Mangaluru’s smallest miracle: Born at 520g, baby girl defies odds

Mangaluru: In a medical achievement, a baby girl born at just 27 weeks of gestation and weighing only 520g has survived against overwhelming odds and is now thriving after nearly three months of intensive care at Father Muller Medical College Hospital (FMMCH), Mangaluru.

Believed to be among the smallest babies successfully cared for and discharged from the hospital, her journey is a reflection of medical expertise, parental determination and multidisciplinary teamwork.

A couple, after several years of marriage, realised their dream of parenthood through fertility treatment under the guidance of Dr Shaweez Faizi at Nova IVF. Given the precious nature of the pregnancy, the expectant mother was closely monitored throughout the antenatal period by Dr Joylene D’Almeida, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology and consultant at FMMCH.

According to Dr Joylene, the pregnancy progressed well until the mother went into preterm labour at 24 weeks. Recognising the risks associated with extreme prematurity, the obstetric team led by Dr Joylene successfully prolonged the pregnancy by nearly three weeks through specialised medications, vigilant monitoring and maternal care, allowing the baby to remain in the womb until 27 weeks of gestation.

On Feb 11, the baby girl was delivered by caesarean section by the team led by Dr Joylene D’Almeida, assisted by Dr Shannon. Weighing just 520g, she was immediately shifted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Babies weighing less than 1,000g are classified as extremely low birth weight infants (ELBW), making her one of the most fragile patients modern medicine encounters.

Under the leadership of Dr Mario Bukelo, consultant paediatrician and neonatal medicine specialist, supported by Dr Jason, developmental paediatrician, and a dedicated team of neonatal nurses and doctors, the infant received highly specialised neonatal care. Dr Sripathi Kamath, ophthalmologist and retinal surgeon, treated her retinopathy of prematurity to safeguard her vision.

Dr Muralidhar K, foetal medicine specialist, and the anaesthesia team led by Dr Kishen Shetty also played a vital role in her care.

After nearly three months in the NICU, the baby tripled her weight. By June, she weighed approximately 1.6 kg and was stable enough to be discharged.

“The parents’ trust enabled doctors and nurses to provide the best possible care. In many ways, they became an essential part of the treatment team,” said Dr Mario Bukelo.

Reflecting on the journey, Dr Joylene D’Almeida said, “This journey taught us that faith, patience, medical excellence and parental trust can achieve what once seemed impossible. Every extra day, every extra gram and every small victory mattered.”