Portuguese baby born to brain dead mother remains in intensive care

The baby born to a brain dead mother in Portugal on Thursday is still in intensive care, according to a statement released by the central hospital, local media reported.

"Lourenco, born in the Central Lisbon Hospital Center (CLHLC) on the 7th, continues in intensive care in the neonatal department. (The baby) is clinically stable, with spontaneous breathing, without need for respiratory support and has already initiated feeding through the Bank of Human Milk of the CLHLC," the hospital said on Thursday.

The birth, which took place at Lisbon's Central Hospital, was the longest ever survival of a fetus when the mother is brain dead.

The 37-year-old women, who had suffered a brain haemorrhage, was confirmed brain dead since February 20, and had the baby delivered by caesarean while the mother was kept alive mechanically.

The baby boy weighed 2.35 kg and had been kept in gestation for 32 weeks, without complications. Endit