December 22, 2004

The world's smallest baby that has ever survived delivery will soon be going home, according to doctors that Loyola University Medical Center.

A new world record for smallest baby was established, once again, by the Department of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Ill., with Rumaisa (Roo-may-sa) Rahman, the smallest baby in the world, weighing 8.6 ounces (260 grams) – about the size of a cell phone. Rumaisa and her sister, Hiba, (Hee-bah) were born on Sept. 19, 2004, at Loyola University Medical Center at 25 weeks and six days of gestation by a caesarean section. Loyola also holds the previous record for the world’s smallest baby – 9.9 ounces (280 grams) at 26 weeks and six days of gestation.

“We are very excited about this case because all the studies seem to suggest that she will develop normally,” said Dr. Jonathan Muraskas, professor of pediatrics and neonatal-perinatal medicine at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, who has been caring for both babies since they were born. “Ultrasounds have shown that Rumaisa’s head is normal and there is no bleeding in her brain, which is a common complication that can put a baby at risk for cerebral palsy.” Both babies underwent laser surgery to correct vision problems, which also is a common complication. “We anticipate an excellent visual prognosis,” Muraskas said.

Loyola now holds the record of delivering and caring for the two smallest babies in the world. From 1936 to December of 2004, there were 62 newborns worldwide surviving with birth weights less than 13 ounces, according to world literature. Forty-two babies are reported in the United States. Seven of those babies received care by Loyola physicians or individuals who trained at Loyola. In addition, Loyola has cared for more than 1,700 newborns weighing less than two pounds in the past two decades. Loyola’s children’s hospital has among the best survival rates in the country for premature babies, with 90 percent survival rate for 27-week gestation based on survival rates published in 2000 – the most recent available data – by the National Institutes of Health.