Baby born 5 months early

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The brother of one of my DH's closest friends growing up was born between 20 and 21 weeks gestation and weighed only 15 oz. This was about 40 years ago too. He is a lawyer who went to Ivy League with absolutely no issues from his birth.

I'd say the technology is a lot better now than it was back then. She stands a chance of a good outcome.

This didn't happen.

Miracles do happen. Today and in the past. Modern medicine is wonderful and also admits that sometimes miracles happen.

As a Healthcare professional that works in an OB setting (CRNA) I really think these stories...although well meaning...do A LOT of harm. All our NICU families hold on to show strings of hope because of stories like these and "facts". Every grandma or great aunt or uncles cousin is "100 percent positive" Jimmy was born at 22 weeks and was one pound and is now totally ok. The truth is babies before 25 weeks didn't survive 15 years ago let alone 70. And the truth is less than 1 percent of babies before 24 weeks survive. 32 weeks (2 months early)...ya sure, maybe. 22...no, that is false. Flase.

[Anonymous]

Also a 21 or even 26 weekend would never have no issues from birth. NEVER. Its not reality....home vents, feeding tubes, constant therapies, a very challenging first 3 years is the reality. (In ideal outcomes)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The brother of one of my DH's closest friends growing up was born between 20 and 21 weeks gestation and weighed only 15 oz. This was about 40 years ago too. He is a lawyer who went to Ivy League with absolutely no issues from his birth.

I'd say the technology is a lot better now than it was back then. She stands a chance of a good outcome.

This didn't happen.

Miracles do happen. Today and in the past. Modern medicine is wonderful and also admits that sometimes miracles happen.

As a Healthcare professional that works in an OB setting (CRNA) I really think these stories...although well meaning...do A LOT of harm. All our NICU families hold on to show strings of hope because of stories like these and "facts". Every grandma or great aunt or uncles cousin is "100 percent positive" Jimmy was born at 22 weeks and was one pound and is now totally ok. The truth is babies before 25 weeks didn't survive 15 years ago let alone 70. And the truth is less than 1 percent of babies before 24 weeks survive. 32 weeks (2 months early)...ya sure, maybe. 22...no, that is false. Flase.

+1. A lot of people don't have a clear idea when they conceived or have a hard time with pregnancy math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The brother of one of my DH's closest friends growing up was born between 20 and 21 weeks gestation and weighed only 15 oz. This was about 40 years ago too. He is a lawyer who went to Ivy League with absolutely no issues from his birth.

I'd say the technology is a lot better now than it was back then. She stands a chance of a good outcome.

This didn't happen.

Miracles do happen. Today and in the past. Modern medicine is wonderful and also admits that sometimes miracles happen.

This didn't happen. Surfactant hadn't been discovered as a way to help preemie babies at that point 40 years ago. I assure you, this did not happen. I am knowledgable in this area. People repeat all kinds of fanciful tales. And it is dangerous and ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are you struggling with? Plenty of people have babies born that early. They have a long road a head of them.

No, they don't. The earliest babies that survive are 23-24 weeks. Maybe a rare 22 weeker. That is 18 weeks early, or approximately 4.5 months. No way can a baby born at 20 weeks survive.

Idk about no way, but even a 6 month premie birth was highly touch and go, so I'm skeptical about 4.5 months

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are you struggling with? Plenty of people have babies born that early. They have a long road a head of them.

No, they don't. The earliest babies that survive are 23-24 weeks. Maybe a rare 22 weeker. That is 18 weeks early, or approximately 4.5 months. No way can a baby born at 20 weeks survive.

Idk about no way, but even a 6 month premie birth was highly touch and go, so I'm skeptical about 4.5 months

20 weekers do not survive. Ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are you struggling with? Plenty of people have babies born that early. They have a long road a head of them.

No, they don't. The earliest babies that survive are 23-24 weeks. Maybe a rare 22 weeker. That is 18 weeks early, or approximately 4.5 months. No way can a baby born at 20 weeks survive.

Idk about no way, but even a 6 month premie birth was highly touch and go, so I'm skeptical about 4.5 months

20 weekers do not survive. Ever.

+1

[Anonymous]

Every time people bump this thread to argue about micropreemies, I'm worried.

I looked up the baby and she is still with us.

https://www.aol.com/article/sports/2017/02/07/nba-star-j-r-smith-shares-moving-photo-after-baby-daughters-pr/21708798/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The brother of one of my DH's closest friends growing up was born between 20 and 21 weeks gestation and weighed only 15 oz. This was about 40 years ago too. He is a lawyer who went to Ivy League with absolutely no issues from his birth.

I'd say the technology is a lot better now than it was back then. She stands a chance of a good outcome.

This didn't happen.

Dude, I don't know what to tell you. But it happened. His mom was a practicing physician at the time so maybe she had access to specialized care? But my DH was there, sorry.

Your DH was there when this baby was born???

It sounds like your DH was a child when this happened. I think your DH heard the story over and over. But he wasn't "there."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The brother of one of my DH's closest friends growing up was born between 20 and 21 weeks gestation and weighed only 15 oz. This was about 40 years ago too. He is a lawyer who went to Ivy League with absolutely no issues from his birth.

I'd say the technology is a lot better now than it was back then. She stands a chance of a good outcome.

This didn't happen.

Dude, I don't know what to tell you. But it happened. His mom was a practicing physician at the time so maybe she had access to specialized care? But my DH was there, sorry.

Your DH was there when this baby was born???

It sounds like your DH was a child when this happened. I think your DH heard the story over and over. But he wasn't "there."

I bet pp knows someone named lemonjello, too

[Anonymous]

I just saw this on Twitter- an interview with JR Smith and his wife. They seem like incredibly loving parents and it looks like Dakota is doing well- she came home from the hospital last month. https://t.co/ygCdj3PRoy?amp=1

I'm sure they still have a rough road ahead of them, but I was glad to hear this update.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The brother of one of my DH's closest friends growing up was born between 20 and 21 weeks gestation and weighed only 15 oz. This was about 40 years ago too. He is a lawyer who went to Ivy League with absolutely no issues from his birth.

I'd say the technology is a lot better now than it was back then. She stands a chance of a good outcome.

This didn't happen.

Dude, I don't know what to tell you. But it happened. His mom was a practicing physician at the time so maybe she had access to specialized care? But my DH was there, sorry.

Your DH was there when this baby was born???

It sounds like your DH was a child when this happened. I think your DH heard the story over and over. But he wasn't "there."

I believe this story was told this way and it was repeated and socially people accepted it. 40 years ago if pregnancy proceeded marriage, the baby was often said to be " premature" to account for the time difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just saw this on Twitter- an interview with JR Smith and his wife. They seem like incredibly loving parents and it looks like Dakota is doing well- she came home from the hospital last month. https://t.co/ygCdj3PRoy?amp=1

I'm sure they still have a rough road ahead of them, but I was glad to hear this update.

This update says 4 months premature, FWIW. That makes a lot more sense.

[Anonymous]

Why does a week make a difference in the 20 vs. 21 week argument? What happens in those 7 days that make life vs death possible?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does a week make a difference in the 20 vs. 21 week argument? What happens in those 7 days that make life vs death possible?

20 or 21 weeks is still pre-viable. 22 weekers are being resuscitated more and more often. And resuscitation at 23 weeks is almost becoming standard.
The biggest single change is in lung maturity. Surface area of oxygen absorbing tissue in the lungs is increasing exponentially. Plus, surfactant, the substance that lets lung tissue stretch and open rather than stick and tear beings to be produced.

Everything else is really a matter of degree. But we've really hit a wall in Neonatology until we can get around the issue of lung development.

(Posted from call room in the NICU)