Premature twins, born at 29 weeks with extremely low birth weight and multiple co-morbidities, successfully revived at Fortis Escorts Faridabad

Premature twins, born at 29 weeks with extremely low birth weight and multiple co-morbidities, successfully revived at Fortis Escorts Faridabad 

-The infants were born in just 29 weeks - one weighed merely 450 grams, while the other was just under one kilogram- 

Faridabad, 1st April 2025: In what can be termed as a medical miracle, Doctors at Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad have successfully saved the lives of premature twins born at just 29 weeks of pregnancy. The infants had abysmally low birth weight, alongwith respiratory complications. The mother had been married for over 15 years and had been under treatment for infertility. She had been trying to conceive for several years and finally conceived through IVF.  

Post giving birth to the twins- one weighing less than a kilogram and the other only 450 grams, both well below the typical newborn weight range of - 2.5 kgs to 4 kgs. Their premature birth, coupled with multiple co-morbidities such as breathing difficulties, feeding intolerance, low blood count, made their chances of survival difficult, especially for the second newborn. Despite these challenges, the team of doctors led by Dr Amit Gupta, Director, Paediatrics and Neonatology, Fortis Escorts Hospital Faridabad adopted a multi-disciplinary approach and gave them a new lease of life.  

The twins were born to a mother who had undergone infertility treatments, successfully conceived after the age of 40. Following their birth, both the newborns presented with underdeveloped and very thin veins, making the insertion of needles for glucose and other treatments particularly challenging and demanded careful handling.  The first newborn required immediate respiratory support and experienced difficulty swallowing.  This infant was closely monitored for electrolyte imbalances, feeding intolerance and received nutritional supplements intravenously.  

Additionally, low phosphorus levels indicated poor bone health, and the baby required several blood transfusions to maintain adequate haemoglobin levels. Just before the newborn was scheduled to be discharged, he accidentally inhaled milk while breastfeeding, leading to aspiration and subsequent lung damage.  

Consequently, the baby had to be shifted back to the ICU, where he was placed on a ventilator for 10 days with increased pressure to support his breathing. During this time, Dr Amit Gupta and his team carefully managed the baby’s nutrition, oxygen levels, carefully monitored for infections, and maintained a quiet and controlled environment to facilitate his recovery.

The second infant, weighing less than 450 grams, required immediate respiratory support after birth due to his frail lungs and limited breathing capacity. Initially, feeding was attempted, but the newborns digestive system didn’t respond well, leading to bleeding in the gut. To address this, doctors temporarily halted oral feeding and administered essential nutrients - lipids, amino acids and carbohydrate through an intravenous line. This was particularly challenging due to the infant’s small organs, necessitating the use of intravenous lines to provide the necessary medications and nutrition. Given the extreme prematurity and very low birth weights, survival chances were uncertain. However, with correct line of treatment and care, the newborn gradually recovered. Currently, both the infants are in a stable condition. They have successfully transitioned from tube feeding to spoon feeding, are gaining weight, and are showing positive progress in their follow-up visits.  

Giving details of the case, Dr Amit Gupta, Director, Paediatrics and Neonatology, Fortis Escorts Hospital Faridabad said “Both the cases were extremely challenging as intact survival rates for such underweight babies is mere 10% globally. Survival of newborns weighing less than 500 gms is quite rare & requires lot of determination, hard work & precise balance. In this case, both the newborns suffered from multiple co-morbidities with underdeveloped organs, making it extremely difficult to insert intravenous tubes needed to give them the required nutrition   and medications. Since there were issues with milk digestion we had to give them nutrition through a drip. They also had problems like trouble digesting food and breathing issues. Both the infants needed blood transfusions to help them stay strong. Despite all these challenges, we could help the infants survive and they are now in a stable condition and thriving. If not treated on time, the infants could have faced several long-term health problems, including delay in growth, sepsis, nutritional challenges, and it could have been life-threatening.”  

Yogendra Nath Awadhiya, Facility Director at Fortis Escorts Hospital Faridabad said, "This was a very challenging case due to the extremely low weight and premature birth of the twins. However, the team of doctors led by Dr Amit Gupta meticulously handled the case providing exceptional neonatal care. We are proud to have supported these infants through a challenging period and ensured their well-being and Fortis Escorts Hospital Faridabad is well-equipped to manage such challenging cases.”