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Born at less than 22 weeks - and baby Amillia survived
Her minuscule feet poking pathetically through a doctor's fingers, few believed that she could possibly live. Born only 21 weeks and six days after conception, Amillia Taylor weighed just under 10oz and was only 91/2 inches long.
Medical staff, however, were given a clue to her fighting spirit when the tiny scrap tried to cry and breathe on her own
And now, four months later and weighing 4lb, she has been allowed home – the world's most premature baby to have survived.
Her parents Sonja and Eddie, from Homestead, Florida, were visiting friends in Miami when Mrs Taylor went into labour at just over 19 weeks pregnant, having conceived by IVF.
Doctors attempted to delay the birth but eventually were forced to carry out an emergency caesarean.
Amillia Taylor weighed just under 10oz and was only 91/2 inches long at birth
Dr Guillermo Lievano, who delivered Amillia, said he was not expecting her to survive.
"I was prepared for the worst and prepared to break the bad news to the mother."
Amillia responded to treatment, however. During two months in an incubator, she even had plastic surgery after her left ear was partially torn off during the delivery.
"I'm still in amazement," said Mrs Taylor, 37, a teacher. "I wanted her to have a chance and I knew in my heart that she was going to make it.
"It was hard to imagine she would get this far. But now she is beginning to look like a real baby. Even though she's only 4lb now, she's plump to me."
Ten ounces of determination: Amillia was little longer than this pen
William Smalling, neo-natologist at Baptist Children's Hospital in Miami, said: "She's truly a miracle baby. We didn't even know what a normal blood pressure is for a baby this small."
Amillia's incredible story will reignite the debate over Britain's abortion laws, which campaigners say must be updated in the light of recent medical advances.
Babies can still be aborted for non-medical reasons at up to 24 weeks. Recent evidence shows that, of those born at 25 weeks, half of them manage to live.
Video...the tiny baby who survived against all the odds • Windows Media Player • Real Player
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