Premie vs. "Miscarriage"

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Now from my understanding the limit of viablity is and has been sustained at 24 wks gestation. So if you all were to have a 25 weeker come in and obviously need a c/s for a likely abrution, you all would get the ball rolling right?

Originally posted by dawngloves

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I know if I delivered a 24 weeker, I would sign a DNR form.

You may not be able to do so.

My boy was 23.5 weeks and when I asked for a DNR about 12-24 hours prior to delivery, my room was quickly filled with Dr's, Lawyers and Indian Chiefs. I was told that the baby had to be treated because he was over 500 grams. Much conversation ensued about what kind of treatment and how much treatment.

Interestingly, I viewed my chart when my son was about 4 years old and very, very little was noted about that very important conversation. The Doc just wrote that I agreed to full resuscitation (which is not technically true). Not even the names of the other people in the room were listed!

Fortunately, we've had a good (actually, excellent) outcome.

Someone once said (insultingly, implying they were only interested in the money) "Neo's are like greyhounds- they smell a baby and come running." I don't necessarily agree with that statement. I work with a bunch of neo's and find them to be a positive group of people, but I must say that the cost for my son's first two years of life came to $740,000.

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I suspect those doctors and lawyers did not tell you the whole truth, or they would not say that you agreed to recusitation. I like the neos I work with, but I think some of them are a little too eager to treat at times, and it is the parents who will live with that child, not them. As far as I know, there are no laws requiring them to treat at 500g, and if there were, they wouldn't have fudged your consent like that.

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I know when we had an IUGR 25 weeker the parents signed a DNR form because we didn't think we'd be able to tube her. She was 460 ish and CPAPed well, until she got NEC and expired.:o

There is no law that says >500 gms has to be resusitated. That is just a hospital policy that varies form insitution to institution.

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