“My son only weighed as much as a milk carton”

Monstrously mangled corpses, axe murderer and psychopath – with his thrillers and shocked Sebastian Fitzek million people. In his private life, the Berlin-based author has experienced six years ago, a Situation that challenged his own nerves: the birth of his son Felix, the eleven weeks premature came into the world. “He was incredibly thin and small and only weighed 1000 grams – as much as a milk carton,” recalls the 48-Year-old.

“We had such a huge luck that Felix has survived the whole thing is actually so good. We would not have needed this happiness, if we had properly notified in advance,” says the father of three children, looking back. As an Ambassador of the Association “The early-born child” he wants to encourage as many parents-to-be to inform yourself early on about appropriate hospitals – just in case.

“We had made absolutely no thoughts, but for the birth of a hospital that has no NICU,” says Fitzek. These stations are specializes in diseases of newborn. He and his wife were completely carefree, so Fitzek. Then the fruit bubble burst in the 30. Week. Then an er doctor had to make phone calls to find a hospital, the baby receives, prior to the 32. Pregnancy will be born week.

Highest risk group: Under 500 grams, less than 24 weeks old

40 weeks, a pregnancy lasts for normally. If a Baby ended up in front of the full 37. Pregnancy comes week to the world, it is considered a premature baby. This is according to the Association, The early-born child in almost every tenth child in Germany, approximately 65,000 cases per year. The rising age of mothers, but also high blood pressure, Smoking, and Stress are considered to be possible causes. Also multiples increase the risk. “Why my wife is the fruit bubble burst so early, we do not know until today,” says Fitzek.

His son was with his weight still considered to be relatively unproblematic. “Under 500 grams and less than 24 weeks young. This is the absolute highest risk group,” says Christof Dame, Deputy Director of the clinic for neonatology at the Charité hospital in Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum.

Children who come with less than 24 weeks on the world, and therefore have a chance of Survival by 60 percent. “Of those who survive, a third well, a third with moderate problems, and another third survive with serious disabilities,” said the lady, in whose clinic per year, about 180 children are treated, the less than 1500 grams in weight.

“Choosing the right clinic can have a tremendous impact on how the early cells developed in the future,” says the physician, who also treated Fitzeks son Felix.

“A nurse was in the night in semi-darkness, that the skin of Felix was marbled,” says Fitzek. The Doctors found that the resulting renal vein thrombosis, and were able to treat in a timely manner. “We owe this especially to the sister that had such an incredible experience,” says Fitzek. Other common complications such as a stroke or a brain hemorrhage were not encountered in the case of his son, fortunately. “He has no damages and is an absolute fighter.”

The haunting appeal of the 48-Year-old to expectant parents: “make sure a NICU in your area and see how many children are treated there each year. The more, the better.

Of gynecologists and obstetricians advice

But where can parents find such information? The Internet portal Perinatalzentren.org more than 200 centres for the births to high-risk pregnancies and premature births are listed, the Germany-wide exist. Many of the data are from the point of view of the neonato Rainer Rossi lied to by the Board of Directors of the German society for perinatal medicine is for medical laymen difficult to understand. “The statistics in the performance reports of the hospitals are correctly read complicated,” says Rossi. He recommends gynecologists and obstetricians for advice.

Whether it is in need of in Germany, even as many centers or concentration on less would be better, discussing Doctors, health insurance companies and hospitals for years, controversial. “We have in Germany a perinatal centre for about 4000 births, while in Sweden, a perinatal center serves about 20,000 births,” says Rossi.

In Sweden, the results for preterm infants were better than here. “You can’t safely copy everything is easy, but look at what you could take in Germany,” said Rossi. In some hospitals in this country currently, due to low births and early figures, as well as of scarce personnel key not born, provides the requisite level of experience, always around the clock.

Sebastian Fitzek wants to process his experiences on the neonatal unit may be in a book. “Here are the different people meet. It’s a matter of life and death, one is in an emotional state of exception”, according to the author. “The Research I would have liked but a little less intense.”