Miracle in Pune: 550-Gram Micro-Preemie Defies Odds After 100-Day Hospital Stay
In a remarkable feat of modern neonatal medicine, a private hospital in Pune has given a fighting chance at life to an extremely premature baby boy. The infant, born at just 23 weeks of gestation and weighing a mere 550 grams, faced severe complications but has been successfully discharged after a long and delicate medical journey.
A Sudden Preterm Birth and a Race Against Time
The parents, homemaker Rima Mishra (33) and her husband Kamal Mishra (37), were expecting their first child when Rima unexpectedly went into preterm labour. "My antenatal check-ups were completely normal, and I had no prior illnesses. It was sudden—I felt unusual discomfort and my water broke," Rima recounted. The baby was delivered via spontaneous vaginal delivery on July 17 at another private hospital in Kondhwa.
Given the critically premature state of the newborn, expert intervention was urgently needed. Dr. Prashant Laxmanrao Ramtekkar, consultant paediatrician and neonatologist at Motherhood Hospitals, explained that their specialised NICU transport team sprang into action. "We retrieved the extremely premature newborn using a specialised neonatal ambulance. Babies born at 23 weeks weighing under 600 grams are classified as micro-preemies and face astronomically high risks," he stated.
The Critical NICU Battle: Lungs, Sepsis, and Immature Organs
The initial hours were the most precarious. The baby was immediately stabilised, intubated, and transferred. His underdeveloped lungs posed the first major hurdle, requiring ventilator support. "We administered surfactant to help his lungs mature and provided ventilation for seven days before moving to non-invasive support," Dr. Ramtekkar detailed.
The challenges were multifaceted. The infant later developed late-onset sepsis, which affected his blood's ability to clot. "Treating such babies is immensely challenging because every organ is immature. Our team meticulously managed fluids, conducted regular brain scans, performed ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity) screening, and monitored hearing development," the doctor added.
Kangaroo Care and Nutritional Support Pave the Way to Recovery
According to Dr. Tushar Parikh, senior consultant neonatologist and head of department at Motherhood Hospital, comprehensive care was key. "While breathing support was vital, nutrition was equally critical. We began with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and gradually transitioned to expressed mother's milk via a feeding tube," he said.
A pivotal part of the recovery was the early introduction of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), where the baby is held skin-to-skin by the parents. "This practice helped him gain stability, bond with his parents, and fostered both physical and emotional growth. By the time of discharge, he was breastfeeding well and all screenings for brain, eyes, and hearing were normal," Dr. Parikh affirmed.
After nearly 100 days of intensive care, the little fighter was finally discharged on October 27. He had reached 37 weeks of corrected gestational age and weighed a healthy 2.2 kilograms. Reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster, Rima Mishra shared, "My heart sank when I first saw my tiny baby. Every day in the NICU was filled with anxiety. The smallest progress felt like a huge victory. Today, watching him grow feels nothing short of a miracle." This case stands as a testament to the advances in neonatal intensive care and the dedicated efforts of medical teams in India.
