US: Miracle baby born 18 weeks early ready to go home

A premature baby that doctors say spent less time in the womb than any other surviving infant is scheduled for release from hospital tomorrow.

Amillia Sonja Taylor was just 9.5ins (24cm) long and weighed less than 10oz (284g) when she was born on October 24 in Miami, Florida.

She was delivered after just under 22 weeks of pregnancy; full-term births come at about 40 weeks.

Doctors who cared for Amillia say she is the first baby known to survive after a gestation period of fewer than 23 weeks.

“We weren’t too optimistic,” Dr William Smalling said today. “But she proved us all wrong.”

The baby has experienced respiratory problems, a very mild brain haemorrhage and some digestive problems, but none of the health concerns are expected to pose long-term problems, her doctors said.

“We can deal with lungs and things like that but, of course, the brain is the most important,” Dr Paul Fassbach, who has cared for Amillia since her second day, said. “But her prognosis is excellent.”

Amillia has been in an incubator since birth and has been receiving oxygen. She will continue getting a small amount of oxygen and will be on a monitor to watch her breathing once she leaves Baptist Children’s Hospital.

“She’s going to be in a normal cot, she’s going to have normal feedings, she’s taking all her feedings from a bottle,” said Smalling, who has cared for Amillia since her third day.

Amillia is the first child for Eddie and Sonja Taylor of Homestead. She was conceived by in vitro fertilisation, which made it possible to pinpoint her exact time in the womb, and she was delivered by Caesarean section.

“It’s a prize baby,” Fassbach said. “A miracle,” Smalling added.