Queensland’s smallest baby born weighing just 360 grams

A newborn baby boy has broken the record for the "tiniest" baby born in Queensland, Australia. Charlie Jones was born in October, weighing just 360 grams, and he has survived against all odds.

Key Takeaways:

• Charlie Jones entered the world via an emergency Caesarean section at just 26 weeks.

• He weighed less than a pound.

• The previous record holder for the smallest newborn in Queensland was Jonathon Heeley, who weighed just 374 grams when he was born in 1992.

• Hospital staff were concerned Charlie may be too small for the equipment needed to keep him alive, but he has beaten the odds.

The Details:

Samantha and Nick Jones were married in October of 2024. Shortly after their wedding, they suffered a devastating miscarriage. When Samantha became pregnant again the following April, the couple was elated. 

“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,” Samantha said in an interview with Mater Mothers' Hospital. "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.”

Charlie was small due to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), in which the preborn baby does not grow at the expected rate, usually due to placental issues, maternal health concerns, infections, or genetic issues. Samantha has epilepsy and type 1 diabetes; however, it is unknown if these conditions contributed to her impaired uterine function or the IUGR. 

Late abortions are not insignificant. They kill tens of thousands of children every year.

Samantha was referred to a maternal fetal medicine specialist and admitted to Mater Mothers' Hospital at 24 weeks for monitoring. Mater Mothers' is renowned in Queensland for providing the highest quality of maternal care. “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," she added. "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.” 

Charlie was nearly one-tenth the size of an average newborn and he is believed to be the "tiniest newborn” in the state, replacing Jonathon Heeley, known as “Coke can kid," who was born in 1992, weighing just 400 grams. "We have had babies born at similar or smaller sizes to Charlie before, but tragically they have not survived," Mater's Director of Neonatology, Dr. Pita Birch, told 9 News. "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." 

Charlie's parents are thankful that their son is now thriving thanks to the medical assistance provided at Mater. They are looking forward to celebrating Christmas with their miracle son at the hospital, where he continues to improve. 

The Bottom Line:

Charlie's life is a gift, but in nine U.S. states and the District of Columbia, abortion is legal through all 40 weeks of pregnancy. In Charlie's home state of Queensland, abortion is legal for any reason up to 22 weeks, and it remains legal after 22 weeks if two doctors agree the abortion should be committed based on medical circumstances and the mother's current and future physical, psychological, and social circumstances. Babies born as young as 21 weeks are capable of surviving when given proper medical care and when babies born as tiny as Charlie beat the odds, it is further proof that induced abortion deliberately kills innocent children.