The baby, nicknamed Saybie by medical staffers at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital in San Diego, was born there at just over 23 weeks' gestation. Her mother had developed preeclampsia, and doctors decided to perform an emergency cesarean section, according to hospital officials.
An infant nicknamed Saybie — believed to be the smallest-ever surviving baby, at just 8.6 ounces — has reportedly been released from a California hospital. https://t.co/Kznr0vtkn3
— NPR (@NPR) May 30, 2019
The baby’s survival is considered miraculous.
"At birth, she was roughly the same weight as a large apple or a child's juice box," hospital CEO Trisha Khaleghi said.
The hospital went public with the early birth and survival story on Wednesday, explaining that the family wanted to remain anonymous.
The baby was born with a strong heartbeat, neonatologist Dr. Paul Wozniak said, but needed special equipment, including a tiny blood pressure cuff and diapers the size of table napkins.
One of Saybie’s nurses said the baby had a will to live.
KICKER: The smallest surviving baby is home, after spending five months in the hospital. This is Saybie. She was born weighing 8.6 ounces. She now tips the scale at 5.6 pounds. 💪Way to go, Saybie! pic.twitter.com/X3yHc9rTPe
— CNN Newsource (@CNNNewsource) May 30, 2019
“She was a fighter from the get-go,” Kim Norby said.
The baby is now listed as the world’s smallest surviving infant in the Tiniest Baby Registry at the University of Iowa. The previous record was held by a baby girl in Germany who weighed just 8.8 ounces when she was born prematurely in 2015.
#Saybie, world's tiniest surviving baby, born at 23 weeks, three days in San Diego https://t.co/pSP7tazQgm pic.twitter.com/xA13dlOMjV
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) May 30, 2019
The baby, named Saybie, was born in December at 23 weeks, three days, making her a micro preemie, according to Sharp Mary Birch Hospital officials. When she was released from the hospital this month, she weighed 5.6 pounds. https://t.co/LnA2hlUpWi
— WPMT FOX43 (@fox43) May 30, 2019
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