After 13 months of intensive care, a baby believed to be the world’s smallest at birth has been released from a Singapore hospital.
Kwek Yu Xuan was born weighing just 212g (7.47oz) and measuring 24cm in length. She was born at little about 25 weeks, far below the average of 40 weeks.
According to the University of Iowa‘s Tiniest Babies Registry, the previous record-holder was a girl born in the United States in 2018 who weighed 245g at birth.
Yu Xuan’s mother delivered her four months ahead of schedule by emergency C-section after being diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a dangerously high blood pressure that may damage critical organs and be deadly for both mother and baby.
Yu Xuan currently weighs 6.3kg, which is a much healthy weight (14 pounds).
According to the National University Hospital (NUH) in Singapore, where the newborn girl was delivered, she had a “limited chance of survival.”
“Against the odds, with health complications present at birth, she has inspired people around her with her perseverance and growth, which makes her an extraordinary “Covid-19″ baby – a ray of hope amid turmoil,” the hospital said in a statement.
Yu Xuan had a variety of treatments at the hospital and had to rely on a variety of machines to stay alive.
Doctors believe her health and development improved significantly while she was under their care, and she is now well enough to be released.
Yu Xuan’s chronic lung illness is still present, and she will need assistance with her breathing at home. Doctors at NUH, on the other hand, believe she will improve with time.
Wong Mei Ling, Yu Xuan’s mother, told local media that Yu Xuan’s birth and size surprised her since her first child, a four-year-old boy, was born at term.
Yu Xuan’s parents were able to cover the costs of her long hospital stay thanks to a crowdfunding effort that raised S$366,884 ($270,601) for her.
