Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Nov 21: In a remarkable medical triumph, a Malad couple has welcomed what doctors say is India’s smallest surviving baby—a 350-gram newborn delivered at just 25 weeks of pregnancy. The Sainis, who already have a four-year-old daughter born prematurely at 550 grams, were stunned when their second child arrived even tinier, weighing “less than an apple and smaller than an adult’s palm”.
The baby girl was born on June 30 at Surya Hospital, Santacruz. Within minutes of birth, neonatologist Dr. Nandkishor Kabra intubated her and administered surfactant therapy to support her fragile lungs. While medical science today offers a reasonable chance of survival for babies weighing between 500 and 600 grams, the odds are significantly slimmer for what doctors call a “nano preemie”—an infant as tiny as 350 grams.
What followed was a four-month-long battle for life inside the NICU. The baby fought through multiple complications including respiratory distress syndrome, mild bronchopulmonary dysplasia, ventilator-associated pneumonia, cytomegalovirus infection, retinopathy of prematurity, anemia, unstable sugar levels, and osteopenia of prematurity. She also required advanced ventilation support, transfusions and insulin.
“Every day was a fight. We treated infections, stabilised her lungs, managed sugar swings and monitored her neurological development. Her survival is nothing short of a miracle,” said senior neonatologist Dr. Hari Balasubramanian.
After 124 days in intensive care, the little fighter was discharged on November 1. Surya Hospital’s chief, Dr. Bhupendra Avasthi, confirmed she is the smallest surviving infant ever recorded in India—a claim supported by Dr. Prashant Mane of JJ Hospital, who said a 350-gram survival is unprecedented.
At the time of discharge, the baby weighed 1.8 kg, measured 41.5 cm in length, and had a head circumference of 29 cm. “She has gained five times her birth weight and is neurologically normal for her age,” Dr. Kabra added.
In a city known for its fast pace, this tiny miracle has become a symbol of resilience, advanced neonatal care and the power of unwavering hope.