Viability Chart

jenb_99

I don't even know where I found this, but another thread reminded me that I had it bookmarked. It's a chart that lists the chances for survival by week. I don't know exactly how accurate it is, but it is interesting.

https://www.spensershope.org/chances_for_survival.htm

ETA: Wikipedia has the same info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetal_viability

Katemr1146

That just made me depressed I'm only at 22 weeks right now.

theoryofwhat

I'm not sure if that makes me feel more or less anxious. I just hit viability today, and it says that survival at 24 weeks is 40-70%. That's kinda a big margin. 

buggywhips

March of Dimes posted something similar a while back on their FB page. It's so scary to think about going into labor this early but it's good knowledge to have! 

chillypenguin

This is interesting.

"A baby's chances for survival increases 3-4% per day between 23 and 24 weeks of gestation and about 2-3% per day between 24 and 26 weeks of gestation. After 26 weeks the rate of survival increases at a much slower rate because survival is high already."

It's crazy to think how much they are truly developing every day...

RedInLove

It's amazing to me how quickly the chances increase from 22 to 27 weeks! I think now I'll be much more relieved to hit 27w than I will be at 24.

ETA: 24w because I think that's the medically accepted gestation age that a fetus is really considered viable.

mrstengallonhat1

I was really looking forward to hitting 24 weeks on Thursday.  Now I don't think I'll be able to relax until 27 weeks (at least)!

Empireceo

On the one hand, it feels like we have a long time to go.  On the other hand, I'm so tired of being pregnant that some of these odds are starting to look good 

kristine526

It's like the "odds of miscarriage" chart someone posted in the 1st tri. That's a big margin, but I'll take it.

Miggg

Reminds me of the miscarriage charts, not sure if it makes me feel more or less paranoid..

IBackBevo

Having a super early baby is soooo scary to me.  I think it is from being on all the pre-e websites and hearing about what the Moms with micro-preemies go through. Honestly, the idea of merely surviving doesn't bring me a lot of comfort to me when you are talking about a baby born super early - at 22-23 weeks. I know two people who had a baby at 23 weeks.  In one case, the child is 21 and has had no major, long-term issues...although, I honestly wonder if maybe the mother's due date was miscalculated.  The other one's child, who was born in the last 5 years, is severely disabled...blind, deaf, tube fed, cerebral palsy and all sorts of other issues.  At about 30 weeks, I will start feeling better I think.  

awc1986

This is reassuring the further along we get. It's reminiscent of the "chance of miscarriage" tables we were so obsessed with all those weeks ago! These babies are strong and they'll be hanging around in our bellies for a long time yet!

spinsoffresonance

Honestly, I can't say for sure I would even want to try to save the baby if I went into labor before 28 weeks. Is it really the right thing to do to save a child that has no chance at a semi- normal life? I don't know. I'll feel better after 30weeks

ecinereb

lica001 said:

Honestly, I can't say for sure I would even want to try to save the baby if I went into labor before 28 weeks. Is it really the right thing to do to save a child that has no chance at a semi- normal life? I don't know. I'll feel better after 30weeks

I work with tons of premie kids and there are completely typical kids born earlier than 30 weeks.

There are so many factors other than gestational age that play in to it.

You have to do what's right for you and your family but there is a reason the medical system uses 24 weeks as a cut-off.

CopperPoppy

Not to be negative nancy over here but if this is measuring gestational age then wouldn't I subtract two weeks from the weeks I've been going by? So I'm 21 weeks but the baby's gestational age is only 19 weeks. I'm not even on the chart yet

I'll look at this chart next month...when I'm ready to handle it.

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awc1986

A friend of the family had their son at 26 weeks. He was only 1lb, but after a few months of care he was able to go home. He's now a completely normal 15 month old, if a little on the small side.

AugustGlass

At our a/s the tech was telling us her niece was born at 25 weeks and she's a healthy 11 year old. It's still very terrifying to think about, of course. 

IBackBevo

lica001 said:

Honestly, I can't say for sure I would even want to try to save the baby if I went into labor before 28 weeks. Is it really the right thing to do to save a child that has no chance at a semi- normal life? I don't know. I'll feel better after 30weeks

I get what you are saying and the sentiment...my cut-off would be a lot earlier than 28 weeks because every week makes a huge difference, but with respect to a micro-preemie born only at 22-23 weeks...idk, what I would do.  I hope to never, ever have to make that call.  Of course, I have had more real-life experience with severely disabled children (and adults) than I have with loss so that is part of where my mindset comes from.  I had a friend recently lose her baby at 17 weeks. I am pretty sure she would take that baby in whatever state she could have her...

In a similar vein, I also would not want someone to keep me alive if I had no quality of life and was only being kept alive by machines.  My aunt was faced with this decision re my uncle after a stroke.  Not one I would ever in a million years want to make. 

IBackBevo

ecinereb said:

lica001 said:

Honestly, I can't say for sure I would even want to try to save the baby if I went into labor before 28 weeks. Is it really the right thing to do to save a child that has no chance at a semi- normal life? I don't know. I'll feel better after 30weeks

I work with tons of premie kids and there are completely typical kids born earlier than 30 weeks.

There are so many factors other than gestational age that play in to it.

You have to do what's right for you and your family but there is a reason the medical system uses 24 weeks as a cut-off.

That is very interesting.  Is it 24 weeks of gestation (i.e. 26 weeks pregnant) or 24 weeks pregnant (i.e. 22 weeks of gestation)? 

Christinaruth74

The asterisk next to 22wks broke my heart. I'm just about 21wks and nearly every day I think about the possibility of going early.... Let's keep on cookin' baby Adelyn!

jenb_99

Yeah, it's not very reassuring to me at 20w5d, but I do like the odds at 28+.

Then again, when my OB and I were discussing the "safe window" for my cyst surgery (which has passed, dangit), I joked that if I were to experience a torsion, I hoped it would at least wait till 27 weeks. She said very seriously, "No, aim for 34." Eep.

Bootsie327

I probably should find the chart more reassuring but it kind of just makes me anxious My friend recently had twins at 26.5 weeks. They are going to make it, and are already doing so much better (they were 1.5 lbs at birth and are both over 2 lbs now, and one is off the ventilator), but it is going to be a very long road. Everyone just think positively for delivering strong, well-baked LOs!

RachelCA29

Before this last week I thought that 26 weeks was the viability date, and then I read an article that mentioned it was 24 and was a bit relieved (I'm 23 weeks now). I mean, of course no one wants to go any-bit early, but it does happen.

This chart is somewhat reassuring, especially knowing the rates of increase per DAY, but I still think in my head 26 weeks will be my "breath easier" date. But I have lived this whole pregnancy with one milestone after another, almost like goals. 12 weeks *breath easier*, 14 weeks (officially second trimester) *breath easier*, 20 weeks (half way there) *breath easier*. 

The next date I gave myself was 26 weeks. I think now 24 weeks will have me breathing a bit easier now too!

kalette

I just wanted to share this (happy) story of a little girl born at 23w1d. It was my friend's sister, and all took place shortly after I found out I was pg with DD, so it struck extra close. I believe she's about 2 1/2 now.
https://aintnorollercoaster.com/choosing-emma-baby-falls-cracks-viability/

delatl

Thanks for sharing this chart! It mostly makes me hopeful because every day counts right now and we're getting so close.