Baby so tiny his foot was the size of his mom’s fingertip

By Ellie Fawcett via SWNS

Meet the premature baby who was so tiny his foot was the size of his mom's fingertip - and weighed just 710g.

Tommy Pratt was born at just 24 weeks and spent 102 days fighting for his life at Leicester Royal Hospital.

His mom, Karianne Pratt, 31, started bleeding at 19-weeks and went into labor just five weeks later, on 7th January 2021.

When Karianne was finally able to hold the premature tot after five days, her husband Callum, 32, snapped a picture showing Tommy's foot was the same size as the end of her index finger.

Despite battling chronic lung disease and a brain bleed, brave little Tommy was finally able to go home to Shepshed, Leicestershire, a week before his due date, on 19 Apil 2021.

Tommy, now two, has defied the odds and his ''development is thriving''.

Karianne, a beauty business owner from Leicestershire, said: "Looking at Tommy now, you'd never know what he's been through.

"When I started having contractions at 24 weeks, I went into complete shock.

"I never actually thought he'd come so early, but after just 25 minutes of pushing, he was here.

"He was so tiny, and it was heart breaking seeing his little body connected to so many tubes and machines.

"It was touch and go for a while and we had lots of scares, but every time he pulled through.

"We're so proud of how far he's come.

"He was so tiny his foot was the size of my fingertip."

Karianne and her husband, who also have a daughter, Lily, seven, were over the moon when she fell pregnant with her second child in September 2020.

The first few weeks of pregnancy went ''by without a hitch'' until 19 weeks when she began to bleed.

"I was working from home, and I went to the toilet and there was loads of blood.

"I assumed the worst and rushed to hospital, but the doctors assured me he was fine.

"I was so on edge after that, every time I bled I thought he was gone."

Medics kept a close eye on Karianne, who was in and out of hospital before going into labor at 24 weeks.

Tommy was born breach and in his amniotic sack on 7th January 2021, at 11:58pm, weighing just 710 grams.

"I couldn't believe how tiny he was," Karianne admitted.

"It was really scary, but I never once doubted that he wouldn't pull through.

"It was horrible not being able to cuddle him straight away, but he had to be put in an incubator.

"He didn't cry at first, which actually lead to complications as one of the ducts on his heart didn't snap like it should when a baby cries.

"When I did finally hold him I was terrified - his foot was the size of my fingertip!"

During his 102 days in hospital, Tommy developed a large hernia at 13 weeks old, which he had an operation to remove.

He was also diagnosed with Retinopathy of Prematurity - an eye disease that occurs in premature babies when abnormal blood vessels develop in the retina.

Tommy had weekly eye tests to check the development of the blood vessels, but he did not receive treatment as it cleared by itself.

He was also diagnosed with chronic lung disease; however his condition is mild and does not hold him back.

At five weeks old, Karianne took the snap of her finger next to his foot after being shocked at ''just how small'' his foot was.

After being discharged from hospital in April 2021, Tommy has gone from strength to strength and has started Forest School - a type of outdoor nursery - which he loves.

Karianne said: "It was daunting when Tommy first came home, as he was still on oxygen.

"It was the first time he was able to meet his sister Lily, as she wasn't able to go into the hospital due to covid restrictions.

"Lily had to stay with her Grandparent's while we were with Tommy in hospital, and it was amazing to finally all be together again.

"Tommy inspires us every day.

"He's so funny, cheeky and talkative now.

"Thankfully he's meeting all his milestones and isn't showing any signs of delays.

"His chronic lung disease is something we will monitor as he gets older, but it doesn't affect his day-to-day life.

"He's just a typical little boy and we're so proud of him!"