This baby is among the smallest to have survived at Dr. Mehta’s Hospitals. Following 97 days of specialised care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the baby was discharged at a weight of 1.6 kg.
Chennai, 22nd July 2026: The team of neonatologists at Dr. Mehta’s Hospitals, Chetpet, successfully treated an extremely premature baby born at just 24 weeks of gestation and weighing only 530 grams at birth. After 97 days of intensive care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the baby was discharged in good health at a weight of 1.6 kg. Born nearly four months before the expected due date, the infant was in the periviable period, a stage at which survival remains uncertain even with advanced neonatal care.
The mother, an international patient, was admitted to Dr. Mehta’s Hospitals for pregnancy care. During her pregnancy, she developed pregnancy-induced hypertension (high blood pressure), posing a serious risk to both mother and baby. To safeguard their health, the medical team performed an emergency Lower Segment Caesarean Section (LSCS) nearly four months before the expected due date. The mother delivered an extremely premature baby girl who was in critical condition from birth. The baby was born in January 2026. As the infant’s vital organs, including the lungs, heart, brain and intestines, were severely underdeveloped, the chances of survival were extremely low. The baby was immediately admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where a multidisciplinary team provided round-the-clock monitoring, advanced life support and intensive medical care.
In the NICU, the infant was given surfactant therapy, mechanical ventilation, and medications to maintain blood pressure and support the immature cardiovascular system. Mechanical ventilation was provided from birth for nearly three weeks. The baby also remained at high risk of complications associated with extreme prematurity, including respiratory difficulties, infections, feeding intolerance and bleeding in the brain. The baby’s care involved a multidisciplinary team comprising specialists from Neonatology, Paediatrics, Nursing, Nutrition, Radiology and Rehabilitation Services. Careful monitoring, specialised nutrition, respiratory support and timely management of complications helped the baby gradually progress through the critical period.
“A full-term pregnancy typically lasts between 37 and 40 weeks. Babies born before 25 weeks are considered extremely premature, and their chances of survival remain uncertain. This baby is among the smallest babies ever to survive and be successfully discharged from Dr. Mehta’s Hospitals. The successful outcome underscores the importance of advanced neonatal care and the coordinated efforts of a specialised multidisciplinary team in managing extreme prematurity,” said Dr. Arun Krishnan B., Neonatologist, Dr. Mehta’s Hospitals, Chetpet.
After 97 days of intensive care, the baby successfully transitioned to oral feeding and tolerated nutrients independently. The baby was discharged at a healthy weight of 1.6 kg. During a follow-up review, the medical team confirmed that the infant is healthy and achieving age-appropriate developmental milestones, with no significant complications.