At what gestation would YOU want YOUR baby saved?

[StacyC417]

I have a good friend with a former 24 weeker (540g) who is doing WONDERFULLY. She is now 16 months and is developmentally normal in all areas. I was talking to her the other day, and she was saying that she couldn't imagine NOT saving her little girl. I just think that it is just SUCH a tough decision to have to make...Even though she ended up with a "happily ever after story" SO many of these little ones end up with IVH, CP, BPD, ROP, PVL, NEC and the list goes on. I don't think that I would have been prepared to deal with the *potential* consequences of saving a baby at 22,23, or 24 weeks. The statistics are just too bleak for the majority of these kids.

I would say that I would request no resuscitation before 26weeks/750g if it were my child. What are all of your opinions?

Stacy

[LeeTendayi]

My son was a 27weeker( 880g). membranes raptured at 26+4days and we sat in bed talking to each other. I said just make it to 27weeks and we see from there. And boy the morning at 3.59am when he was 27weeks he said im outa here. And I know the stress and the worries coz i am PICU and NICU trained. Only God worked the miracle. Its hard unless you have walked the road to say I know I will do this if it happens to me but when push comes to shove, often times one is not sure what to do.

I have seen how damaged and how much these babies go thru even with my son he was on SIMV for 48hrs then NCPAP for weeks and only came off oxygen 1day before his due date and its not easy. I do not know what i would do if I had a baby less than 27weeks though.

[mgalloLPN]

NICUhopeful87 said:

I was born at 24-25 weeks at 1.10 lbs, in 1987 in Baltimore, MD; and I turned out perfectly normal and healthy. And the fact that I was born so early is one of the reasons I'd like to work in NICU.

I was born somewhere around 26 weeks (according to my mom) and I weighed 3lbs 2oz and that was 1984. I have had no problems whatsoever, besides staying in the hospital for 3 months. I don't know how I would ever make a decision like that.

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

mindyg22 said:

I was born somewhere around 26 weeks (according to my mom) and I weighed 3lbs 2oz and that was 1984. I have had no problems whatsoever, besides staying in the hospital for 3 months. I don't know how I would ever make a decision like that.

That's very big for a 26 weeker. Usually a baby of that gestation weighs about 1.5 to 2 pounds at the most. A 30 weeker is often around the 3 pound mark. Maybe her dates were off?

Either way, I'm glad you did well! ?

[fergus51]

I'm glad you pointed that out Gompers. I hear about a lot of 24 weekers who weighed 2-3 lbs at birth. I'm always a little suspicious, but glad they did well regardless of dates.

[wensday, MSN, RN, APN, NP]

We resus

It's the worst thing in the world to care for a baby on millions of infusions, awful head scans, loads of sedation and when their skin starts breaking down due to gross oedema....and the parents want 'everything doing for them'. The consultants have in depth discussions with the parents but nothing seems to sink in. You do everything in your power to keep that little life out of pain and as comfortable as possible but it's so hard on the staff.

Still, i wouldn't change my job for anything as I'd rather know I was doing the good job I feel I do and not someone else.

[prowlingMA]

I am a former 34 weeker, I am 24 5'9" and too much weight.

I was 5lb. at birth, no vent, only IV and jaundice tx.

Being religious I would have to pray really hard to make a decision about any baby under 30wk, hopefully I never have to know.

[majorwrigley]

i couldn't terminate a pregnancy under the circumstances that things couldbe wrong. if an amnio could determine, without a doubt, a certain condition, maybe my decision would be different. i had a friend who's unborn child was found to be without a portion of his brain through an us. she was at the doctor's appointment for the abortion procedure and could not go through with it. she had the baby and he lived for a short time, but she has never regretted her decision. but you're right that's a decision i hope i never have to make!

[student456]

I was born in 1987 at 24 weeks gestation with grade 1 bleeds. I didnt suffer from ANY complications whatsover (thank god!)

The only thing i had to get corrected was a nasal surgery when i was 10 yrs old from the tubes down my nose when i was born. Im amazed that I didnt end up seriously disabled or dead.

I dont know at what gestation i would want my baby saved (if i had one). Its hard to say since I survived so long ago but every case is different....

[student456]

Oh and I weighed 1 lbs 11 oz when I was born. Everyone is really surprised when I tell them my story since none of them believe me hehe since I'm otherwise perfectly health (I rarely even get a cold ? )