Baby Manushi from Rajasthan, India, is often referred to as a little miracle for all the right reasons. She was born prematurely by C-section when her mother, Seeta, 48, was only 28 weeks into her pregnancy. Seeta had been diagnosed with dangerously high blood pressure, and doctors concluded that the baby was not getting enough blood through the placenta.
The decision to deliver the baby was made quickly.
Manushi entered the world weighing just 14 ounces. Her survival prospects were very low due to her tiny size and the fact that most of her organs, including her lungs, brain, heart, and kidneys, were not fully developed.
After spending six months in the neonatal intensive care unit, Manushi’s organs matured enough for her to be discharged from the hospital, weighing 5.2 pounds at the time.
Her fight for life was not an easy one. From birth, she was placed on a ventilator, and doctors gave her less than a 1 percent chance of surviving. Against the odds, she pulled through.
Because her digestive system was underdeveloped, Manushi couldn’t receive proper nourishment through feeding. Instead, doctors provided all the necessary vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids directly into her bloodstream.
At seven weeks old, Manushi started breastfeeding, which was a positive sign. At this point, she began breathing more independently, and her other organs developed normally.
The doctors were dedicated to saving Manushi’s life to send a message that female children are just as valuable as male children, challenging the prevailing attitudes in some areas of India.
“We chose to save the infant and provide her with the necessary medical care because we wanted to send a message that a girl child should be protected,” said Dr. Sunil Janged, the hospital’s director. “We ensured she received all the care and attention she needed.”
In 2015, a baby named Emilia Grabarczyk, born in Wittenberg, Germany, at only 8 ounces, held the record as the world’s lightest surviving baby.
We wish Baby Manushi a long, happy life ahead.
