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World’s tiniest surviving baby who was born same weight as apple is home after five months in hospital

The baby has been dubbed a 'miracle' for surviving when she was born so early
The baby has been dubbed a 'miracle' for surviving when she was born so early. (Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns)

A baby believed to be the world’s smallest newborn is leaving a San Diego hospital after she was born at 23 weeks and given an hour to live.

Baby Saybie, who was born in December and weighed the same as an apple at only 8.6 ounces, has been described as a “miracle”.

The newborn, who was named Saybie by her medical team, has now been discharged from Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women and Newborns weighing a healthy 5.6 pounds.

The baby only weighed the same as an apple when she was born in December
The baby only weighed the same as an apple when she was born in December. (Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns)

In a video produced by the hospital Saybie’s mother described the day she gave birth to Saybie as the “scariest day of her life”.

She said: “I kept telling them she’s not going to survive, she’s only 23 weeks”.

A nurse in the video Kim Norby said: “She’s a miracle, that’s for sure”.

Dr Paul Wozniak, medical director for neonatal medicine at Sharp Healthcare, said: “The heartbeat was strong, over 100 [beats per minute], and fortunately we were able to get a breathing tube in.”

Saybie spent five months in the neonatal intensive care unit - Kim Norby was one of the nurses caring for her. ('Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns')
Saybie spent five months in the neonatal intensive care unit - Kim Norby was one of the nurses caring for her. ('Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns')

Her ranking as the world’s smallest baby ever to survive is according to the Tiniest Baby Registry maintained by the University of Iowa.

Dr Edward Bell, a professor of paediatrics at the University of Iowa, said Saybie had the lowest medically confirmed birth weight submitted to the registry.

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Baby Saybie with the nurse Kim Norby who cared for her. (Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns)
Baby Saybie with the nurse Kim Norby who cared for her. (Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns)

Dr Bell said: “We cannot rule out even smaller infants who have not been reported to the Registry.”

Premature babies are at greater risk of breathing problems, feeding problems and are more vulnerable to getting infections.

Babies born before 24 weeks, micro-preemies, experience more medical problems than babies born later, including brain bleeding and poor heart function.