2006-11-06 05:07:16 · 14 answers · asked by oceanwaves 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
From a medical point of view - (so sorry to sound so clinical) here in West Australia labour can happen any time but 24 weeks and after they go to maternity;as it is considered a 'viable' birth (baby has good chance of life) up to 24 weeks A and E deal with it as spontaneous miscarriage. There would be paediatric support if needed in A and E. I believe it is the same in the UK although perhaps a nurse or midwife from there might tell you. Hope you do not experience any problems. Often, with early labour, they will have you in hospital and give you steroids - to increase the baby's lung maturity.
2006-11-06 05:09:23 · answer #1 · answered by rose_merrick 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Premature labor is labor that begins before the 37th week of pregnancy. (It would be considered a miscarriage until the 20th week gestation.) I went in to premature labor with two of my pregnancies at 28 weeks.
Most Neo-natal doctors would say that 24 weeks gestation is the point at which the fetus become viable outside of the womb. There can be some major hurdles and complications, but they have a better chance of survival.
I have heard of babies born at 23 weeks gestation survive, but I am not sure for how long.
2006-11-06 05:42:41 · answer #2 · answered by Mum to 3 cute kids 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
24 weeks is about the earliest a baby has been born and survived.
However considering the suffering a child goes through when its that premature bearing in mind that that only a very tiny minority survive (to be severely disabled), many would argue that the kindest thing to do is to let a child of that gestation slip away peacefully rather than taking extreme measures to resucitate
2006-11-06 05:10:44 · answer #3 · answered by Cardinal Fang 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
24 weeks is classed as "viable" however I have heard that a baby can live at 22 weeks although the likelyhood of it is very slim. Thats why there is so much controversy about the abortion gestation limit.
Before 20 weeks i believe miscarriage is the term.
2006-11-07 02:18:15 · answer #4 · answered by bebishenron 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can go into labor at any time, that is how miscarriages happen. But I believe the youngest baby to live was born at 24wks. What brought up this question? Are you worried? I hope everything works out.
2006-11-06 05:55:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anayden 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The youngest I know of is 25 weeks... He's got major developmental issues. Over 34 weeks they have the best chance.
2006-11-06 05:44:04 · answer #6 · answered by zippythejessi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi, there was a fantastically informative article in last week's Sunday Observer, a good account of the moral & ethical arguments also...
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/focus/story/0,,1928443,00.html
2006-11-06 05:29:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think up until 15 weeks its still classed as a miscarriage. and babies can survive from 24 weeks but 24 weeks is very early and the baby would probably have countless problems through life
2006-11-06 05:10:24 · answer #8 · answered by charlie 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
My sister-inlaw had a child at 24 weeks. He is now 4, healthy and one of the brightest kids in his class. He has asthma but that runs in the family.
2006-11-06 10:50:24 · answer #9 · answered by Lady_J 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My daughter was born at 24weeks gestation and she survived against all the odds. She has cerbal palsy, partially blindness and feeding issues but she is a little star. She is fully interactive with me and her mum and her big brother. She has had it tough but she is very strong and kids like that can totally amaze you.
2006-11-06 05:23:42 · answer #10 · answered by Scott T 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋