Preemie survival rates

fergus51 · Sep 7, 2007

22 and 6 is really not that different from 23. There will be no cut and dried statistics because there are so many variables (such as whether the hospital you deliver at even even rescusitates at that point, whether mom got steroids, if you deliver at a level 3 or at a small community place, etc). Plus we often can't be certain of dates. Basically unless IVF was done, we can easily be off by a week. Women don't ovulate like clockwork.

I'm very glad your experience went well

Ozboy · Sep 7, 2007

22 and 6 is really not that different from 23.Plus we often can't be certain of dates. Basically unless IVF was done, we can easily be off by a week. Women don't ovulate like clockwork.
I'm very glad your experience went well

Thanks for your reply. But I politely disagree with 22 and 6 not that diff. We were told the chance of survival jumps from 9% at 23wks to about 30% by 24 wks so obviously everyday makes a huge diff. If what you say is was true why does there seem to be a cut-off for resus at 23 weeks in so many hospitals? I understand there has to some boundaries set but in our case our baby defied so many odds because he was actually given a chance. So what I am trying to say even though most wouldn't make it why not at least give them a chance and see how they respond. If starting to seem beyond humane then let them go peacefully. Rather than, from what I have heard, if a 22wker born just place it on mum's chest to go peacefully without even giving it a chance.

We are defintely certain of our dates. We only managed 1 shot of Celestone before our baby was born. He even cried 3 times at birth!

From what i have read so far he is an absolute miracle, and believe me we will never forget or under-estimate what unbelievable work the docs and nurses did for him and us.

nicumom · Sep 7, 2007

Like posted before I think it is hard to give you a stat on 22 6/7. I work at a level III (larges in our area) and we do not res. under 23 weeks. Out local catholic hospital does. I think you are better to look at survival rates at 23 weeks which would be more accurate for your dvd

Congrats on you baby....hope this helps

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Sep 8, 2007

There might be a difference from 22 weeks to 23 weeks, as that's a 1 week difference. But from 22 6/7 weeks to 23 weeks, that's only 1 day. I mean I know each day helps, but I can't imagine there's a huge difference in survival rates for 1 day. Does that make sense? When we get any babies that are 23 6/7 or 24 6/7 or ANYthing and 6/7, we usually just round it up to the next week.

If we had a 22 6/7 weeker about to deliver, most likely they would resuscitate if the parents desired, as it's right on the borderline. But they do look at other factors, namely estimated weight of the baby.

I think the stats are going to vary from hospital to hospital. I know when our neos go over for a consult, they tell the 24 weekers that there is a 50% chance survival rate (that's purely survival, not including all the problems/complications that can arise). I think there's going to be a big difference in percentages based on where you're looking.

lovemyjob · Sep 11, 2007

How old is your child now?

I understand why you feel the way you do, but please understand why we can be uncomfortable with resus on a 22+ weeker. Many Many Many times we have seen a child end up profoundly disabled or die a horrible death (NEC, the most horrible IMHO) after weeks of "torture." There is a difference in surviving and truely living.

I wish the best for you and your miracle.

Jerico, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2007

Do not take statistics for fact. Statistics can say anything you want them to say depending on where you are coming from.

Some babies are biologically stronger therefore they survive. Some NICUs are better than others and that even varies from staff member to staff member.

Any baby that survives under 38 weeks is a miracle. Period.

We have cocaine induced 23 weekers that have survived.

Neonatal statistics are terribly "sketchy" there are just TOO MANY variables with fetuses.

A baby born before a certain age is a FETUS - and if it survives it is alot of things. Chance, luck, God, good care, bad care, fate....

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Sep 11, 2007

Your stats are going to differ from state to state, country to country, even hospital to hospital. There really is no difference in 6/7 weeks and 23 weeks, sure each day is important, but one day truly doesn't make a difference. Here, I'd say our 22 week population is less than 5%, that is if we do resuscitate. 23 weeks, maybe 20%, but of those 20% about 98% of them have terrible outcomes with perventricular leukomalacia, NEC, severe IVH's, overwhelming sepsis, blindness, deafness, CP.

The thing about "giving them a chance" is that once you start, you have to continue, we just can't say wow this isn't working out, withdraw care and be done, these kids are purely tortured, for lack of a better work, for weeks until they finally die. Would I want to give a 22 weeker a chance just for the heck of it, not a chance. That may sound harshe but taking care of these kinds of kids is heart wretching. Every touch is total pain to them. It takes a lot to stop treatment, and many parents don't understand that.

Ozboy · Sep 11, 2007

I am so sorry that you guys see such suffering. I guess thats why I feel you are truly such unbelievable people. My wife and I lost our first baby, he was born at 24 weeks so yes I do understand what an incredible miracle our 22 weeker is and how gut-wrenching losing a beautiful little baby is.

Our baby born this year is now 7 months old(11 weeks corrected) and is doing remarkably well. I completely understand what you mean too by, all they know is pain. Our little one was 'lucky' in the fact he didn't get NEC or an IVH, but he did have a PDA ligation, bowel hernia, emphysema, level 3 stage 3 ROP (sight was saved by laser surgery),contracted groupB strep at 3months in hospital and has chronic lung disease. But after 196 days from birth he has just come off oxygen support. He almost died 4 times..... BUT..... and it's a huge BUT..... he is ok now! I completely understand your view as you would see so many not make it to the one 'miracle ' like ours who did.

He is developing like any other 11 week old. All the docs and nurses here are unbelievably surprised with him and as they put it if you look at him now you would not even believe he was prem. In fact a couple of new nurses who saw him a few weeks ago didn't believe he was a 22 weeker!! Not until the docs told them what he went through. Even his head is not out of shape, his nose has no damage at all and is not out of shape one bit even though he was on a ventilator for 76days!

It certainly seems he is definitely the exception to the rule and again I COMPLETELY understand your feelings about at what point do you start saving them. Thank you once more for your dedication,love and devotion to all our miracles.

kitty29 · Sep 12, 2007

Can anyone help me with what the chance of survival is for the extremely young preemies. I have been told its 9% for a 23+ weeker. Does anyone know what it would be for a baby born before this?
I am trying to find out the chance of survival for a 22 week and 6 day baby?
I am doing a dvd of our journey for our 22wk 6 day miracle. I have hours of footage and want to produce our story but also want to be accurate with stats.
Thank you all for you are all miraculous and awesome human beings to not only save our babies but to do it with such love for and also care for our trauma as parents. Can't speak highly enough of the doctors and nurses here in Sth Australia at the Adelaide woman's and children's hospital.

Stats in our NICU is 50% survival for 23 weeks; greater for girls of course...and than it dives.