Reply to Early premies: do they ever live normal healthy lives?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Absolutely, they can live normal, healthy lives.

I have two cousins who were born extremely prematurely, both before many doctors even want to try to save them:  [b]one at 22 weeks, one just before 23 weeks,[/b] both just about 1 pound.  I have pictures of my aunt's wedding ring placed over my cousin's arm, like an armband, and she is petite, 90 pounds soaking wet.

And this was many years ago, because one cousin is a sophomore at Notre Dame, the other in high school.  Both brilliant, strong and healthy, with big dreams.  Technology is even better now.

Life is precious.  Maybe someday, we will develop artificial wombs for babies in between embryos and 20-22 weeks.  For now, we should do our best.[/quote]

WOW. I honestly did not know that was possible. [/quote]

I actually think the pp who posted this got the weeks wrong.  Under current medical technology (2011), the likelihood of survival for 22 weeks, is less than 10% and 21 weeks is 0%.  Many years ago it was nowhere near this good.

Up until 21 weeks: 0% survival rate

at 22 weeks: 0-10% survival rate

at 23 weeks: 10-35% survival rate

at 24 weeks: 40-70% survival rate

at 25 weeks: 50-80% survival rate

at 26 weeks: 80-90% survival rate

at 27 weeks: greater than 90% survival rate[/quote]

YES, and these are just survival rates.  Look at incidence of cerebral palsy and other challenges, and you'll begin to get the real picture.  My sister worked for a residential facility for children with extreme birth defects, and soem of those children never speak, move, and cannot even eat on their own.  [/quote]

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