A baby born weighing less than a tin of baked beans has reportedly become the smallest to ever survive in India.
Ridhima Ajmani, nicknamed Cherry, weighed just 0.8lbs (375g) when she was born around four months ago, local reports state.
But she has now ‘miraculously’ overcome her medical death sentence, and is now strong and healthy, her family claims.
Babies born weighing less than 1.1lbs (500g) have less than a 50 per cent chance of survival, figures state.
Ridhima Ajmani, nicknamed Cherry, weighed just 0.8lbs (375g) when she was born around four months ago, local reports state
But she has now ‘miraculously’ overcome her medical death sentence, and is now strong and healthy, her family claims (pictured with her mother Nikita and father Saurabh)
Cherry was delivered at the Rainbow Children’s Hospital in Hyderabad, around 440 miles (708km) east of Mumbai.
Mother Nikita, from Rajnandgaon – 400 miles (643km) north of the city reportedly had four abortions before becoming pregnant with Cherry.
Saurabh, Cherry’s father, allegedly told local media: ‘We were told by a friend to go to Hyderabad and try our luck there.’
Doctors feared Cherry would be unlikely to survive because the blood-flow between Nikita and her baby was poor.
It is believed she had from placental insufficiency, a rare yet serious complication of pregnancy occurs when there isn’t enough blood flow between the mother and placenta.
Without a healthy placenta, the baby struggles to survive in the womb and is unable to receive enough oxygen and nutrients. The complication can lead to low birthweight, premature births and even birth defects.
The couple then travelled to the Rainbow Children’s Hospital as the doctors there specialise in dealing with premature births.
Nikita said: ‘I was told to keep a positive frame of mind right from the time I came to the hospital, but given my past experiences, I was scared and worried.
Babies born weighing less than 1.1lbs (500g) have less than a 50 per cent chance of survival, figures state (pictured the size of Cherry when she was born)
Doctors feared Cherry would be unlikely to survive because the blood-flow between Nikita and her baby was poor
Cherry was eventually born, weighing just 0.8lbs (363g). In comparison, a tin of Heinz Baked Beans is just 0.9lbs (415g) (pictured with her mother, Nikita)
‘I told doctors to save my baby at any cost.’
She was eventually born, weighing just 0.8lbs (363g). In comparison, a tin of Heinz Baked Beans is just 0.9lbs (415g).
Cherry was placed in a ventilator for 15 weeks after she was born, and took 38 days to reach the milestone 1.1lbs (500g).
In the UK, newborn babies weren’t offered care in the Eighties if they weighed under 2.2lbs (1kg). Today the usual cut-off point is 1.1lbs (500g).
Cherry has now been discharged after 128 days in hospital, and has been officially named Ridhima. Local reports state she now weighs 4.4lbs (2kg).
Dr Dinesh Kumar Chirla, who helped to deliver Cherry, explained that the risks at the birth were high.
He said her ‘immature lungs, risk of bleeding brain, infections, the problem of nutrition given the condition, complex surgical processes’ as potential issues.
Dr Ramesh Kancharla, chairman and managing director of the Rainbow Group of Hospitals, hailed the successful birth.
He said at the time: ‘We are able to send baby born with birth weight as small as 375g home because of our advance perinatal centre.’
‘Close to 20 years of hard work has gone in to developing such expertise to save small babies.’
Dr Kancharla praised a ‘committed’ team that helped to deliver Cherry, and described those who helped as ‘instrumental’.
Cherry has now been discharged after 128 days in hospital, and has been officially named Ridhima. Local reports state she now weighs 4.4lbs (2kg)
Dr Ramesh Kancharla, chairman of the Rainbow Group of Hospitals, hailed the successful birth (Cherry was paraded in front of reporters, alongside medics and her family)
Dr Dinesh Kumar Chirla, who helped to deliver Cherry, explained that the risks at the birth were high (Cherry was paraded in front of reporters, alongside medics and her family)