(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- At birth last month, baby Ali (name changed) was so small that he could have fitted into a human palm. Weighing around 600g, Ali is one of the few smallest babies (in size and weight) born in this country every year. Doctors said the baby is doing okay and they are trying their best so that he goes home like others before him.
Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) gets on an average five to seven such cases every year where babies are born extremely preterm (around 24 weeks) and termed as 'extremely low birth weight preterm babies'. 'Unlike a full-term baby who weighs a few kilos these babies weigh around 650g to 850g, the size of a soft drink can and can fit into a palm of a human hand,' said Dr Mohamed Abdellatif, head of neonatal unit, Child Health department at SQUH.
He said that 60 per cent of such babies survive to live a healthy life.
On an average, Dr Abdellatif said that SQUH gets five to seven such cases every year. 'We got seven such cases in 2014, followed by five in 2015 and five in 2016. They were born at 24 weeks gestation and weighed between 600g and 800g.'
Ali now 27 weeks old, lives inside an incubator. 'Ali was born premature. He was born very small that I was afraid to even hold him. I feared he wouldn't survive. I have not carried him in my hands till today. He is inside an incubator from the day he was born. I am only allowed to touch him. He has grown a little, now more than one palm,' said Ali's mother.'
Dr Abdellatif said that parents of such babies are counselled prior to the delivery by a neonatologist about the chances of survival.
'These babies require ventilator support immediately after birth due to immature lungs. The baby is shifted in an incubator to the neonatal intensive care unit to maintain body temperature.'
Once the baby arrives in the neonatal unit their blood sugar levels are maintained and supplements provided through intravenous fluid.
'We commence breast milk within 48hrs of birth. Since the baby is not capable of sucking on his own, he is fed through a small feeding tube that is connected from the nose to the stomach. Breast milk is always advisable as it is good for the baby's cognitive development and immunity too.'
Dr Abdellatif said that such babies are under constant supervision. 'Infection is one of the causes of mortality in neonates. We insist on washing hands before handling the baby.
'We ask only the parents to come and touch the baby to create bonding between the babies and their parents. Such babies might stay in the neonatal unit for a period of twelve weeks or more.
'To be fit for discharge to their respective homes these babies must weigh above 1.5kg and more and must be able to feed orally and maintain their body temperature in the room without the help of an incubator.'
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