When is the earliest date twins can be born and still be healthy?

michellescott

I realize the answer to this question depends on lots of factors, but I'd love to keep a date or week number in mind. Is there a general consensus that most babies/twins borns by Week X are generally healthy?

  

pea-kay

It was always my understanding that 28 weeks is kind of where outcomes are significantly better after this date. not to say they wouldn't be in the nicu for a long time, though. they would be, for sure.

lstaylor73

That is a difficult question because of all the possible variables.  The earliest surviving preemie ever was born last year at 23 weeks and was a singleton.  The earlier they are born, even given every perfect scenario, the greater the risks of developmental difficulty - of which a great deal is left to chance.  I think generally speaking that twins will have the same chances as singletons.  You also have to take into account that one baby in distress has a greater likelyhood of doing better once outside the womb than the twin who gets a surprise eviction notice, as in the case of my boys. The baby in distress tends to do better because their ready for the needed environment change faster than the one who has no issues.

The best preemie reference book on the market is Preemie: The Essential Guide for Parents of Preemature Babies.   But I recommend this book with a word of caution.  ONLY read the parts that pertain to your personal situation and don't read more or ahead as too much information will scare the friggin' crap out of you and make your anxiety worse than it probably already is.

If you are concerned about premature birth of twins please feel free to visit the preemie board and ask any questions.  We're all here to help on both boards, but the ladies over there have been through ever imaginable preemie issue and are a wealth of knowledge and wonderful sounding boards.

 HTH!

Temp159135562506975

actually- i think the earliest is 22w for a singleton https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-437236/Born-just-22-weeks--Amilla-allowed-home.html

I remember reading about this baby when she was born.... but still - a high chance for issues later down the road.

Didn't someone on here have their twins at 24w? I thought I remembered reading that and was amazed that they were OK... or am i crazy??

when i went into PTL at 30w the docs said DS would be OK but probably need the NICU for a while to develop his lungs.  They gave me the steriod shot to speed up lung development. he was born at 36w with just some jaundice and otherwise fine- but he was a singelton.

Mrs. Destructo

lstaylor gave a really great response, but I'd like to add a couple of things.

24 weeks is legally considered the limit of viability. However, if a baby is born at 24 weeks it has about a 50% chance of survival. And of those that survive, 50% have major medical or developmental issues.

At 28 weeks the survival rate is 90%, and of the babies that survive, 90% do not have long-term medical or developmental issues.

At 32 weeks the baby is most definitely a preemie, but the mortality and morbidity rates are the same as if the baby had been born at term. A baby born at 32 weeks will most likely need some assistance in the NICU for a little while, but a NICU stay would be short, and it would be very unusual for the baby to have long-term problems from being born premature.

april062604

i have 26 weekers. ?they were given an 80% chance of surviving the first 72 hours. ?the had a "normal" nicu stay with many ups and downs. ?i went into PTL at 19 weeks. ?24 weeks is technically viability. ?as each week after that passes statistics get better and better. ?that said, *knock on wood* my babies are doing wonderfully. ?thay have no chronic health issues, they're crawling, cruising, DD says "juice" (her first word) and i'm so very thankful for the miracles i was given. ?i saw babies in the nicu that gestationally were born after my children (28, 30, 32, 34...weeks) and were in a more critical medical state.