THEY'D HAVE KILLED HER IN BRITAIN (via The Resnicks):

Tiniest baby, born weighing less than soda can, goes home (Associated Press, 02/08/2005)

A baby born weighing less than a soda can and believed to be the smallest ever to survive went home Tuesday after nearly six months in the hospital.

Rumaisa Rahman's prognosis "is very good," and she is expected to have normal physical and mental development, said Dr. Jonathan Muraskas, who provided care for the tiny girl and her larger twin sister, Hiba, after their births Sept. 19 at Loyola University Medical Center outside Chicago.

The girls' parents, Mahajabeen Shaik and Mohammed Rahman of Hanover Park, are adjusting to sleepless nights after bringing Hiba home Jan. 9, said Loyola spokesman Stephen Davidow. He said the couple wanted a low-key departure Tuesday for Rumaisa rather the media fanfare of when they introduced the babies to the world in December.

Rumaisa weighed 8.6 ounces at birth and measured just 9.5 inches long, more than an ounce less than the previous smallest baby, born at Loyola in 1989 at 9.9 ounces.

The little girl is now 5 pounds, 8 ounces, and almost 17 inches long.

As Mrs. Resnick asks: "Hmmm...so was she a fetus when they delivered her or a baby?"

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 8, 2005 6:35 PM