Viability as a milestone

BEAUNAL

Every pregnancy, when I reach 24 weeks, I feel like I reached a milestone. I know that if I were to go into labor it doesn't mean my baby would be perfect and without issues but I know they would try to help her.
DH told me tonight I am the only person who thinks like this and I always see the glass half empty.
I just don't think he gets how scary pregnancy can be and that we see our fellow bumpies go through horrific losses so we know it can happen.
Anyways, I guess I'm just thankful for one small step towards a full term baby. Anyone else understand what I mean or is DH right?

cnctf

I'm a FTM, but understand where you're coming from.

karah4816

I'm a FTM and I was excited when I reached 24 weeks. I don't think that's glass half empty thinking, I think it's being reasonable that bad things can happen and being glad that you've reached a point where it's not an automatic tragedy but instead there's a chance of survival.

HappyDoc

I am a FTM, and am familiar with the 24-week milestone, but it is not something I am excited about. That point will be the 36-week mark for me.

aessary03

After having a preemie and a miscarriage, I can fully appreciate reaching the point viability in pregnancy. 

TNgoldengirl

I'm looking for to hitting 24 weeks next month. Especially since my would-have-been due date was yesterday.

kw42775

I was so happy to hit 24 weeks last Sunday!!

luvdelilah

I was a naive FTM and really had no clue.  As a STM, and after a mc, this was just one of many milestone that made me breathe a little easier.  And I actually thought this milestone wasn't until 27 weeks, so thanks for making me feel a little better tonight since Friday is 24 weeks for me

Kbrittonhart

I def understand.

Caitlinm123

I never realized this before but with the recent losses on The Bump I learn't this. When I reached 24 weeks last week I felt the same way. I always assumed the baby had to be further along before this milestone.

cowscrub

I agree with you. 24 weeks is still a few weeks away for me, but each time, as this is my 5th pregnancy, is a milestone I look forward to.

wifetomrb101

Oh definitely...I'm looking forward to Friday - my 24 week mark.

There's something comforting about knowing that if baby is going to make an early appearance (although we'd rather not, it is always a fear), everyone will give all they have to help baby survive.

My DH is the same as your's. I do think it's because they are not carrying the baby, nor do they have 'responsibility' if something is going wrong - they can't do anything since we're the ones carrying baby.  KWIM?  

Winnieella

As an Ftm I'm excited to hit 24 weeks.

BEAUNAL

aw, I knew you guys would get me. thank you.

KatelynEA90

I'm a STM and I agree with you. I view viability as a milestone and I will be excited about reaching it next week.

JaneW2

Definitely excited to be reaching the threshold of viability!  (And when you get to 28 weeks, then you've actually got decent odds of a preemie turning out OK.  At 32 weeks, given proper care, it's almost guaranteed.)

OSUWifey09

Viability is a big one for me this time [mainly because of my last loss]. Less than two weeks to go, and I'm counting the days.

KristaBelieve

I'm with you 100%. In fact, I just talked about this with my DH last weekend.

susieandmarty

It is a definite milestone. I feel better when I'm passed it

AnnikaD20

JaneW2 said:

Definitely excited to be reaching the threshold of viability!  (And when you get to 28 weeks, then you've actually got decent odds of a preemie turning out OK.  At 32 weeks, given proper care, it's almost guaranteed.)

Agree with all of this. 24 weeks was a huge emotional milestone for me. I felt a lot of relief.

My mom has been a NICU nurse forever, so I get to hear her stories of how they're able to treat smaller and earlier babies with better outcomes. At 32 weeks you're golden, she likes to tell people.

And of course, 36-7 weeks = full term, and you're likely to leave the hospital with LO in your arms. I think it's good to celebrate all the milestones.

pennstated912

I'm a FTM and I totally get this. I hit 24 weeks on Sunday. I'm taking that as a huge milestone! Not only is it the week of viability but that means I'm 2/3 the way through the pregnancy (holy moly, that went fast!).

precious72381

24 weeks is such an important milestone!! (I'm just over 22w now) I know from being on lots of the boards, it doesn't always prove to be the happy ending however at just 21 weeks, I was put on strict bed rest for being high risk for preterm labor. I didn't even think about 20 weeks, halfway, because I doubt I'll make it to 40 weeks and it doesn't mean much in viability stand point. All I can think about is viability and won't even work on the nursery, or set up my registry until that point. I even have it in my head that it is 25 weeks just to give myself the better odds. I have a long history and before any of this I was completely unaware of the difficulties of pregnancy. I used to tell my best friend at 16 that I couldn't wait until I was older and pregnant. It is the most beautiful thing to me! Unfortunately I now think of it as a much scarier process and trying to enjoy what I can of it, like each little kick and love watching my bump grow. I hate that I sound so negative here, I'm actually very positive towards my pregnancy and keeping a pretty healthy outlook (my therapist told me so ) and truly feel that I will make it far past viability, I just see this whole pregnancy process as a milestone making it further and further each day therefore getting closer and closer to finally holding my rainbow baby!

juliasmama2010

HappyDoc said:

I am a FTM, and am familiar with the 24-week milestone, but it is not something I am excited about. That point will be the 36-week mark for me.

This. I don't get excited til I know LOs lungs are fully developed around 37 weeks. But I do see where you're coming from.

SweetPeaKate

After 1 preemie, 2 miscarriages, and a potential for another preemie I'm looking forward to 24 weeks. Granted I'll also be excited to get to anything passed 32 weeks

BabyChill

I was super excited last week when I hit 24 weeks. My DH just laughs at me with all the milestones that I have set. But I work in a hospital and everyone from the women's center came by last week to check on me and they were all really excited to see that I had made it that far.

Edit: Had to fix those typos. Clearly I should not post while still half asleep in the bed and while on my phone. lol

megngregk

FTM who was thrilled to reach 24w right here.

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km_md

I think that your DH is going to be in the minority. You are celebrating being one step closer to bringing home your baby (even though there are never any guarantees unfortunately) and that is a positive thing to celebrate! Pregnancy is really scary, and there is so much that could go wrong, it is nice to pass those milestones. 

shortstuff15

As a 3rd time mom with 2 miscarriages and having seen many of my friends go through miscarriages in weeks 13-20, I definitely look forward to viability.  And having a niece who was a 28 week preemie and a friend who had a 24 weeker, yeah, all of it just adds to the relief that is viability. 

sugarland726

I like knowing that if something were to happen, the doctors would take life saving measures to begin with now to at least attempt to save the fetus. There used to be a chart on March of Dimes that said at each week what the likelihood of survival was. I loved that chart. It made me feel a lot better.

alinafed

I think if anything its an optimistic way to think, like that you can relax a little bit more. I feel the same.

gracete

I agree and think that 24 weeks will be a milestone for me too (I'm 23 weeks today) but I really think of it in a positive way. We've made it this far

Congrats!

aessary03

juliasmama2010 said:

I am a FTM, and am familiar with the 24-week milestone, but it is not something I am excited about. That point will be the 36-week mark for me.

This. I don't get excited til I know LOs lungs are fully developed around 37 weeks. But I do see where you're coming from.

Depending on distress level in the womb, baby's lungs can be fully developed.  My 29 weeker was only on O2 for less than 12 hours after birth .... her lungs were fully developed because she was sitting in no amniotic fluid.  There wasn't enough time for me to get steroid shots.  Just sayin'! 

ang.ela23

After 2 miscarriages & trouble getting pregnant, I absolutely appreciate any milestone Don't let anybody make you feel any different!

mrsjenni

Ever since I was told my cervix was measuring short (which can cause pre-term labor) I've been counting down the days until I hit 24 weeks.  It's a HUGE milestone.  And although I know it doesn't mean my baby will survive, it does mean that she has a chance and the doctors will do everything they can to save her.  

Of course, we all want to deliver full-term healthy babies, but this is real life.  And real life is brutal sometimes.

HeartOverMind

I'm 24 weeks tomorrow, and I'm very happy/relieved about that! But I tell this baby everyday to stay put for as long as possible!

amt0312

I agree with you and other posters that 24 weeks is an important milestone to be appreciative of. Just one more week for me till I reach that point. My husband is actually anxious to make it to that point too. 

Sam&Dan05

I agree! i hit 24 weeks friday last week we have 107 days to go and it feels great!

sunnyplaces

A huge milestone for us and our babes. A definite reason to celebrate!!