Heartwarming photo shows a baby girl beaming with joy FIVE days after being born prematurely
An adorable photograph of a premature baby smiling has taken the Internet by storm. Posted by American mother Lauren Vinje, the photo has been shared more than 100,000 times and received more than 285,000 likes on the Facebook page Love What Matters. ‘Our first daughter at five days old. 3 lbs 14 oz (1.7 kg), she was happy to be alive!’ Ms Vinje wrote next to the heartwarming snap.
‘This picture was one I looked at often to get me through the ups and downs of our NICU days. ‘Life is so precious.’ At just 1.7 kilograms, the little girl was well below the average weight of a newborn, which ranges between 2.5 kilograms (5.5 lbs) and five kilograms (11 lbs). Despite this, the tiny little girl was all smiles and was more than happy to flash a gummy little grin for the camera.
Other mothers also took to the Facebook page to share examples of their own happy babies.point 80 | ‘So beautiful, congratulations!’ One mother, Laura Flynn, wrote as she shared a photo of her own little boy.point 183 | ‘My little one was 3lbs 6oz (1.point 214 |
5 kg) – he’s now 5 and above “average” height for his age,’ Ms Flynn wrote.point 90 | ‘Everyone kept telling me that it’s the little ones who grow to be the biggest and strongest.point 179 | I didn’t believe it but I do now.point 211 |
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Another mother, Kate Hoffman, also shared a photo of her newborn son.point 58 | ‘My sweet boy was born at 34 weeks and weighed 5lb 4oz (2.point 110 | 3 kg),’ she wrote.point 131 | ‘After 2 weeks in the NICU he is home and growing more every day! Those smiles are the best.point 211 |
’ A third mother, Jill Chambers Goodwin, posted a picture of her smiling newborn.point 74 | ‘Your little girl is so precious! This is my favorite picture I loved to look at during our NICU stay.point 163 | Kennedy was born at 31 weeks.point 187 | She weighed 3lb 2oz (1.point 206 |
4 kg).point 5 | 1
Generally, because preterm babies enter the world without the benefit of a full 40 weeks to develop safely inside their mother, they’re vulnerable to a range of complications.point 167 | Some are lucky enough to be relatively healthy, while others battle many serious problems, such as heart conditions, bleeding in the brain, compromised kidney function, jaundice, and anemia.point 332 |
Additionally, because they have immature immune systems, preemies are especially susceptible to infection.point 94 | 1
The earlier a baby is born, the smaller and less developed she or he’ll be and the higher her risk for complications. Babies born before 32 weeks face the greatest risk of death and long-term disabilities such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, lung and gastrointestinal problems, and vision and hearing loss. The good news: More than 98 percent of babies born between 32 to 35 weeks survive.
Despite all complications and odds, these lovely angels have been caught smiling on camera. Smiling and making eye contact is usually an emotional response that can be seen in 2 month-year-old baby. That is why, seeing a smile from a premature baby is such an amazing moment!
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