I was told that because my cervix was opening my baby was not viable. Ms Mcmillan said: "What I want is for other women to hear my story and know that they should listen to their gut. Also delivered at 21 weeks 1 day, his sister CAsya Means was less developed and did not respond to the treatment in the way her brother did. doi:10.1542/peds.2010-0039. He weighed 275 grams, just over 9.7 ounces. Curtis Zy-Keith Means | Image: Guinness World Records Key Highlights Curtis Zy-Keith Means weighed 420 grams when he was born at 21 weeks and 1 day in July 2020 "They didn't make any improvement. "The first month they werent even sure he was going to make it," Beth revealed. "The health board has systems in place to investigate and learn from any adverse events which do occur.". Now in November which is aptly Prematurity Awareness Month Curtis is about to see in what would have been his first birthday (11 November) had he gone to full term. But that doesn't mean babies born earlier than that won't survive. He set a record when he was born for world's most premature baby - and beat all the odds, growing into a healthy adult. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Select your child's age in months to begin tracking their development. ", It takes a village to raise a child, and a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is no different. A full-term pregnancy is typically 40 weeks, or 280 days, making Curtis 132 days almost 19 weeks premature. They can happen after that but only in exceptional circumstances - e.g if the mother's life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe disability. 5 June 2021 marked his first birthday a landmark for any child, but none more so than for "miracle baby" Richard. 2012;129(6):e1508-16. Today, despite being small for her age, Baby Saybie continues to thrive with few known medical issues. On May 20, 1987, James Elgin Gill was born in Canad, at a gestational age of 21 weeks 5 days, or 128 days premature. However, when Ms Mcmillan was 20 weeks pregnant she was in a car crash and had to be rushed to hospital again. "My consultant told me she was unable to perform a suture stitch, and I was given pessaries to try to halt the cervix opening. Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. The little baby celebrated his first birthday on June 5. I knew in my gut that this baby was a survivor and I was determined that he was going to live. He set a record when he was born for the world's most premature baby. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. "He taught me what it truly means to be resilient and, every time I look at him, Im reminded how strong and amazing all these little beautiful babies are!". This time there were serious consequences. She said: "I was hysterical, this was my third baby and I felt so unsupported. "It was really hard. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. At 24 weeks a foetus is considered viable, meaning doctors will intervene as their organs are mature enough to give them a chance of surviving. James Elgin Gill, born in 1987 in Canada was the earliest premature birth in the world - being born 128 days early at 21 weeks, 5 days gestation, and weighing 1lb 6oz. She delivered Curtis, who weighed 14.8 ounces at birth, and his twin CAsya Means, 132 days premature (close to 19 weeks early). James Elgin Gill was born to Brenda and James Gill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, at a gestational age of 21 weeks 5 days, or 128 days premature, on 20 May 1987. '", We have never been able to bring a baby that young to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit so [Curtis] was literally the first of his kind. The earliest documented survival of such a premature baby was James Elgin Gill, born in Ottawa, Canada in 1987. The couple said. More recently, reports suggest that this age was matched by Frieda Mangold, who was born to Yvonne and John Mangold in Fulda, Germany, on 7 November 2010. And at least two babies have survived at 21 weeks. Instead, the baby girl, Kwek Yu Xuan, weighed only 7.5 ounces. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Ive been doing this almost 20 years, but Ive never seen a baby this young be as strong as he was. While, sadly, all preemies will not have the positive outcomes of those listed above, some will. James Elgin Gill was born to Brenda and James Gill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, at a gestational age of 21 weeks 5 days, or 128 days premature, on 20 May 1987. The law In certain US states, you can't call a baby a baby until 20 weeks gestation During Richard's hospital stay, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hutchinson and her husband, Rick, spent lots of time traveling between home and the hospital, as they were unable to stay overnight with their son due to restrictions from the pandemic. According to Guinness, in 1978, a Canadian couple delivered a baby boy at 21 weeks and five days. Also in the running is a German. ", "I think Richards story has inspired so many people around the world and I think we will all continue to learn from him. Carollo K. One of world's smallest surviving infants goes home. If I had listened to the consultants in Raigmore I would not have baby Sam now. Be nosey because it is your child, and you deserve to know what is going on.". Cases of Survival of Extremely Premature Infants. . At this point he qualified as themost premature babyto survive. "Initially Curtis was on a lot of breathing support and medication for his heart and lungs to keep him alive, Dr Travers continued. Get notified real-time about the topics you like. According to Guinness, in 1978, a Canadian couple delivered a baby boy at 21 weeks and five days. Curtis is the first baby to survive at 21 weeks of pregnancy, breaking the record set by James Elgin Gill in 1987 when he was born at 128 days, as well as the record set by Sandy Lee Williams in 1978. The medical professionals who cared for the baby at the hospital had to improvise when taking care of Yu Xuan as many of their normal tools and techniques were too big for the baby's small body. This surpasses a record that stood for three-and-a-half decades. Initially, Michelle "Chelly" Butler's pregnancy seemed to be progressing well and on track to go to full term. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time by visiting our unsubscribe page and providing your email address. Being able to finally take Curtis home and surprise my older children with their younger brother is a moment I will always remember, Butler said. Similarly, Amillia Taylor was born at just under 22 weeks in October 2006. "Most importantly they should never lose their voice. In certain US states, you can't call a baby a baby until 20 weeks gestation. A German baby girl, born at just 21 weeks and five days, has been released from the hospital and sent home with her parents after five months in neonatal care. It was odd, surreal, and completely out of my control. "He is truly the world's N=1 baby," Sims said. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the world's most premature baby is Richard Hutchinson, who was born weighing less than a can of soda. His due date wasnt until Oct. 13. James Elgin Gill born at 21 weeks and 5 days gestation in Canada officially became the earliest premature baby born in 1987. "The health board has systems in place to investigate and learn from any adverse events which do occur.". Approach to infants born at 22 to 24 weeks' gestation: Relationship to outcomes of more-mature infants. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. The plucky boy celebrated his first birthday on July 5, at which point he qualified as the most premature baby to survive. Before him, that record remained intact for 34 years with James Elgin Gill, born 128 days premature in Ottawa, Canada on May 20, 1987. "Im very proud of him because where he came from and where he at now, I can tell the difference. "I credit his miraculous survival to his wonderful parents who were there for him every step of the way and to the entire neonatology team at Childrens Minnesota. Dr Kern told us, "The day Richard was discharged from the NICU was such a special day. That said, there were many challenges along the way and he required around-the-clock care for many months. And before Richard, the record had remained unbroken for 34 years. She's a miracle:' Born weighing about as much as 'a large apple,'Saybie is the world's smallest surviving baby, Years later, tiniest U.S. babies mature into typical kids, Long-term follow-up of 2 newborns with a combined birth weight of 540 grams, Melinda Star Guido: California's tiniest 'Miracle Baby' goes home, Tiny Melinda, one of world's smallest newborns, beating odds, might go home soon, California's tiniest baby goes home from hospital, Premature baby 'Tom Thumb' born at 25 weeks weighing half a pound survives, Incredibly, worlds tiniest preterm babies are doing just fine, Tiniest babies' stories called exceptions to the rule, One of world's smallest surviving infants goes home, Kenna Moore, baby born smaller than a soda can, goes home from hospital. Thanks to the quick response of the experienced medical team at theRegional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit(RNICU), following his mother's wishes, Curtis was delivered at a gestational age of 21 weeks 1 day (148 days) at around 1 p.m. on 5 July. I was amazed at such a young age that he was alive and that he was responding to the treatments. Report a typo Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Curtis celebrated his first birthday on July 5. James Elgin Gill was born in Ottawa, Ontario, on , around 128 days early or 21 weeks gestation. "My consultant told me she was unable to perform a suture stitch, and I was given pessaries to try to halt the cervix opening. I remember picking him up out of his crib and just holding him with tears in my eyes. When Beth and Rick Hutchinson (both USA) welcomed their son into the world on 5 June 2020 several months ahead of schedule he was so small that he could fit into the palm of one of their hands. However, she suffered labour pain months ahead of her due delivery date due to some complications. Premature baby 'Tom Thumb' born at 25 weeks weighing half a pound survives. She was born at 24 weeks in Charlotte, North Carolina. Gill's record stood for over 30 . He is now at college . An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. The previous record-holder was James Elgin Gill of Canada, who was born 128 days premature and weighing 21.84 ounces. Before meeting with a consultant, she says the staff member suggested that she asked for a surgical procedure, known as a cervical stitch. The issue is that the journey is different for every baby we care for and there are often roadblocks along the way which impede progress. Lancet. That story will be read and studied by many and, hopefully, will help improve care of premature infants around the world.. 1987 - Most premature baby. 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