Maddalena Douse, from East Sussex, was born at just 23 weeks. When weighing her to see if it was worth saving her, had it not been for a pair of scissors left on the scales bumping her weight up, doctors would not have fought to saver her life.
Any baby that survives a premature birth is considered by their parents to be a miracle. But for Kate and Renato Douse, their daughter is extra special.
For little Maddalena is one of the smallest premature babies ever to survive in the UK - and it's all thanks to a pair of scissors.
Born at just 23 weeks, doctors were unsure whether she would survive, or whether they should try and save her.
Current ethical guidelines in the UK on the care of very premature infants do not suggest providing active care for babies born at 22 weeks six days and earlier.
But when they put her on the scales she weighed 1lb, the minimum weight for a baby to be considered viable, so they fought to keep her alive.
It was only when she was safely on a ventilator that doctors discovered a pair of scissors had been accidentally left on the scales and that Maddalena actually only weighed 382g.
Now six months old, she has been discharged from the Royal Sussex Hospital and is expected to grow into a healthy child.
Very premature babies born around 24 weeks go to neonatal intensive care units, although their parents often opt for withdrawal of care at some point when the medical outlook for the child worsens.
Babies born before this time struggle because their lungs and other vital organs are not developed enough.
Maddalena's mother Kate, 31, of Lewes, East Sussex, told The Sun: 'We never thought we’d ever bring Maddalena home.
'She now weighs 5½lbs and is getting stronger by the day. She’s our little miracle and we’re so glad to have her home in time for Christmas.'
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