How This 21-Week-Old Baby Set A Guinness World Record? Watch

World’s most premature baby: In what doctors are calling a groundbreaking milestone in neonatal care, a baby born at just 21 weeks gestation has celebrated his first birthday—earning a Guinness World Record as the most premature baby to survive. Nash Keen was born on July 5, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa, 133 days before his expected due date. Weighing a mere 10 ounces (283 grams)—about the size of a bar of soap—he has defied overwhelming odds.

The Story Of The Keens

For parents Mollie and Randall Keen, Nash's arrival came after a painful history. Mollie had previously experienced a miscarriage and was diagnosed with a medical condition that made it difficult to carry a pregnancy to term. At her 20-week checkup, doctors found she was already 2 centimeters dilated—an alarming sign of premature labor. Typically, babies born before 22 weeks are not considered viable for lifesaving treatment. But the Keens discovered that the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children's Hospital had been successfully treating babies born as early as 21 weeks. With the support of a skilled medical team, Mollie managed to delay labor just long enough for Nash to meet that minimum benchmark.

Pushing The Limits Of Medicine

Dr. Malinda Schaefer, a high-risk obstetrician, delivered Nash just hours after he crossed the 21-week threshold. She describes his birth as "a new frontier in maternal-fetal medicine," noting that families deserve open, transparent conversations about outcomes—even when the odds seem grim. Despite the high risk of medical complications, the Keen family chose to proceed with intensive care efforts, clinging to hope and trusting the calm confidence of the NICU team.

Six Months In NICU

Nash spent nearly six months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where doctors and nurses worked round the clock to stabilize his fragile body. From breathing assistance to nutritional support, every moment was a fight for survival. “The medical team was always calm,” Mollie recalled. “If they weren’t panicking, neither were we.”

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Life After NICU

In January 2025, Nash was finally discharged and went home to Ankeny, Iowa, with his parents. Though he still faces some complications—such as being on oxygen support and requiring a feeding tube—his progress has exceeded expectations. Now over a year old, Nash is beginning to explore solid foods and is learning to stand with support. He has a minor heart defect, but doctors are hopeful it will resolve on its own. He isn't crawling yet but can roll over and is full of energy and curiosity. “He’s got so much strength in those little legs,” Mollie said. “He’s a happy, determined baby—always smiling.”

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A Record-Breaking Legacy

On his first birthday, Guinness World Records officially recognized Nash as the world’s most premature baby to survive, narrowly beating the previous record holder born in Alabama in 2020 by a single day. While challenges may remain, Nash’s survival is an extraordinary testament to modern medicine, parental resilience, and unwavering hope. To his family, he’s not just a record-breaker—he’s their miracle. "Nash is so full of personality. He's a happy baby," said Mollie. "He's learning how to stand on his two feet, which is awesome," she added.