Srinagar, Jan 28: The dedication and hard work of the Lal Ded Hospital staff and parents of an extremely premature female newborn has finally paid off as 52-day old baby, Umizah Tariq, has survived despite weighing just 650 grams at birth. Umizah, meaning beautiful, was discharged from the hospital on Monday with ‘absolutely normal’ condition. The survival of such a premature baby is considered as a first in Valley’s lone maternity specialty hospital.
“She was so small that she could nestle in a human hand,” in-charge Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Dr Amin, told Greater Kashmir.
Born with extreme prematurity, just 6 ½ months of gestation period, she weighed a fragile 650 grams at birth- eyes closed, transparent skin, lungs not ready to work by themselves- doctors said.
“Her survival was difficult. Such babies die immediately after birth and parents often abandon such babies but the dedication and love of her parents saved the baby,” Dr Amin said.
He said such babies need better nursing care that was given by the hospital nurses. When Umizah was admitted in the NICU, her parents Tariq and Maliha were told she had meager chances of survival. But the one month hard work of doctors, nurses and the family has finally paid off and on Monday she was discharged from the hospital.
“Every system in her body was being constantly monitored- breathing, blood, heartbeat and fluids,” doctors said. “She was given a warm care on the baby-warmer to save her from hypothermia.”
“There was intervention at every step that saved the baby,” they said.
Umizah’s parents are hopeful that the way they struggled to save her would give inspiration to other parents to nurture their ill babies instead of abandoning them.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 IST