A premature baby born weighing less than nine ounces has survived in Germany - the lightest ever baby boy to live.

The tiny tot, weighing in at just 8.8oz, or 275 grams, recorded the lowest weight for a living birth of a newborn boy, according to doctors at the University of Goettingen Hospital.

He survived thanks to the latest developments in postnatal care.

In most cases, doctors said, it was regarded as impossible for a child with a birth weight below 350 grams to survive.

News of the birth was kept quiet while the boy was in a critical condition but doctors revealed details after announcing that he was no longer in danger.

The little boy was born in June last year in the 25th week of pregnancy, revealed Stefan Weller, a spokesman for the University of Goettingen Hospital.

He spent six months in intensive care and was finally discharged in December after he grew to more than 8lbs (3.7kg).

Weller said doctors had checked every available record worldwide of premature births and found no viable birth at a lower weight for boys.

Until now the lowest surviving birth weight for a boy was 297 grams. The lowest surviving birth rate for a newborn girl is 244 grams. -- Courtesy of Ananova.com

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