Longterm outlook for low birth weight babies and the expense involved in helping them survive?

Question

how much of society resources should be put into helping these babies survive

Answer 1

Of course, being a young adult myself, I would say you should discipline the child, but cherish every single time with him/her.  The cost of an average baby is about 100,000 dollars to adulthood, so unfortunantly, you will have to give up on some luxuries.  However, the feeling you give when you set him/her off by herself is one you shall remember until your dying day.  Remember to give the child what he/she wants only if it has to do with his/her career.  If he wants to play football, in all means buy him one.  If she wants to play violin, buy her one and get her private lessons.  Remember, a discliplined child will enjoy his hobby, as stated above, football or violin.

*My keyboards broken, so excuse bad spelling or mistakes

Answer 2

Interesting question. When you say LBW, are you refering to babies under the 5.5lb mark, or extreme LBW, under 2.5lbs? Long term outlook is substantially different between those two groups as it is between LBW and typical birth weight children.

My mother is a nurse that works with LBW babies. They undergo a lot of torture, and are miserable. A majority of them have severe lifelong disabilities, but it is the choice of the parent to face that. However, millions of dollars will go to support this child, not just in the hospital, but once they are at home, in terms of early intervention, special education, and then as they reach majority, medicaid and social security disability payments.

I don't think you can put a percentage of resources on them, but that is a lot of money. You have to look at what our priorities are, as a society. Ironically I just finished reading the Dune series, and the author talks about how humans cannot face the long term planning that it takes to build a good society. They can't sacrifice immediate wants and needs for the future of humanity.

It also would directly affect the choice that people have facing children and adults who have been injured and face disability. Where do you draw the line between helping them? Are they more worthy of assistance because they've been on the planet longer?

It's a sticky moral morass, and not one I'm likely to argue for or against.