A child in Alabama who weighed less than half a kilo (one pound) when she was born and whose mother entered labor at 21 weeks and one day of gestation has been certified as the most premature baby in surviving.
The Guinness World Records organization and Alabama UAB hospital announced Wednesday that Curtis Means, who only weighed 420 grams (14.8 ounces) at birth, established the new record.Curtis, born 132 days prematurely on July 5, 2020 with a twin that did not survive, is now healthy at 16 months of age.
Dr. Brian Sims, who was his doctor, said the statistics show that such an premature birth is practically no chance of survival, but Curtis exceeded the probabilities.
"We usually advise palliative care in such premature birth situations," Sims said in a statement from Alabama University in Birmingham, which manages the hospital."This allows parents to hold their babies and value the little time they could have together".
Instead, Curtis was strengthened and discharged after 275 days in the hospital.At first he needed therapists to use the mouth and eat.
"Being able to take Curtis at home finally and surprise my older children with her youngest brother is a time that I will always remember," said Michelle Butler from Eutaw, Alabama, in a statement in a statement.
It is considered that a fetus is in term at 40 weeks, but Butler entered labor being pregnant with twins shortly after half of that period.It was transferred to the ABC hospital, which has a neonatal intensive care unit where Curtis and C’asya gave birth.
C’asya died the next day, but they could disconnect to Curtis from a respirator after three months.The following months needed day and night attention.In April he went home.
"We don't know what the future will hold for Curtis, since there is no one like him," Sims said.“He began writing his own story the day he was born.Many will read and study that story and, hopefully, will help improve attention to premature infants worldwide ”.
The Guinness organization said Curtis beat the previous record for one day, which only remained for a month.Richard Hutchinson, from Wisconsin, was born at a gestational age of 21 weeks and 2 days in June 2020.
