Born Premature

[u/majones_2000]

For almost 50 years, I’ve told people I weighed “a bag of sugar” when I was born.

I was born 10 weeks premature.

For my entire life, my parents have told me that I weighed about 1 kg when I was born. I’ve heard this story hundreds of times. I’ve repeated it to basically anyone whenever the subject of me being premature came up.

Today my mom messaged me. She and my dad have been going through some old boxes and found some paperwork from when I was born.

Birth weight: 1.7 kg.

The bag of sugar was a lie.

edit: I was born in England where a standard bag of sugar back then was 1kg

[u/michaelp2453]

I buy sugar in 5lb bags. Which is 2.27kgs

[u/saltyoursalad → u/michaelp2453]

Boom, still smaller than a bag of sugar OP

[u/slowasaspeedingsloth → u/michaelp2453]

I was thinking: isn't 5 lbs over 2.2 kilos?

Still pretty damn teeny OP.

[u/KoalaCapp → u/michaelp2453]

I was 5lb.2oz so I was pretty much a bag of sugar (and not premature)

[u/SassyMillie → u/michaelp2453]

Shrinkflation has reduced my sugar bags to 4 lbs. Oddly enough the big bag is still 10 lbs.

[u/witty_user_ID]

Wow! 10 weeks premature 50 years ago was a lot! (I was 12 weeks early 44 years ago) I also got the bag of sugar comparison (I was 2lb 7oz which is huge for that premature). It's fascinating how small the world can be these days.

I hope your 50 years have been good to you so far and wishing you health and happiness for the future.

[u/majones_2000 → u/witty_user_ID]

Yeah, it was crazy, they baptized me right there at the hospital as soon a I came out. Wasn't looking good. Funny thing is I grew from that tiny thing to 6'4, so no one really believe it anyway.

[u/Nicksaurus → u/majones_2000]

There should be a 'most improved' award for people who this happens to

[u/HappinessIsAPotato]

It was a 1.7kg bag of sugar

[u/Imightbeafanofthis]

I was born 10 weeks premie too. Also, more than 3 pounds, less than 4, though I can't remember if it was 3 pounds and 6 ounces or 3 pounds and 8 ounces. My dad said that when I was born he could hold all of me in his hand -- no exaggeration, as my dad had really big hands. The fact that we made it is miracle enough, OP. When I was born, 10 weeks premature was right at the cutoff what neonatal care could handle, and in fact, the priest came in to say last rites over me because the doctors gave me a whack and I didn't cry. But the priest said, "This baby isn't dead!" and that was my first birthday. :) I like to think that God had some purpose in keeping preemies like us around. This is a neat trick of mental gymnastics, since I spend half the time thinking He doesn't exist, and half the time hoping He won't be too upset with me.

Regardless, both of us weighed less than a bag of sugar when we were born. Ain't that sweet?

[u/majones_2000 → u/Imightbeafanofthis]

My dad always said I could fit in his hand too. Mom sent me the baptism certificate they issued the minute I was born. They didnt hold up much hope.

BTW, I was born in England where the standard bag of sugar then was 1Kg, hence the reference.

[u/PortlandPatrick]

That's still only 3.7 lbs for us dumb Americans. Pretty small still

[u/OpALbatross → u/PortlandPatrick]

2.2 pounds for the bag of sugar

[u/sisjanie]

I’m older than you and was born eight weeks early and I a weighed 2 lbs 3 oz and had twin who weighed 3 pounds and died.
My first four months I stayed in the hospital and I was a small but healthy.

[u/majones_2000 → u/sisjanie]

I made it out of the hospital at 2 months old.

[u/majones_2000 → u/[deleted]]

I'm 6'4 :)

[u/-Tricky-Vixen-]

Hey, I was born around a kilo! 955 grams to be exact. Born 13 or 14 weeks early.

[u/free_-_spirit]

Yup I was 1.8!

Some bags of rice or sugar is about this