How early can a baby be born and survive?
Baby General
?Angel Eyez? asked:
I am 31 weeks pregnant and am just curious about how early a baby can be born and survive. I hope to make it to my due date but I am just wondering if all babies born before 37 weeks have to have long stays in the hospital. Does anybody know if there are babies that have survived being born 8 weeks early without having to stay in the hospital. I have had no signs of pre-term labor thus far, I am just worrying about what could happen to me.
Elsie
I am 31 weeks pregnant and am just curious about how early a baby can be born and survive. I hope to make it to my due date but I am just wondering if all babies born before 37 weeks have to have long stays in the hospital. Does anybody know if there are babies that have survived being born 8 weeks early without having to stay in the hospital. I have had no signs of pre-term labor thus far, I am just worrying about what could happen to me.
Elsie
October 6th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Eleanor
Don’t worry your baby will be fine. My sister in law had a baby at 34 weeks and she was only in the NICU 2 weeks. She was only 4 lbs 7 oz at birth. And she is now almost 4 and healthy as a horse….Congrats and Happy Holidays
October 6th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Cindy
the earliest baby to survive was born during the 22nd week! That is so early, i couldn’t believe it when i heard the story (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17237979/)
My daughter was born at 36 weeks, and she didn’t stay in the hospital at all in the beginning (she should have, but my hospital was stupid, and we had to bring her to a pedi-hospital 2 days later, where she stayed for 4 days).
so, yes, your baby could totally survive if born at any point now, but they would be in the hospital for a while.
October 7th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Victor
Any baby can have a hospital stay if they have complications. I have had two preemies, my 35 weeker had no hospital stay, my 32 weeker had a 3 week hospital stay. There is no way of knowing how long of a stay a preemie may have., I have friend’s who had 36 weekers who stayed in the NICU as long as my son. Considering you have no signs of preterm labor you should try not to worry and focus on the upcoming arrival of your wee one.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Patrick
well usually if a baby is born b4 36 weeks they stay in the hospital until they can breath very well and eat and suck and keep there temperature up at normal…. there have been some instances where a baby was born at 71/2 months and was ok but that happens like only one time in about 4 million births…. so just try to not worry and if you are doing good then you should be ok until ur due date…. good luck and congrats on the little baby….
October 11th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Colleen
My daughter was born at 32 weeks , she had to stay three weeks so she could gain weight She got to come home at four pounds and seven ounces. and is doing great now. We had quads born at 25 weeks and are doing good, they had to stay four months in the NICU. We lost one but the others are going just fine. They are small but are perfect to us. There was a baby born in Fla that was born I think at 19 or 20 weeks and got to come at after five months or six not sure she was born and she was knowen to be the youngest baby to be born. I guess she is doing fine. it was this time last year. They can born early and stay in the NICU up to there due date or later. just depends on how the baby does. If you go into pre term labor now you baby will do just fine.
October 12th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Marc
I’ve seen a baby alive that was born at 23 weeks. Of course, he had a host of medical problems, but to answer your question, it is possible. I’m sure you and your baby will be just fine!
October 14th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Philip
I have had two preemies, one at 35 weeks, he was in the NICU for a little over 2 weeks…and my youngest I had at 32 weeks, he was in the NICU for a little over 3 weeks, his biggest problem was that he couldn’t eat properly and had to be tubed for eating. He also has sleep apnea(still on monitor) and that caused him to stay also. My 35 weeker had many more problems, but they are both here and doing great! Keep that baby in as LONG as possible! Good luck and congrats!
October 15th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Ron
i have had 3 premmie babies my first was born at 36 weeks weighed 5 pound 8 ounces stayed in special care for 11 days
my second was born at 33 weeks weighed 5 pound stayed in special care for 3 weeks
m third one was born at 35 weeks weighed 6 pound stayed in special care for 2 weeks so yea the baby will survive
October 17th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Zachary
Most hospitals if the baby is born before 36 weeks they keep the baby until 36 weeks when they are considered full term. Hope this answers your question. Good luck!
October 20th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Tony
I’m a NICU nurse…babies can survive that are born as early as 23 weeks..though not without a lot of medical problems. Any premature baby, if born before 35 weeks will have some stay in the NICU, but how long depends on the baby and any complications, or lack thereof, that they may have while in the hospital. Good luck and congratulations!!
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Juan
My daughter was born at 36 weeks and weighed 6lbs 11oz. The Drs told me she was big for her gestational age. Which is good. She stayed the average amount of time any other newborn would stay which is about 2 days. The earliest I have heard of a baby surviving is 22 weeks. I am sure your baby will be fine. But, it also depends on how developmentally ready your baby is. I went into pre-term labor at 33 weeks and it lasted for 3 weeks before they induced me. But, before they induced me they did an amnio to see if she was ready.
October 26th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Raul
many more are surviving due to advances in medical science.you have not to worry if you completed 24 weeks but be care full ,take good food, good drink,no smoking and no too mush sex in the last few weeks.