Saved by a pair of scissors left on the scales: The premature baby doctors decided to save because she weighed just enough



Maddalena Douse, from Lewes, East Sussex, was born at just 23 weeks

Doctors were unsure whether she would survive, or whether they should try and save her

When they weighed her, she was 1lb, the minimum weight for a baby to be considered viable

After fighting to save her they discovered she had only weighed 382g, and a pair of scissors accidentally left on the scales had bumped up her weight

Any baby that survives a premature birth is considered by their parents to be a miracle. But for Kate and Renato Douse, their daughter is extra special.



For little Maddalena is one of the smallest premature babies ever to survive in the UK - and it's all thanks to a pair of scissors.

Born at just 23 weeks, doctors were unsure whether she would survive, or whether they should try and save her.



Had it not been for a pair of scissors on the scales - bumping up her weight - doctors would not have fought to save the life of premature Maddalena Douse, with parents Kate and Renato Current ethical g uidelines in the UK on the care of very premature infants do not suggest providing active care for babies born at 22 weeks six days and earlier. RELATED ARTICLES Previous

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But when they put her on the scales she weighed 1lb, the minimum weight for a baby to be considered viable, so they fought to keep her alive.



It was on ly when she was safely on a ventilator that doctors discovered a pair of scissors had been accidentally left on the scales and that Maddalena actually only weighed 382g.



Born at just 23 weeks, doctors were unsure whether Maddalena would survive, or whether they should try and save her



Now six months old, she has been discharged from the Royal Sussex Hospital and is expected to grow into a healthy child.

Very premature babies born around 24 weeks go to neonatal intensive care units, although their parents often opt for withdrawal of care at some point when the medical outlook for the child worsens.

Babies born before this time struggle because their lungs and other vital organs are not developed enough.



It was only when she was safely on a ventilator that doctors discovered Maddalena had actually only weighed 382g. Guidelines state a baby must be 1lb to be considered viable

Maddalena's mother Kate, 31, of Lewes, East Sussex, told The Sun: 'We never thought we’d ever bring Maddalena home.

'She now weighs 5½lbs and is getting stronger by the day. She’s our little miracle and we’re so glad to have her home in time for Christmas.'

She and her husband Renato, a plumber, had already s uffered heartache when Maddalena’s twin Isabella died a few weeks after the sisters were born.

Now six months old, Maddalena has been discharged from the Royal Sussex Hospital and is expected to grow into a healthy child

Earlier this month, research Medical Research Council (MRC) found that more premature babies born when their mothers are just 24 weeks pregnant are surviving - but babies delivered earlier rarely live.

Their research appeared to find a cut-off point in terms of chances of survival at 24 weeks - the current legal limit for abortion.

But they found no improvement in the proportion of babies born 22-25 weeks who experience serious health problems into childhood