Kochi: Baby Kaashvi is the smallest baby ever born in Kerala. The newborn with lowest birth weight reported in the state and second lowest in the country has been survived in a Kochi hospital.
At birth, she weighed only 380 grams and was born premature in 23 weeks. Through extensive medical care using advanced technologies doctors at Lourdes Hospital could save her life. When discharged from the hospital, the tiniest baby’s weight increased to 1.5 kilogram.
A multi-disciplinary medical team led by Dr. Rojo Joy, neonatologist made continuous intervention to save the little life. While talking to media Fr. Shaiju Augustine Thoppil said that bringing back the tiniest newborn without any defects to life was a tough challenge.
Sivanki Digvijay from Uttar Pradesh was admitted in the hospital with abdominal pain when she was five months pregnant. She had three previous abortions and was eagerly waiting for a baby.
When delivered, Baby Kaashvi was put on respiratory support system as she was unable to breath. She was immediately shifted to advanced neonatal care ICU for further treatment. The baby was monitored constant for functioning of brain, heart, lungs and other organs.
A womb like condition was created with right humidity and temperature to avoid any kind of infection and to provide necessary hydration. A dedicated nursing team has taken care of the little one while she was on ventilator for 16 days. Later, the infant was put on the incubator at neonatal ICU for two months. Treatments like nutritional therapy, development supportive care and kangaroo mother care were used to bring back the baby to life.
Treatment to prevent retinopathy of prematurity, an eye disorder found in premature babies, was also given to her.
“Major challenge for survival of extreme premature babies is the lack of growth of vital organs, failure in keeping body temperature and infection. However, the modern technologies help medical experts to bring back the lives of premature babies, without defects,” said Dr. Rojo.
