The “World’s Smallest Baby,” who was born prematurely six months ago, is being discharged and ready to go home.
Ryusuke Sekiya’s mother, Toshiko Sekino, was a little over 24-weeks into her pregnancy when she experienced diagnosed with hypertensive disorders and was immediately admitted to the hospital, according to multiple reports.
According to The Asahi Shimbun, after spending two days at the hospital, Toshiko Sekino underwent an emergency cesarean section operation where doctors delivered her baby boy. At the time, Ryusuke Sekino only measured around 8.5 inches, with a weight of only 9.1 ounces—roughly the same weight of an apple. According to NHK, the hospital said Ryusuke was probably the smallest baby who survived being born prematurely.
World’s lightest 258-gram baby boy at birth to go home in Naganohttp://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201904190057.html
Posted by The Asahi Shimbun Asia & Japan Watch on Friday, April 19, 2019
“When my son was born, he was so small and fragile that I was scared that I might hurt him if I touched him,” Toshiko Sekino said in an interview with NHK.
She also said that when her son was born, she cried a lot initially because she was worried about his premature state, as his skin was transparent in the beginning, according to NBC San Diego.
After being delivered, he was placed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) where the medical staff was able to keep an eye on him. The environment in the NICU was completely controlled, including the temperature and humidity. Despite the trying conditions, Ryusuke Sekiya was able to grow to an astounding size like a normal baby.
‘World’s smallest baby’ to leave hospital https://t.co/CUC1eZxLgC
— NHK WORLD News (@NHKWORLD_News) April 19, 2019
During his time in the NICU, the medical staff were able to feed the small infant with the tip of a cotton swab that was soaked with breast milk. The medical staff was also able to feed him nutrients through a stomach tube.
According to NHK, the chief pediatrician said it was a challenge to try and use an IV on him because the baby’s veins were so tiny, but through the advanced medical care, the baby was able to survive.
“Now I feel his weight on my arm,” Toshiko Sekino said. “At the beginning, he was so light I didn’t feel a thing.”
After spending five months in the hospital, he was able to grow significantly. He was recently discharged from the hospital when the doctors deemed him healthy enough to go home.
Ryusuke weighed as much as an apple ????❤️
Posted by Daily Mail on Friday, April 19, 2019
Through the extensive care from the hospital, Ryusuke was able to grow healthily and by the time he left the hospital, he weighed nearly 7.5 pounds—nearly 13 times what he weighed when he was born—and according to NHK, he grew to nearly 17 inches tall.
Ryusuke, at the time of his release from the hospital, weighed as much as a normal baby should during delivery, and despite being six months old, he was healthy.
Toshiko Sekino said that now that Ryusuke was able to go home with them, she looked forward to bathing him and putting him to bed like a normal child.
“Recently, when I am bathing him or giving him milk, I’m happy to feel he’s growing,” Toshiko Sekino said.
Ryusuke Sekino’s mother told reporters she was worried and cried a lot at first because he was so fragile and had transparent skin. She said she now is able to breastfeed him and is looking forward to taking him home and giving him a bath there.???? https://t.co/DwV6kz5DT5
— NBCWashington (@nbcwashington) April 19, 2019
Ryusuke Sekino’s father, Kouhei Sekino, was also excited about bringing his son home, and said, “I want to care for my son, so he can gradually do normal everyday things.” He was seen interacting with Ryusuke Sekino in a video.
According to Asahi Shimbun, Ryusuke Sekino was considered the lightest and smallest baby to be discharged in good health.
According to the University of Iowa database, the lightest and tiniest baby title was held by a girl who was born in Germany back in 2015, weighing nearly 8.9 ounces, according to Daily Mail.
Another tiny baby was born at the Keio University Hospital in Shinjuku back in August 2018 weighing nearly 9.5 ounces. He was also put on to the university’s database for the smallest babies to have survived. He was discharged from the hospital on Feb. 20, 2019, and was confirmed to be in a healthy condition by doctors.
