Micro preemie goes home after 98-day intensive care stay

A New Jersey baby girl, born at 24 weeks, has been discharged after 98 days in hospital.

Daveen Ajayi weighed just one pound nine ounces when she was born on 25 March. As a ‘micro preemie’, she faced multiple health challenges and was cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Newark’s University Hospital.

In Great Britain, abortion is currently permitted for most reasons up to 24 weeks, and up to birth if the unborn child is deemed to have a disability or severe health condition.

Good care

Daveen’s mother, Titilope Ajayi, explained: “Since she was a micro preemie, a lot of what she went through in the NICU was expected, but it was still incredibly hard”.

She added: “When your baby is in the NICU for that long, all you can think is, ‘Please, I don’t want her to be sick. I don’t want her to have any complications.’”

The mother shared: “Sometimes when the hospital called, I would panic. I never knew what they were going to say, and that fear stayed with me. I couldn’t break down; she needed me. I had to hold it together, even when it was hard. I had to stay strong, not just for her, but for myself too.”

She continued: “Of course, I wasn’t happy that my baby had to be in the NICU, but I was thankful she was in a safe place, with people who were truly taking good care of her,” adding, “I don’t even know how to express how grateful I am to the doctors and nurses. They were amazing”.

Medical advancements

Following pioneering surgery in the womb, a baby in Nottingham in the UK is now healthy and thriving.

At 27 weeks, Baby Éabha was diagnosed with a build-up of fluid around her lungs and body, which could have led to heart failure. Following specialist surgery, she continued to grow for a few more weeks before being delivered by caesarean section at 31 weeks.

Éabha’s mum, Eleanor, said: “We will be eternally grateful for all the help and support of Dr Fiolna and the teams that helped to save and look after Éabha. Had we not met Dr Fiolna that day when we came in to get checked out, then the outcome may have been so very different.

“It is amazing what can be done in the womb before babies are even born.”