Viability?

klz0330

How many weeks do you guys consider viability?  I've read 24 weeks which I'm at today and it makes me feel good!

mrsyimster

24~~~~~ my MFM told us my girls are now viable but you want them to thrive not just survive!

JustAnotherUsername16

I've read some sites that have said as early as 23 weeks, but the more commonly used number for viability is 24 weeks. As exciting as the possibility of viability is, I agree with @mrsyimster - thrive, not survive! I've had multiple conversations with my little girl in which I've begged her to keep cooking for at least 3 more months! As excited as I am to meet her, I need her to be strong and ready to deal with my crazy family smothering her with love when she gets here

PattersRN

24 weeks, but not without A LOT of support and higher rate of some possible long term complications 

klz0330

@mrsyimster and @Justanotherusername16 I completely agree!  I'm not wishing for my baby to be delivered now, but it's good to know if she is she has a higher chance of surviving.  My daughter was born at 40 weeks and 5 days and I was completely fine with that.

kjd291

Like PPs have said: 24 wks is the standard number

dubcompanion

I heard on a podcast I listen to that chances of survival outside the womb at exactly 24 weeks are over 50% but that every day, probability increases by 3%. Also, every day baby stays inside, chances of complications and short/long-term disabilities decrease. I think it's at 26 weeks that chances of survival are 80%. And as the podcast pointed out, a lot also depends on why a preterm birth has occurred. 

disneybaby84

my husband was born around this time in pregnancy back in the '80s (if you haven't read in one of the previous b fest) he was 1lb. 7oz. spent his first few months in hospital. Currently 6 feet tall, no medical issues.  Not saying being born early is good, but if my husband survived the archaic days of 80s technology, I would think today's babies have a better chance.

Foersty

I found a helpful chart regarding viability-it lines up with what all the previous posters have already mentioned, but it's comforting for me to see the chart form

BaylieGirl

Thanks @Foersty

direwolfmini

@disneybaby84 My husband was early, too.

I haven't gotten a clear picture of how early (his mom's prenatal care was spotty), but think it was somewhere between 28-30 weeks IN POLAND. He was just shy of a kilogram (around 2lbs 2 oz) They didn't have any advanced medical care (I joke that they stuck him in a shoebox  ). They told his parents "Its a boy, but don't get to excited because he's going to die." He somehow made it through. He does have Cerebral Palsy, but considering he had no special intervention that early and survived really is a miracle. Babies really do have a better chance these days, but are still better off in than out in most cases.

It definitely feels good to be inching closer and closer to viability (I'm an end of the month mama, so I'm only 22+6 today), but I'm still terrified of delivering prematurely. Especially with twins. 

thisisallyson

I had a checkup today and the doc said 22 weeks 6 days is the earliest they will consider viable now. So....there is hope for nearly everyone! He said the 24 week mark was dated about 6 years ago and they have since moved it up.