Britain’s smallest baby thriving as teenager in Birmingham

A girl who was Britain’s smallest baby and was given just a one per cent chance of survival is now living life to the full as a teenager. 

Aaliyah Hart, 14, from Birmingham, weighed just 12oz when she was born three months prematurely in 2003.

Just seven inches long, she could comfortably sit in the palm of her mother’s hand, while her own palm was no bigger than a five-pence coin.

Doctors warned her mother, Lorraine Hart, 51, Aaliyah would likely die as her lungs had not developed properly.

Now a teenager, she has astounded doctors by pulling through and showing no signs of any health problems.

A girl who was Britain’s smallest baby at just 0.75lbs is now living life to the full as a teenager

Aaliyah Hart was born three weeks prematurely and given just a one per cent of survival

Aaliyah Hart was born three weeks prematurely and given just a one per cent of survival

Now a teenager, she has astounded doctors by  showing no signs of any health problems

Now a teenager, she has astounded doctors by showing no signs of any health problems

PREMATURE LABOUR AND BIRTH 

Premature babies are those born before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

This occurs in around one in 13 births.

Mothers are admitted to a special neonatal clinic.

Doctors can give drugs to stop contractions temporarily, which then allows for steroids to be administered.

Steroids reduce the risk of the baby suffering complications, namely breathing difficulties and bleeding.

Twins and triplets are more likely to be born prematurely. 

Source: NHS Choices 

‘We never thought she would get to this point, she is a miracle baby’ 

Aaliyah said: ‘I was never aware of the fuss when I was born and it has never affected me.

‘It was a shock when I saw the clothes I used to wear as a baby, they look like they would be small enough to fit a doll.

‘I enjoy drama at school and would like to be an actress one day.’

Aaliyah received hormone treatment as a baby to help her grow and has since achieved all of the important milestones, such as taking her first steps and starting school.

Ms Hart, a social worker, said: ‘She is still very petite for her age but she is a happy and healthy teen.’  

She worried her daughter would have a hard time at school due to her size but Aaliyah is preparing to start her GCSEs at Queensbridge school in Birmingham.

Ms Hart said: ‘She has grown up to be a nice child.

‘She’s quiet and is well-liked. She’s very popular at school with her teachers and her peers and she’s a well-grounded teenager.

‘We never thought she would get to this point, she is a miracle baby.’  

Although petite, Aaliyah hopes to be an actress (pictured with her mother Lorraine, 51)

Although petite, Aaliyah hopes to be an actress (pictured with her mother Lorraine, 51)

As a baby, Aaliyah's clothes were knitted by volunteers and could have fit 'a doll' 

As a baby, Aaliyah’s clothes were knitted by volunteers and could have fit ‘a doll’ 

Ms Hart was advised to have an abortion as her amniotic fluid was decreasing

Ms Hart was advised to have an abortion as her amniotic fluid was decreasing

She refused as she struggled to conceive and had considered IVF before becoming pregnant

She refused as she struggled to conceive and had considered IVF before becoming pregnant

Mother was told to have an abortion  

Ms Hart was advised to have an abortion after doctors noticed her amniotic fluid was slowly decreasing.

Yet, she was determined to continue with her pregnancy as she struggled to conceive and had considered IVF.

Ms Hart went into labour while at home and was rushed to hospital.

As soon as Aaliyah was born she was put onto a life support machine. 

Ms Hart said: ‘I didn’t even think that she could be the smallest baby in the UK because there were so many small babies on the unit.

‘It was actually the nurses who thought she may have been.’

Aaliyah was so small, volunteers knitted clothes for her.

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