UAE: Baby born at 23 weeks fights odds, goes home after twin dies 10 days post delivery

Mahra, a 26-year-old, delivered twins at just 23 weeks of pregnancy, at a stage where most doctors consider too early for survival. Just 10 days after the delivery, she lost one of the twins, Ali.

The other twin, Mohammed, who weighed less than 500 grams, about the same as a medium loaf of bread, was slightly bigger than the doctor’s hand.

His early arrival came with complications and ahead in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Burjeel Specialty Hospital in Sharjah.

“It was a strange and shocking feeling to have my children arrive nearly four months prior to the actual delivery time,” said Mahra. “Losing Ali was devastating. But I remained strong for Mohammed, knowing I had to provide him with milk, love, and hope.”

The twins' was due to premature uterine contractures and internal infection that led to early labour infection in Mahra. Weighing less than 500 grams, Mohammed was classified as a micro-preemie, one of the most vulnerable categories of premature infants.

Babies born at 23 weeks face incredibly low survival rates, estimated to be just 15 per cent to 30 per cent, depending on the care provided and the circumstances of the pregnancy, said Dr Yamen Fayez Elmughanni, consultant pediatrician and neonatologist and head of the NICU at Burjeel Specialty Hospital, Sharjah.

120-day battle

 In the early days, Mohammed battled one critical challenge after another, including breathing difficulties, temperature regulation problems, and feeding issues. He even survived a life-threatening gram-negative bacterial infection, something most full-term babies would struggle to overcome.

“We closely monitored him for neurological, visual, digestive, and respiratory issues, which are common in micro-preemies,” said Dr Elmughanni. “Fortunately, he did not experience major complications, which gave us hope for his healthy development.”

The NICU team worked around the clock to stabilise Mohammed’s condition, providing advanced care that included respiratory and cardiovascular support, nutritional therapy, infection prevention, brain protection, and pain management.

Through it all, Mahra never gave up. She visited Mohammed daily, pumped and provided milk, spoke to him, held him whenever possible, and recited comforting verses from the Quran.

“The days felt long, and with each passing one, my attachment to him grew stronger,” she said. “The entire family eagerly awaited his arrival and longed to see him. But after more than 100 days, some people had even forgotten I had a baby. I would go to work and pretend I was fine.”

The nurses at the NICU fondly nicknamed Mohammed the ‘boss baby’ for his strength and fighting through the extreme odds.

After 120 days in intensive care, Mohammed was finally discharged, breathing on his own and weighing over 2kg. His journey from a fragile, palm-sized infant to a thriving baby has been nothing short of a miracle.

He will be visiting the hospital to receive regular follow-ups to ensure his development stays on track.

“Accept God’s will. Be patient. Love your children, support them, and cooperate with the medical team,” said Mahra in a heartfelt message to other parents in similar situations. “Persist with breastfeeding, and shower your child with love, no matter their condition.”