Baby Born At 340 Grams Celebrates 1st Birthday As Most Premature Survivor Ever

NEW YORK (VINnews) — A baby who weighed in at just 340 grams at birth has made history as the most premature baby to survive. The baby, who is celebrating his first birthday, has been recognized by the Guiness Book of Records.

Richard Scott William Hutchinson was born at Children’s Minnesota hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota at just 21 weeks and 2 days after conception and his parents were told that he had a 0% chance of survival. His mother, Beth Hutchinson, suffered medical complications which caused her to go into premature labor. At birth Richard weighed just 11.9 ounces (340 grams) and was so tiny his parents could hold him in a single palm of their hands, Guinness said.

Dr. Stacy Kern, Richard’s neonatologist at Children’s Minnesota, told Guinness World Records that “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 were unable to stay in hospital with him due to the coronavirus pandemic but they travelled in daily to the hospital from their hime in St. Croix county, Wisconsin.

In December 2020, after spending more than six months in the hospital, Richard was able to go home with his family.

Dr Kern,told Guinness World Records that “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.”

Richard recently celebrated his first birthday with his family.

“It doesn’t feel real,” Beth said about Richard breaking the record. “We’re still surprised about it. But we’re happy. It’s a way we can share his story to raise awareness about premature births.”