Mysuru: Beating the odds, Motherhood Hospital at Yadavagiri in city has saved two Micro-Preemies outside the womb. Sharing the extraordinary journeys of two of its youngest and most resilient new-borns at a press conference held at Hotel Southern Star in city yesterday, the doctors said the first case was that of the baby boy of Uma and Chethan Kumar couple, born at just 29 weeks with severe Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) and weighing only 480 grams, just as  the size of a palm.

The baby presented with multiple life-threatening conditions: suspected CMV cytomegalovirus infection, fungal sepsis, severe feed intolerance, a brain bleed (Intraventricular Haemorrhage), and Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP Stage 3). Despite these complications, the NICU team maintained a stable, womb-like environment — carefully regulating oxygen, nutrition, temperature, and sensory exposure to support fragile organ systems still developing outside the womb.

“The womb is an incredibly complex environment. When a baby is born this early, their lungs, brain, and digestive system are still immature,” explained Dr. B. Chethan, Consultant Neonatologist and Paediatrician, Motherhood Hospital, Mysuru, who led the case.

“Our job is to replicate that environment as precisely as possible. We used non-invasive ventilation, total parenteral nutrition, strict infection control, and advanced neuro-monitoring protocols to protect his brain and organs while they matured. The child not only survived but now weighs over 3.5 kilograms and is developmentally normal. That is nothing short of a miracle of modern neonatal medicine.”

The second baby boy, born to Paviksha and Praveen Kumar in Mysuru, arrived at 24 weeks — and he arrived an astonishing 15 to 16 weeks early weighing only 750 grams, as same as the size of a standard pineapple. The infant was transferred from a peripheral centre to Motherhood’s NICU within three hours. Survival rates for babies born at 23 weeks are historically very low, around 11% with intensive treatment, making his survival an exceptional medical achievement.

Having missed critical golden-hour stabilisation, he developed a significant brain bleed. The baby stayed 84 days in the NICU, receiving tightly monitored care that minimised brain pressure fluctuations and protected neurological function.

“Extreme prematurity is a daily battle against time, infection, and the baby’s own physiological instability,” said Dr. Suhaim Afsar, Consultant Neonatologist and Paediatrician, Motherhood Hospital, who managed the case.

“This child’s journey was a textbook case in why rapid transport and early NICU intervention are essential. Our ability to deliver brain-focused care from Day 1 made all the difference. Today, he weighs about 4 kilograms and is neurologically intact.”

NICU on Wheels

Also, the Hospital’s NICU on Wheels neonatal transport system played a pivotal role. Over the past two years, 70% of the 1,000-plus NICU admissions were transported from peripheral districts like Mandya, Hassan, Chamarajanagar and Kodagu. The service includes a Level III-ready ambulance, onboard incubator, NICU nurse and paediatrician.

B.J. Sandeep Patel, Facility Director at Motherhood Hospital, also spoke. The parents of both the babies attended the event, sharing their gratitude and emotional journeys from fear to hope.