This Abu Dhabi Baby Grows Up Healthy After Being Born Prematurely At 28 Weeks, Weighs 380 Grams And Experiences Complications

Illustration of the birth process. (Unsplash/Patricia Prudente)

JAKARTA - Doctors in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) saved the life of a baby weighing only 380g at birth, successfully treating him for several life-threatening conditions.

The baby, called Mohamed, was born prematurely by emergency cesarean section at 28 weeks after doctors found him in trouble during tests.

He weighed only a can of soda and had to be resuscitated, ventilated after birth to help him breathe because his lungs weren't fully developed.

He was also being treated for anemia, electrolyte imbalance, first-degree cerebral and patent ductal hemorrhage, and extra blood vessels in his heart, among other complications common in premature infants.

But after spending 124 days in Nicu at the NMC Royal Women's Hospital, she was allowed to go home in good health with no lingering medical problems.

"Mohamed had an amazing journey in the Neonatal ICU," said Dr. Aditya Rakhecha, department head and consultant in neonatology, citing The National News December 14.

"He spent 124 days in the NICU and is probably the smallest baby to be discharged from a private hospital, weighing only 380g at birth. Babies weighing less than 500g rarely survive, but he is battling complications and is thriving in Nicu," he explained.

Her mother, Rawan Elbashir, 31, is a pharmacist and is closely monitored because she had hypertension in a previous pregnancy, which resulted in her giving birth to her daughter early at 32 weeks.

Baby illustration. (Unsplash/Carlo Navarro)

The first signs of trouble in her pregnancy with Mohamed developed at 18 weeks pregnant, when doctors explained her blood supply to the baby was abnormal. She gave birth 10 weeks later.

"It all started when I was less than 20 weeks pregnant. After being examined by a fetal medicine specialist at the hospital, I was told I had an abnormal uterine Doppler (a measurement of the blood supply to the uterus and placenta), which can cause the same conditions as pregnancy-induced hypertension and premature birth," recalled Elbashir.

She said her pregnancy and the first few months of her life were difficult.

"I was ready for Mohamed to stay in the NICU all year but thanks to the amazing team it all ended so quickly," continued the Sudanese mother.

Abdelsalam Elamin, her husband, who is also Sudanese and works as a PRO, said he waited patiently to pick up Mohamed and take him home.

"It was an indescribable, overwhelming feeling. It was amazing and satisfying to watch him grow while he was in the NICU," explained the father.

Meanwhile, Dr. Eman Sadek, obstetrics and gynecology specialist at NMC Royal Women's Hospital, said most babies born so early and as heavy as Mohamed did not survive.

"At birth, he had only a weak heartbeat with no movement or spontaneous breathing and required immediate resuscitation," said Dr. Aditya.

"After being given artificial ventilation, he became active, with a good heart rate and skin tone," he said.

A hospital spokeswoman said it treats about 200 low birth weight babies every year. It has excluded more than 50 babies born with a very low birth weight over the past six years.

"I'm so happy for little Mohamed and his family," said Michael Davis, chief executive of NMC Healthcare.

"This young warrior braved all odds as an army of doctors, nurses, technicians, and other medical staff, remained focused on their mission to save his precious life," Davis said.

He said Mohamed was being treated by several specialists, including a cardiologist and ophthalmologist. He also underwent surgery to treat a hernia.

To note, low birth weight is classified as 2.5kg, or 2.500g. Babies weighing less than 1.000 grams are considered very low birth weight. And those born weighing less than 500 grams had the most health problems and were less likely to survive, according to Stanford Children's Health.