Queensland’s smallest-ever baby is expected to leave hospital this month.
The birth of baby Charlie, born to Crestmead parents Samantha and Nick Jones late last year, amazed health professionals and broke a 20-year-old record.
He was born at Mater Mothers’ Hospital at just 26 weeks and two days’ gestation.
At just 374 grams, Charlie was expected to remain in the hospital’s neonatal critical care unit until at least January 2026.
Instead, after months of round-the-clock care, steady weight gain and extraordinary resilience, the tiny newborn is now preparing to go home.
Since his birth, Charlie’s mum has spent every day by his cot, watching him slowly gain strength.
“He is a very, very special boy,” Mrs Jones, 28, said.
“At times we thought he might not make it, but he is so strong and determined. He’s a fighter for sure.”
The milestone comes after an emotional journey for the young couple, who married in October 2024 before experiencing heartbreak just two months later when their first pregnancy ended in miscarriage.
In April this year, Mrs Jones fell pregnant again and the Crestmead couple began attending antenatal appointments at Logan Hospital.
“We were feeling confident as we got past the six-week mark and when we reached 12 weeks I thought we were in the clear,” Mrs Jones said.
“But at the 20-week scan we found out that he was small, extremely small.
“The doctors said my pregnancy was likely to end in a miscarriage and we should prepare for that – but he could still pull through.”
Mrs Jones lives with epilepsy and Type 1 diabetes, conditions that may have impaired placental function and led to intrauterine growth restriction.
She was referred to Mater’s specialist Maternal Fetal Medicine department and admitted to Mater Mothers’ Hospital at 24 weeks for close monitoring.
“The Maternal Fetal Medicine team was amazing, but my husband and I had both done lots of research and we knew how dangerous things were for our baby,” Mrs Jones said.
“After two weeks in hospital the doctors told me it looked like my placenta was about to fail and I was taken down to have a c-section delivery.
“I was extremely nervous. The doctors had said they were concerned about whether Charlie would be too small for the equipment needed to keep him alive.
“I was awake throughout the c-section, with Nick sat next to me. Thirty seconds after Charlie was delivered my placenta completely stopped working – he was so close to not making it.
“They took Charlie to the recovery area and my husband went over with them. When he turned around and smiled at me I knew that the equipment was working and Charlie was now in the best possible care. I was so relieved.”
Doctors had estimated Charlie would weigh about 400 grams before birth, but his first weigh-in revealed he was Mater’s smallest-ever baby, weighing just 360 grams and measuring only 27 centimetres long.
After more than two months in the neonatal critical care unit, Charlie now weighs 1.44 kilograms.
Australia’s smallest baby on record remains Elora De Bondi, who was born in Melbourne in 2007 weighing just 319 grams.
Mater’s Director of Neonatology Dr Pita Birch described Charlie as a “remarkable baby”.
“We have had babies born at similar or smaller sizes to Charlie before, but tragically they have not survived,” Dr Birch said.
“Charlie’s story is the result of many advances in the way we care for very small babies and their mothers – thanks to research, enhanced technology and learning from other units around the world.
“But it’s also down to Charlie too. He’s a tough little guy.”
