- Monash Health Newborn
- 3 min read
After 164 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Monash Children’s Hospital, baby Elliana has flown the nest.
‘Elliana is going home healthy, without oxygen and without a feeding tube, just like any other baby, which is very unusual for babies born at 22 weeks. She is such a success story,’ said Dr Lindsay Zhou, Service Medical Director of Monash Newborn at Monash Children’s Hospital.
Elliana was born severely premature at 22 weeks and 5 days gestation at Monash Medical Centre in Clayton, a tertiarperinatal hospital. She was swiftly transferred to the adjoining children’s hospital for specialist care.
As reported by 9News, Elliana weighed a mere 410 grams at birth – well below the weight of a standard loaf of bread (650g) – and was the length of her father’s mobile phone.
‘She held on as long as she could, till 22 weeks. By a miracle she came out still breathing,’ said mum, Malini Tyne.
During her 23 weeks in hospital, Elliana faced some severe challenges. She spent weeks on mechanical ventilation, had emergency abdominal surgery at 3 weeks old, and experienced infections and skin breakdown.
‘Everything was very up in the air 5 months ago. There wasn’t much guarantee that she’d be coming home to us. It’s just so nice that we finally get to take her home!’ shared Malini.
To make the move from hospital to home easier, for the next couple of weeks the family will receive Hospital at Home visits.
Improving outcome for the smallest babies
Victoria’s tertiary neonatal services only started offering intensive care to infants at 22 weeks gestation 4-years ago.
In 2021, the Monash Newborn Small Baby Group was formed with the specific purpose of trying to improve care for these extremely preterm babies.
‘We’ve been collecting data on how we’re caring for these smallest babies. We’ve been monitoring them over time and are pleased to see some really good outcomes in even the most tiny, fragile babies,’ said Dr Zhou.
When babies are born extremely early, their heart, lungs, brain, and other organs are not fully developed.
Sadly, many babies born this early do not survive. The currently quoted survival rates at 22 weeks are less than 50 per cent. Those that do survive will spend many months in hospital and may have lifelong problems.
Monash Newborn and Monash Health Women’s have made jointly counseling parents of extremely premature babies a focus.
‘That’s been really important, to be able to provide families with the best information about what’s best to do for both mother and baby at such an extremely low gestation.’ Dr Lindsay Zhou
A journey of survival
Elliana’s survival at 22-weeks gestation is all the rarer and more remarkable because she was a twin.
Her twin sister, Jordyn, passed away at 16-weeks gestation. Her mum and dad had to navigate the ongoing, complex pregnancy while grieving.
They were counseled by obstetric and neonatal specialists from Monash Newborn and Monash Health Women’s on what to expect if Elliana was born extremely premature and had time to consider care options.
Heading home in matching Christmas outfits with a memory book containing heartfelt messages from NICU staff, Malini described what awaited Elliana at home.
‘We’ve got a little cot, a change table, and a little chair set up for her. She’s got her little sister’s bear there with her as well. Eventually we’re trying to get some little butterflies up on the wall for her.’
‘We’ve just waited for this day!’
Watch the story on 9News.
