A baby born in Japan weighing just 268g (9.45oz) has been cleared to go home five months after his birth. He is believed to be the world’s smallest surviving baby boy.
The baby was born at Tokyo’s Keio University Hospital by emergency c-section at 24 weeks gestation after doctor’s became concerned about his lack of growth and determined that his life was in danger. He was small enought to fit into a pair of cupped hands.
Now, two months after his due date, and following months in intensive care, he has grown to 3.2kg.
Weighing 268 grams at birth in August, this baby was released from Keio University Hospital 5 months later weighing 3,238 grams https://t.co/kAgTP8a481
— TokyoReporter (@tokyoreporter) February 26, 2019
Tiny babies
According to the Tiniest Babies Registry, the baby is the smallest boy born to be discharged from a hospital. Of the 24 babies who have been born weighing under 300 grams and survived, only four of them were boys. This is believed to be linked to the slower development of boy’s lungs.
The tiniest baby on record was born in Germany in 2015 weighing 252 grams. Emilia was born at 26 weeks gestation and was just 21.8cm tall. She weighed a little bit more than a large banana and her feet were the size of a fingernail. The usual weight for a baby at this point in pregnancy is around 21 ounces. A problem with the mother’s placenta meant that Emilia was not getting enough nutrition.
Main image: Stock photo
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Written by Julie Scanlon
Julie is Editor for Kidspot NZ and our MVP. Her hobbies include laughing uncontrollably at her own jokes, annoying her family by asking questions about movie plots, and never taking anything too seriously. She speaks a little Spanish and a lot of Yorkshire.
Favourite motto to live by: “It ain’t nothing but a thing”
Gosh! That is little! My babies were 7 and 9 pounders! I don’t think I would know what to do with such a little baby!!! I am pleased he is well enough to return home with his family.
Woah. Both of mine were 8 pounds almost in the dot. I’m so thankful that I didn’t have a premature birth. But I have friends and family who have. It’s a long road out of hospital. What a little miracle this wee one is.
So glad that he got to go home -premmies are definitely fighters
This is amazing. The miracle of life. I’m sure the parents are ever so grateful to the medical staff that helped this baby survive. My little one was born 2.8kg and was almost born prematurely. Glad to have those extra days that pushed him over the mark.
OMG I can’t believe that tiny little baby survived! Thank goodness for excellent medical staff and technology. I hope he grows well with minimal complications.
That is so tiny! Im so glad that he’s finally got to go home, my babies were all big, (smallest 9lb 7oz and biggest 11lb 3oz) I wouldn’t know what to do with a little baby, I would be scared that I would break it!!
This is amazing at how smal and fragile he was what a little miracle baby boy for sure. They would have had up and downs as we with being so little he’s a lucky boy to make it out of hospital. He was only slightly heavier than a block of butter at 250gms.
OMG I read this story about this tiny wee babe last week! Wow, so amazing that he survived God Bless 🙂 It is amazing what science and doctor’s can do but also the Mana of the baby and the parents is just wow. I can only but imagine what they have been through 🙂