Rumaisa Rahman

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Rumaisa Rahman (born 19 September 2004) is a baby who, according to medical records, is the smallest born baby in history to survive birth after complications due to her size. Rahman was eight inches (20 cm) long and weighed 244 grams (8.6 ounces). She has a twin sister, Hiba, also a small baby, weighing just 563 grams (1 pound 4 ounces) at birth.

Her parents, Mahajabeen Shaik, 23, and Mohammed Abdul Rahman, 32, were originally from Hyderabad, India. Shaik left the hospital at the end of December, while Rumaisa remained there until 10 February 2005. Three months after her birth Rumaisa's weight had increased to 1.18kg (2 pounds 10 ounces).

Rahman was born after 25 weeks of gestation. During pregnancy her mother suffered from pre-eclampsia, making her blood pressure run at high levels. The condition affected Rumaisa the most, putting the baby into distress and leading to birth by caesarean section.

Generally healthy, the twins had to undergo laser eye surgery to correct visual problems, a common occurrence among premature babies. Rahman was tested for cerebral palsy, a worry due to the increased blood pressure of her mother, but the results indicate that she will not have the disease.

Coincidentally, the hospital where they were born, Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, also delivered Madeline Mann, the previous record holder for the smallest baby to survive birth.