City docs ensure recovery of micro-preterm twins

Nagpur: In a rare feat, doctors at neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Alexis Hospital in city successfully treated two micro-preterm baby girls – who were born in 29th week of pregnancy. Their weights were 520gm and 800gm respectively. Both the babies not only survived but doctors ensured intact excellent growth and neurodevelopment for both without any complications.
Happiness was beyond limits for first-time mother Sheetal and her husband Gaurav when they took both the babies home earlier this month. The one with 520gm birth weight is now 2.4 kg while the born at 800gm now weighs 3.3 kgs.
Dr Bhaskar Gupta, an expert of paediatrics and neonatology, led the team of doctors and nurses who treated the two sisters.
“We are happy we are able to manage such high-risk micro-preemies successfully. We followed all international protocols of treatment in Level III intensive care neonatal unit at Alexis Hospital and used latest and best equipment,” he said.
Dr Gupta, who has 30 years of experience of managing the NICUs in many foreign countries, said survival rate of infants of such low birth weight is 10% to 15% worldwide. Moreover, such babies develop several health complications as they are born too early.
“Over the course of treatment, these micro-preemies were fully checked for vision, hearing, head and brain growth and regular follow up of these were done. Both the babies had retinopathy of prematurity for which laser treatments were done in cycles and they were closely followed up by the ophthalmologist,” said Dr Gupta.
The 520gm baby needed blood transfusion for anaemia and had staggered breathing difficulties. With meticulous planning of their feeding schedule, feeds were introduced and gradually increased. The baby showed very good improvement over time with all vitamins, iron and feed supplements, and was discharged on Day 92 of life. The other baby also had a similar course and faster weight gain and was discharged from NICU on Day 74 of life.
Their father Gaurav said, “We were very stressed emotionally and yet lucky to have come to Alexis in time for our babies who are now doing well.”
“Doctors have taken care of my babies as their own and ensured their complete recovery and good weight gain before their discharge,” Sheetal added.
Survival saga
- Born on April 1, during Covid-19 lockdown
- Mother suffering from pregnancy induced hypertension
- Both babies were micro-preemies with critically low weight
- Respiratory distress since birth and had to be given oxygen, ventilation and surfactant
- Developed complications like sepsis, anaemia/jaundice, feeding difficulties
- Morbidities like reflux of milk, apnoea and anaemia developed and were treated
- Retinopathy of prematurity for which laser treatments was done in cycles
- Took 72 and 92 days to recover and finally got discharged recently