I can only manage a bittersweet smile at this. I hope that the parents have a clue what they`re in for, and what a birth weight below 1lb means for their child`s future.

All a hospital discharge means is that the parents (with definite medical staff support in this case) can keep their baby alive at home if nothing unexpected happens.

As cruel as it sounds, I highly doubt this little girl is going to grow up and be "normal" by any stretch. It just doesn`t work that way.

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As a woman who lost twins at 22 weeks gestation, I can tell you that it won't matter to this family whether or not this child is "normal." Because this child is ALIVE. I don't understand how a mother can look at another family's tragedy in this way.

Also, the weight of the infant isn't nearly as important as the gestational age and the ability of the lungs to do their job (i.e. was there enough time to pump mom full of steroids to help the baby's lungs to develop?)

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jen - My son was born at under a pound.
I didn`t know what we were getting ourselves into. I held out home that everything would be "normal"

Well, it *isn`t*. I`m not just hopping out and saying things , I`ve actually been there, and am just now dealing with the REAL outcome. And my son had a "perfect NICU stay", without any serious problems. You can`t judge how the future is going to be until you start approaching school age.

The child`s weight DOES matter - it matters quite a lot. Not in survival, really, but in that the child was deprived prior to birth. A 25 weeker should not weigh 10 oz. That means it wasn`t getting enough nutrition - and likely oxygen, as they are carried to a baby via the same route - for over a month. Conditions that restrict the flow of nutrients also tend to restrict oxygen. (Pre-eclampsia is the most common example) IUGR isn`t just "smaller than normal for gestation". It causes complications, and has serious consequences.

Sorry, but I think I have the right to actually point out reality and hope that the family knows what this means for their child. Because it really sucks to think everything is wonderful until after your child goes home... I didn`t mean to imply that they shouldn`t have saved their baby - no, far from it. I would go through the whole ordeal again for my son in a heartbeat. But I only wish that I had been told a lot more, and not had to find the bad news out bit by bit.

The internet is full of "miracle babies", at 6 or 9 months doing wonderfully, etc etc. My son was a perfect, beat-the-odds "miracle BABY". Now he`s a disabled toddler.

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I will have to agree with Tamyu, as a fortunate mother of a 2lb 10 oz 27 week preemie, I know exactly what the odds are and that my child was a miracle. I have read Tamyu's blog for over a year, and other blogs on other premature infants. I have read up and studied and know what really is likely to be the outcome. I pray that this child is able to have some sort of a normal life, but what the newspapers articles never tell you about these miracles is that they are alive (luckily and thankfully) but they will have an uphill battle for the next few years if not forever.. and not to mention the medical bills who most likely you as a taxpayer will be picking up in the end. Granted having a child at all sounds wonderful to you who unfortunately lost your twins (my deepest condolences) but what we mothers of preemies want is for these miracle children not to be romantisized, and just let the public know what will really be facing these parents and infants now.

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I feel a lot better about what what you had to say when you explained what you meant, Tamyu. In your first comment I thought you were trying to argue that she shouldn't have been saved. But you are absolutely right, they are no where near out of the woods - they are only just entering it, and it will be highly unlikely that this child will grow up to be "normal." While motherhood is very different for me and the two of you, I too consider myself the mother of preemies.

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I think some of these judgmental comments are beyound ridiculous. And 'what is normal?' As the person stated before. This child is ALIVE! This is coming from a mother with a child who has DownSyndrome and a child that was born at 1lb. My son with Down's is more than a joy to have, the happiest person I know, and when he humms along to music, which he loves, it is the most beautiful candy melody my ears have ever heard. My child born at 1lb is completely normal and intellegent.
I'm sure this family is very much aware, living in reality, and doesn't need any of your negative comments. It's wonderful that they shared their story with the world to give hope.

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