Taiwan hospital celebrates discharge of 22-week premature baby
台灣醫院慶祝22週早產兒出院
| Medical team ensures survival of baby in intensive care unit for 304 days
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A baby born prematurely at 22 weeks, weighing only 500 grams, has grown into a healthy, 8-kg baby ready to leave Mackay Memorial Hospital after 304 days of care. Before discharge, a party was held on Monday with doctors and nurses who cared for the baby born in March last year. The baby’s mother, who is of Taiwanese descent, had returned to Taiwan to visit relatives but started experiencing pregnancy complications before she was to return to the US, per CNA. When her water broke, she knew she could go into premature labor at any time. Three days later she experienced uterine contractions leading her to give birth to a 22-week-old baby. Babies at this stage of development are classified as extremely premature, with organ development (heart, lungs, brain) unable to withstand life outside the womb. Given their low survival rate, they require placement in a newborn intensive care unit. "It felt like she wanted to be born in Taiwan," said her mother, a physician specializing in internal medicine, allowing her to understand the pressure medical teams face. People at the hospital were joyous now that the young family could return to the US together. Chang Hong-yang (張弘洋), director of neonatology at Mackay Children's Hospital, said the survival rate of premature babies born before 25 weeks is less than 30%. International experts have agreed that premature babies born before 21 weeks cannot survive. Therefore, the doctors and nurses achieved a huge accomplishment in ensuring the survival of the 22-week premature baby. Chang said the medical team helped the child overcome health problems such as respiratory distress, repeated lung collapse, high blood potassium, and poor kidney function. At six months, she only requires high-flow ventilator assistance, though feeding and swallowing require attention. Chang hoped the child would grow up healthy and one day return to Taiwan to visit the medical team that cared for her. |
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| Sean Scanlan, Taiwan News, Staff Writer | |
| 2025-01-20 |
