At what stage of pregnancy is baby "viable"

zaksmum

My daughter's 31 weeks pregnant with her first baby - she sadly suffered a previous miscarriage at about 9 weeks.

I'm desperate for this baby to get here safely and have heard there's a stage of pregnancy beyond which baby is considered to be "viable"...presumably meaning it'd have a good chance of survival if born on or after this date.

Please does anyone know when this would be?

JodyBPM

I think it is around 25 weeks that the baby is considered viable, but obviously babies born that early can often have health issues etc, and sadly many don't make it, although some do!

Around 37 weeks the baby is considered "full term" - ie wouldn't be considered prem if born at 37 weeks, and I think it might be this date that you are thinking of.

Good luck to your daughter, although its natural to be worried given the earlier miscarriage, at this stage of the pregnancy, its highly unlikely that anything will go wrong!

kegg_2

I think it is something like 24 weeks but 31 would certainly be viable.

Goodluck with the rst of the pregnancy and birth

honeypop

24 weeks is the official 'viable' stage http://www.babycentre.co.uk/stages/0124/

lauren_1

The baby is certainly viable and if born now stands a very good change, his/hers lungs may not be fully mature quite yet and may need some assistance but at over 90% odds i think she can relax.

http://miscarriage.about.com/od/pregnancyafterloss/a/prematurebirth.htm

Moomum

Viability is 24 weeks, this is when the baby can survive outside of the womb, obv with a lot of help. I work in fetal medicine and see a lot of babies born early

brians_daughter

24 weeks is 'viable' My consultant is looking to deliver my baby prematurely at 32 weeks if things carry on as they are doingw ith me, but has told me with steriod injections prior to labour the chances of baby being ok @ 32 weeks is the same as a 'term' baby ie 37 weeks plus.

southoftheriver

24 weeks. Chances improve massively if steroids are given and if they have a chance to work.

margaretclare

When I was practising midwifery it was 28 completed weeks.

Of course, with modern technology and if delivered under optimum conditions, a baby can survive much earlier than that. Even in 1971 as a student midwife, I delivered a baby at 26 weeks and he survived.

clairec79

As others have said it's 24 weeks is the cut off, 28 weeks there are less chance of problems due to prematurity (ie brain damage) and 32 weeks these risks decrease even further.
However there is always a small risk at any gestation.

Plenty of women have an early miscarriage with one pregnancy and then go on to have a fullterm pregnancy without complications

tiamai_d

As everyone else said, 24 weeks.

At 31 weeks if baby did arrive they would be in hospital (usually until the due date) but it would be expected that everything would be fine.

Ofcourse it all depends on the circumstances of birth.

There is a far higher chance that everything will go well and your daughter will end up cursing an over due baby than for anything to go wrong.