Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Care for Earliest Preemies Improves, But Low Birth Weight Remains Risky

Madeline Mann seen shortly after she was born prematurely in in 1989. Weighing 9.9 ounces at birth, she is now an honors student in psychology at Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. 

The smallest preemie baby ever born, weighing only 9.8 ounces, is now 22 and a healthy college student.  Doctors say though that she is an exception, and that parents should not get accustomed to these successful cases becoming the norm.  Only one percent of babies born under 500 grams do not suffer from mental or physical illness.  Even though preemie baby healthcare has greatly improved since the 1980's, there are still many risks to a baby being born premature. 

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