Baby born at 23 weeks

http://thestir.cafemom.com/baby/148278/tiny_premature_baby_survives_thanks?utm_medium=sm&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=natural_fanpage

The fact that Maddalena Douse was born at just 23 weeks, and is the youngest premature baby ever to survive in the UK, is a miracle in and of itself. But the reason she's alive makes the entire situation all the more miraculous. See, current guidelines in England don't suggest providing active care for babies born 22 weeks and 6 days or before. But when they put Maddalena on the scale, and realized that she weighed 1 pound -- the minimum weight for a baby to be considered "viable" -- they fought to keep her alive. Here's the thing, though -- Maddalena wasn't 1 pound. A pair of scissors had been accidentally left on the scale, making it seem like she weighed that much. And now, well, here she is.
Maddalena was discharged from Royal Sussex Hospital recently at the age of 6 months old, and she's expected to grow into a healthy child. Oh, and she's adorable. Sadly, though, she had a twin sister, Isabella, who died a few weeks after the girls were born. Maddalena's parents, Kate and Renato, are obviously thrilled with their daughter -- who is, in every sense of the term, a miracle baby.
I honestly have no idea what it would be like for a mother to give birth to a very premature baby -- and know that the hospital has a "cut-off", so to speak, in terms of how, or if, they're going to fight for a child's life. It's truly unimaginable. And heartbreaking. And no parent should ever have to go through something like that. I can't even begin to fathom what it was like for Kate and Renato as they waited to find out how much their sweet baby weighed -- because it would directly correlate to the care she would receive. In a word: Awful.
But let's try to focus on the good today -- I think we could all use some good right now. This little angel is meant to be on this Earth. Plain and simple. There's really no other way to explain the scissors being left on the scale, bumping up her weight. Who knows how they got there, or why they weren't taken off -- I like to think that some nurse was very kind and left them on there. It's nice to imagine there's someone like that in the world.

Omg, she was SO tiny!

Honestly I think every baby should be given every chance possible, but its not for me to say...

I can't even imagine the amount of pain that poor baby has endured her short life just to save her...

Omg she's so tiny.. It blows my mind to see a baby that little. I feel really bad for her   but I'm glad she was given a chance.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Mðmmå Çhï¢lꆆê~ 8wks:</b>" I can't even imagine the amount of pain that poor baby has endured her short life just to save her..."</blockquote>




But she wont remember it. I woud think it was worth it in the end if it saved my daughter. My sister was born on the first da of my moms 24th week was 1pound 3 oz and dropped to less thana. Pound. Had a brain bleed, had surgerey to correct her crqniosynatsosis(sp?) and now is a healthy 13 yr old girl and she will tell you every day she is thankful to be alive and has been a fighter her whole life.


Either way i still think babies born before 24 weeks could live, but the chance is so low they dont see the point in trying most of the time.. So sad that some babies are born alive and live for a while until they pass in mothers arm.. Who knows, some oxygen and feed igntubes could have saved that baby... :/

My brother was born 18 Weeks early in 1997 he us now about to turn 16 years old, he was 1 lb 7 oz. I thank the Lord every day he is still here with us drs begged my mom to sign the papers to have him deemed not admire to survive...luckily she didn't he wad able to come home at 6 months old and he still looked like a newborn

Quoting Flag:" Omg, she was SO tiny! Honestly I think every baby should be given every chance possible, but its not for me to say..."

I agree with this!