Babies under 14 ounces were thought to stand no chance of survival.
'Miracle baby'
A spokeswoman at the Baptist Children's Hospital gave no details on the doctors' decision, simply saying: "They want to observe her a couple more days."
Amillia spent a little under 22 weeks in her mother's womb, a world record according to the University of Iowa which keeps track of premature babies born throughout the world.
Initially, doctors held little hope for her survival. She measured just 9.5in (241mm).
"She's truly a miracle baby, " said Dr William Smalling, neo-natal expert at the Baptist Children's Hospital.
"We weren't too optimistic. But she proved us all wrong," he said.
Amillia has experienced respiratory problems, a very mild brain haemorrhage and some digestive problems, but doctors now say her "prognosis is excellent".
Her parents named her Amillia - which means resilient in Latin, a fighter and hardworking - to reflect her survival against the odds.
"It was hard to imagine she would get this far. But now she is beginning to look like a real baby," said Sonja Taylor, Amillia's mother.
"Even though she's only four pounds (1.8kg) now, she's plump to me," Mrs Taylor said.
Extraordinary case
A premature baby only slightly longer than a ballpoint pen at birth was due to be sent home in the coming days from a Florida hospital after four months of neonatal intensive care, the hospital said on Tuesday (February 20).
The Baptist Children's Hospital in Miami said Amillia Sonja Taylor was born at 21 weeks and six days on October 24, making her possibly the most premature baby on record to survive.
The claim was based on the University of Iowa's registry of the tiniest babies. The university bases its registry on media reports and medical journal reports and says it does not attempt to verify the information submitted by contributors.
Amillia weighed just under 10 ounces (283.5 grams) and measured 9.5 inches (24.13 cm) in length when she was born. The tiny baby had been scheduled to go home on Tuesday but doctors "decided to keep her for a few more days observation," according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Conceived by in vitro fertilization, she was delivered via Caesarean section after attempts to delay a premature delivery failed, the hospital said. She breathed without assistance at birth and even tried to cry.
A full-term pregnancy is 37 to 40 weeks. Babies born at less than 23 weeks and 14.11 ounces (400 grams) in weight are not considered viable. Premature babies are also far more likely to suffer physical problems than are babies carried to term.
They had earlier said Amillia Taylor would be allowed to go home on Tuesday.
Amillia is believed to be the first baby to have survived following a gestation period of less than 22 weeks.
She weighed a mere 10 ounces (284 grams) at birth on 24 October. Babies under 14 ounces were thought to stand no chance of survival.
'Miracle baby'
A spokeswoman at the Baptist Children's Hospital gave no details on the doctors' decision, simply saying: "They want to observe her a couple more days."
Amillia spent a little under 22 weeks in her mother's womb, a world record according to the University of Iowa which keeps track of premature babies born throughout the world.
Initially, doctors held little hope for her survival. She measured just 9.5in (241mm).
"She's truly a miracle baby, " said Dr William Smalling, neo-natal expert at the Baptist Children's Hospital.
"We weren't too optimistic. But she proved us all wrong," he said.
Amillia has experienced respiratory problems, a very mild brain haemorrhage and some digestive problems, but doctors now say her "prognosis is excellent".
Her parents named her Amillia - which means resilient in Latin, a fighter and hardworking - to reflect her survival against the odds.
"It was hard to imagine she would get this far. But now she is beginning to look like a real baby," said Sonja Taylor, Amillia's mother.
"Even though she's only four pounds (1.8kg) now, she's plump to me," Mrs Taylor said.
Extraordinary case
A premature baby only slightly longer than a ballpoint pen at birth was due to be sent home in the coming days from a Florida hospital after four months of neonatal intensive care, the hospital said on Tuesday (February 20).
The Baptist Children's Hospital in Miami said Amillia Sonja Taylor was born at 21 weeks and six days on October 24, making her possibly the most premature baby on record to survive.
The claim was based on the University of Iowa's registry of the tiniest babies. The university bases its registry on media reports and medical journal reports and says it does not attempt to verify the information submitted by contributors.
Amillia weighed just under 10 ounces (283.5 grams) and measured 9.5 inches (24.13 cm) in length when she was born. The tiny baby had been scheduled to go home on Tuesday but doctors "decided to keep her for a few more days observation," according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Conceived by in vitro fertilization, she was delivered via Caesarean section after attempts to delay a premature delivery failed, the hospital said. She breathed without assistance at birth and even tried to cry.
A full-term pregnancy is 37 to 40 weeks. Babies born at less than 23 weeks and 14.11 ounces (400 grams) in weight are not considered viable. Premature babies are also far more likely to suffer physical problems than are babies carried to term.