Austin Douglas British baby born 18 weeks early Country: Great Britain

Biography of Austin Douglas

Austin Douglas, a British baby, was born 18 weeks premature. Born two weeks before the legal abortion limit, Austin, who was the size of his mother's palm and had virtually no chance of survival, became 'one of the most premature babies in Britain'. Austin Douglas was born at 22 weeks gestation, weighing only 454 grams ('extreme prematurity'). Doctors informed his parents, 30-year-old Helen and 25-year-old Reece, that Austin was unlikely to gain enough strength to survive. The baby's skin was so thin that his organs could be seen through it, and his ear canals had not even had a chance to form. Despite these challenges, Austin Douglas, a true fighter, started to improve after several weeks of specialized care at the Birmingham Children's Hospital. He was allowed to go home closer to his 'due date'. At present, abortion in the UK is legal if performed before 24 weeks of pregnancy; after that, the embryo is considered a person. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists raised the question in 2016 of whether British women should have the right to terminate a pregnancy at any point. Skipping just over half of her pregnancy, Helen was urgently taken to the Leicester General Hospital, experiencing severe stomach pains and heavy bleeding. Doctors diagnosed her with a 'dilated cervix' and stated that they could not do anything to stop the birth. Helen, a flight attendant, said, 'My son has been a fighter since his first day.' 'The doctors asked if we wanted medical help for Austin, considering how premature he was born.' 'I said that if the baby was breathing, they should do everything in their power, and they did'. 'Austin was almost transparent, and we could see his organs through his skin'. Helen added, 'His ears were not fully developed, and the same was true for his lungs'. 'The medical staff took my baby and placed him in an incubator in front of my bed, where he received assistance'. 'It was awful, but I understood that this intervention was necessary'. Later, the boy was transferred to a hospital in Birmingham, where he received care for the next seven weeks. His parents were constantly reminded of his critical condition, which worsened after Austin contracted infections twice. However, the child continued to fight for his place in this world, and he was recently transferred to the Leicester Royal Infirmary, where his condition is improving. Helen and Reece hope to bring Austin home by July 28, the originally scheduled date of his birth. 'He has grown so much,' his mother says. 'Now I need both hands to hold him, and he has become bigger than my husband's hand'. 'Austin has a good heart rate, and his breathing is improving on its own. Every day, his breath becomes deeper'. 'We literally have to live day by day, but I have never prayed so much since my son entered this world'. Helen, who has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), calls Austin a 'miracle squared', considering the fact that doctors previously told her she would never be able to have children. She said, 'A few years ago, I was told that I would probably have an early menopause, so we had no plans to conceive a child, which is why the news of my pregnancy was already a miracle'. 'Austin is a double miracle. When I found out I was carrying a baby, I was ecstatic'. 'I love him so much, and I am so grateful for all the help he has received'. Jonathan Cusack, a consultant neonatologist at Leicester hospitals, says, 'Considering Austin's premature birth, we are pleased with how well he is currently doing. He has made it clear that he will not give up without a fight'. 'However, he still needs serious support, and he has a long way to go'. Most abortions in England, Wales, and Scotland are performed before 24 weeks of pregnancy. Abortions after 24 weeks can be carried out under certain circumstances, such as when the mother's life is at risk or the child is born with a severe disability. Last year, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists stated that women should be allowed to terminate a pregnancy at any point without the risk of criminal punishment. Opponents of the proposal fear that such a radical change will lead to an increase in abortions for non-medical reasons, including 'due to unwanted gender'. The college's campaign began after a 24-year-old woman was imprisoned for inducing an abortion at eight months of pregnancy. A baby born before 37 weeks of pregnancy is considered premature. Babies born before 28 weeks are considered extremely premature. The causes of premature birth often remain unclear. However, the risk is associated with infections, placental problems, and genetics. Extremely premature babies cannot breathe normally due to underdeveloped lungs. These babies need to be kept warm and provided with special feeding to aid their growth. At this stage of development, there are high risks of infection, brain damage, and low blood pressure.