Preemie survival rates?

Question

Does anyone know the survival rates for premature babies at different gestations? And when is a fetus viable outside of the womb?

Answer 1

a fetus is viable at 24 weeks.At 25 weeks if they are good size and weight they have around 50 percent of survival,but most will develop some severe disability.

the survival rates improve as the fetus gets older.

Answer 2

Survival Rates

Most premature babies survive, thrive and experience few long-term issues.

Survival of extremely premature babies depends on a range of factors, including birth weight and the condition of the baby once he or she is born. However a comprehensive study of all babies born under 26 weeks gestation in the UK in 1995 identified these broad survival rates.

• Babies born at 23 weeks or below have a 20 per cent chance of survival to discharge home

• Babies born at 24 weeks have a 35 per cent chance of survival to discharge home

• Babies born at 25 weeks have a 55 per cent chance of survival to discharge home

Source – 1995 EPICure Study

A more recent study of all babies born under 27 weeks gestation in England only in 2006 identified statistically significant improved survival rates at 24 and 25 weeks.

• Babies born at 24 weeks have a 47 per cent chance of survival

• Babies born at 25 weeks have a 67 per cent chance of survival

Source – 2006 EPICure2 Study

Viability appears to be dependant on the country. In England a baby is considered viable after 24 weeks gestation. In Holland it is much later.

The earliest surviving baby was born at 21 weeks.

Answer 3

There are many medical studies on this subject and the conclusions vary. In part it depends on where the baby was born and the reason for prematurity.

Some numbers from studies on the chance of survival and long-term disability in preemies:

21 weeks: 0 percent survival, but there has been at least one at 21 wks 6 days

22 weeks: less than 10 percent survival, most will have some type of disability

23 weeks: 10 to 35 percent survival, greater than 50 percent long-term disability

24 weeks: 40 to 70 percent survival, 25 to 50 percent long-term disability

25 weeks: 50 to 80 percent survival,15 to 25 percent long-term disability

26 weeks: 80 to 90 percent survival, 10 to 25 percent long-term disability

27 to 29 weeks: 90+ percent survival, 10 percent or less long-term disability

30 to 33 weeks: 95+ percent survival, 5 percent or less long-term disability

34 to 37 weeks: 98 percent survival, less than 5 percent long-term disability

(Sorry for writing out percent, but yahoo didn't like % so many times.)

At top nicus in the US, viability is probably stated at 24 weeks, but they may try to save an earlier preemie depending on their policies, the parents and the baby. Numbers aside, I know teens born in their 23rd and 24th weeks that are brilliant, healthy and socially normal.