The World’s Most Premature Baby Celebrates First Birthday After 0% Odds Of Survival

The world's most premature baby has celebrated his first birthday after doctors gave him a zero per cent chance of survival.

Richard Scott William Hutchinson was born five months or 131 days premature and weighed just 11.9 ounces (337 grams).

His mother Beth went into labour when she suffered medical complications related to the pregnancy and was rushed to Children's Minnesota hospital in Minneapolis to give birth.

Guinness World Records certified Richard as being the most premature baby ever born in the world and his parents could hold him in one hand when he was finally delivered.

However, doctors warned her and her husband Rick to prepare for the worst considering how early the baby was in his development.

Dr Stacy Kern, Richard's neonatologist at Children's Minnesota said: "When [his father] Rick and Beth received prenatal counseling on what to expect with a baby born so early, they were given a 0 per cent chance of survival by our neonatology team.

"I knew the first few weeks of Richard's life would be very difficult, but I felt that if he could make it through that, he would be a survivor."

Richard's parents weren't allowed to visit him in the neo-natal ward of the hospital due to the coronavirus pandemic. That meant they had to make the hour-long, interstate journey from their home in Wisconsin to Minneapolis every single day to check on their little fighter.

The baby boy was finally discharged from hospital after spending six months in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Hospital staff were thrilled Richard managed to make it through the treacherous first stage of life.

Dr Kern told Guinness World Records: "The day Richard was discharged from the NICU was such a special day. I remember picking him up out of his crib and just holding him with tears in my eyes.

"I couldn't believe this was the same little boy that once was so sick, that I feared he may not survive. The same little boy that once fit in the palm of my hand, with skin so translucent that I could see every rib and vessel in his tiny body.

"I couldn't help but squeeze him and tell him how proud I was of him."

He officially celebrated his first birthday back in June 5 and he was surrounded by his family and three dogs.

His mum Beth said it was fairly surreal to have a world record but hopes it raises awareness of premature babies.

Featured Image Credit: Guinness World Records

Topics: News, Inspirational

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie