24-Week Premature Baby Beats All Odds, Survives Against 10% Chance – Fortis Hospital
New Delhi: Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, has successfully saved the life of a newborn delivered at just 24 weeks of pregnancy, weighing only 640 grams—barely fitting into a single palm.
The infant, born 16 weeks before the full-term gestation period of 40 weeks, faced multiple critical complications from the moment he entered the world. His survival is being described as a “micro preemie miracle,” given that babies born at this stage and weight stand at the very limits of modern medical capability.
The challenges began immediately. The newborn did not cry at birth and had a dangerously low heart rate. The pediatric and neonatal teams at Fortis Vasant Kunj responded instantly, initiating life-saving resuscitation and placing the baby under continuous monitoring.
His lungs were extremely underdeveloped, making independent breathing impossible. The medical team placed him on prolonged, advanced ventilatory support while administering essential medications calibrated with extreme precision.
Adding to the complexity, the infant’s kidneys were immature and struggled to function. Within the first week, he dropped to 550 grams, a severe and alarming weight loss for an already tiny baby. Despite these obstacles, the neonatal team worked relentlessly to stabilize him through dedicated care, careful adjustments, and highly specialized treatment protocols.
Dr. Rahul Nagpal, Principal Director & Head of Paediatrics & Neonatology, shared that the survival rate for babies born at 24 weeks is only about 10–15%. Preventing brain bleeding and infections—which are the most significant risks in such cases—required constant vigilance, strict infection control, and meticulous fluid management.“Every gram of weight he gained was a moment of relief and hope,” he noted.
Dr. Shradha Joshi, Senior Consultant, Neonatology, added that after 90 days in the NICU, the baby was discharged at a healthy weight of 1.8 kg. Now, at six months, he weighs 6 kg and has normal vision, hearing, and brain development. She credited the nursing team for their unwavering dedication throughout the baby’s NICU journey.
Dr. Gurvinder Kaur, Facility Director, emphasized that this case illustrates the powerful combination of medical skill, advanced neonatal technology, and compassionate teamwork. She praised the doctors, nurses, and support staff for providing exceptional care during an extremely challenging situation, giving the newborn a strong start to life and offering immense hope to his family.
Kanchan Chaurasiya joined Medical Dialogues in 2025 as a Media and Marketing Coordinator. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Arts from Delhi University and has completed certifications in digital marketing. With a strong interest in health news, content creation, hospital updates, and emerging trends, Kanchan manages social media, news coverage, and public relations activities. She coordinates media outreach, creates press releases, promotes healthcare professionals and institutions, and supports health awareness campaigns to ensure accurate, engaging, and timely communication for the medical community and the public.