BMC-run KEM Hospital in Parel has discharged an extremely premature baby boy who weighed 700 grams at birth after five months of specialised care in its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, according to a statement issued by Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital.
The baby was discharged on November 6 weighing 3.3 kilograms and taking full breastfeeds, the hospital said. His recovery followed a prolonged hospital stay during which he faced several life-threatening complications and required respiratory support, continuous monitoring and intensive neonatal care.
The case highlights the role of a public teaching hospital in providing advanced treatment for newborns who require prolonged and closely coordinated care. KEM Hospital said the successful discharge demonstrated the capabilities of its specialised neonatal facilities, clinical teams and nursing staff.
According to the hospital statement, the baby gained 2.6 kilograms during the five-month treatment period. At discharge, he was feeding entirely on breast milk, marking a significant change from the intensive support required during the early part of his hospitalisation.
The treatment was led by Dr Anitha Haribalakrishna, head of the Department of Neonatology at KEM Hospital. Doctors and nurses monitored the baby continuously and managed a difficult clinical course involving respiratory support and multiple complications associated with his condition, the hospital said.
The care involved a multidisciplinary team working across the prolonged NICU stay. The hospital described sustained bedside monitoring and coordinated medical management as central to the baby’s recovery. It did not provide further details in the statement about the specific complications, procedures or medications involved.
Extremely premature newborns can require extended hospitalisation and specialised support because their organs and body systems are not fully developed at birth. In this case, the baby’s five-month stay meant that care continued well beyond emergency stabilisation and involved monitoring his growth, feeding and ability to leave intensive support.
The discharge also underlines the operational demands placed on neonatal units, where doctors and nurses must maintain round-the-clock observation while managing respiratory needs, nutrition and weight gain. The hospital’s account attributes the outcome to the combined work of its neonatology team, nursing staff and other clinical personnel.
KEM Hospital is operated by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and is attached to Seth GS Medical College. Its neonatal services form part of the public healthcare infrastructure available to patients in Mumbai and surrounding areas. The hospital statement presented the case as an example of the role of public teaching hospitals in treating vulnerable newborns through specialised medical care.
The baby was discharged after reaching 3.3 kilograms and taking full breastfeeds. The hospital did not announce any further treatment milestones or provide details of follow-up care in the statement.
