World's Youngest Premature Baby Survives

Amillia Sonja Taylor was only 10 ounces and 9 ½ inches long when she was born October 24, 2006. Her mother had only been pregnant for 21 weeks and 6 days. This is the shortest gestation period ever recorded where the fetus survives. Normal pregnancy lasts around 40 weeks so this tiny Florida baby is most definitely considered a miracle to have lived. Before Amillia's birth the youngest surviving preemies were born at 23 weeks.

Amillia is preparing to come home with her parents, Eddie and Sonja Taylor, on Tuesday. She is expected to do well and thrive even after her severely premature arrival in the world. She is still on oxygen but is drinking well from a bottle and gaining weight at an acceptable pace. She now weighs in at 4 ½ pounds and is 25 ½ inches long. Even after almost 4 months in NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) this preemie baby is much smaller than the average newborn.

Doctors were not optimistic after little Amillia's early arrival which occurred after a very careful cesarean section birth. She was just too tiny and in many instances a baby born this early is not given life saving care as the chances are so small that they will survive. Luckily for this baby, hospital staff did put her immediately on oxygen and into an incubator. She has continued to surprise and amaze those who have cared for her as she pulled through when no one expected her to. She did have some respiratory problems which are common with premature babies as well as digestive issues. She had a mild brain hemorrhage which is often the biggest concern but she overcame it and none of these problems will likely affect her in the long run.