Newswise — Loyola Establishes Yet Another World Record for Smallest Baby at 8.6 Ounces " About the Size of a Cell Phone
Baby Has Fraternal Twin Sister " Both are Doing Well
WHAT: The Department of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Ill., will announce yet another new world record for the smallest baby -- Rumaisa (Roo-may-sa), weighing 8.6 ounces at 25 weeks and six days of gestation. Rumaisa and her fraternal twin sister Hiba (Hee-ba), were born at Loyola University Medical Center on Sept. 19, 2004, by a caesarean section.
Rumaisa means "white as milk" in India. Her twin sister, Hiba, weighed 1 pound, 4 ounces at the time of birth. Hiba means "gift from God." Both babies are doing well and could be discharged in the next few weeks. Their prognosis is very good. The twin sisters were born early because the mother developed preeclamspia (high blood pressure), which was affecting Rumaisa in the womb and the mother's health. Ultrasounds have shown that Rumaisa's head is normal and there is no bleeding in the brain, which is a common complication that can put a baby at risk for cerebral palsy. These are the parents' first children. The babies were conceived naturally. The proud parents live in a Chicago suburb. They are originally from Hyderabad, India.
WHEN: 10 a.m. (CST) press conference Tuesday, Dec. 21.
WHERE: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) " 5th floor Loyola University Medical Center 2160 S. First Ave. Maywood, Ill.
LOYOLA'S HIGH-RISK PROGRAM: Loyola now holds the record of delivering and caring for the two smallest babies in the world. In addition, Loyola has cared for more than 1,700 newborns weighing less than two pounds in the past two decades. From 1936 to December of 2004, there were 62 newborns worldwide surviving with birth weights less than 13 ounces, according to world literature. Forty-two babies are reported in the United States. Seven of those babies received care by Loyola physicians or individuals who trained at Loyola. Loyola's children's hospital has among the best survival rates in the country for premature babies, with 90 percent survival rate for 28-week gestation based on survival rates published in 2000 " the most recent available data " by the National Institutes of Health.
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