The world’s most premature baby, born 133 days early at just 21 weeks gestation, and given a 0% chance of survival, has defied the odds and just celebrated his first birthday.
On 5 July 2024, baby Nash Keen was born at exactly 21 weeks gestation, a full 133 days earlier than his expected due date based on a typical full-term pregnancy (280 days). After he turned one last month, Nash was acknowledged by Guinness World Records as the world’s most premature baby. Tiny baby Nash weighed just 285 g (10 oz) and measured 24 cm (9.5 in) long when he was born, and was given a 0% chance of survival by doctors.
But baby Nash proved them all wrong and, just last month, Nash celebrated his first birthday with a small group of friends and family, where he was given new outfits, toys, nappies and the certificate from Guinness World Records, showing that he holds the Guinness World Record for the youngest ever premature baby to survive.
“Miracle” baby comes two years after mum lost unborn baby girl
Neonatologist Dr Patrick McNamara spoke about the unlikely chances of Nash surviving at such a premature stage, saying “I vividly remember the conversation with the parents when I told them his chance of survival is 0%. When you’ve never had anyone survive at 21 weeks, that’s what the data says at that gestational age”.
Following his unexpected early arrival, Nash then spent six months being cared for at the hospital’s NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) before being allowed to go home in January 2025.
Dr Amy Stanford, the neonatologist who supervised Nash’s resuscitation, said “When babies are born at 21 weeks, we’re not sure if they’re going to be strong enough or big enough for our tiniest equipment to be able to do what it needs to do”.
Dr Stanford added “It’s so rewarding now to see him. You would have no idea when you look at him that he is the world’s most premature baby. We’re immensely proud of Nash, we could not be prouder of him. He is truly a miracle”.
Nash’s birth came two years after his mum, Mollie, lost her unborn baby girl, McKinley, at 18 weeks gestation. When she became pregnant again with Nash, Mollie said “We were so excited, but also very nervous. We didn’t get our hopes up”.
Mollie was concerned at how she was feeling during her pregnancy, and when doctors found that she was already two centimetres dilated at 20 weeks, she feared they may lose another baby. “We were devastated. We thought we were going through the exact same thing – we thought we were going to lose this baby”, Mollie said.
Medical team praised for support during “first critical hours”
Mollie was taken to the University of Iowa Health Care, where the medical team quickly provided medicine to support Nash’s organ development and to reduce the risk of complications. Dr Stanford, a neonatologist at the hospital, said “Sometimes babies born at 21 weeks are just too small for even our tiniest breathing tubes and intravenous lines. Our NICU team assessed Nash, and I was able to place a breathing tube. Once we had the breathing tube in, his heart rate stabilized and his oxygen levels were good”.
Mollie said that she and husband Randall “weren’t sure if he’d even survive those first critical hours. But we wanted to give him the best chance”. However, Nash was given continued specialist care during his 198 days in hospital, especially with his heart function and brain health, as well as potentially life-threatening surgery for a perforated bowel, before finally being able to go home in January 2025.
Mollie praised the medical team for their “calm” approach, saying “One of the things I noticed about the medical team is that they were very calm. You never really saw them, like, get anxious or anything. And so we kind of just learned to, like, watch them. And if, you know, if the doctors and the nurses weren’t freaking out, there was no reason for us to freak out”.
Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said “It is wonderful to hear that little Nash is doing so well. Despite many challenges and setbacks, Nash has shown himself to be a little fighter, and he has officially become the youngest ever premature baby – a great achievement, which his parents must be delighted about”.
