Just wondering

[ApplePieBaby]

is there some sort of chart somewhere similar to the ones I've seen where it will say babies born at X weeks have X-X% of survival but instead of survival it lists the average nicu stay for the gestational age?

[sbrinton]

Here's one: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~garyh/outcome.html

I know I've seen others, including one where you could enter the birth weight, gender, whether the baby had steriod shots and whether the baby was born at a hospital that had a Level III nicu to get a better estimate.

Our neonatologists more or less said 50% at 24 weeks, 85% at 26 weeks, 95% at 28 weeks, and small gains each week from there. I think they said outcomes at 34 weeks were statistically the same as 40 weeks. We were at a hospital with a level III nicu that could handle babies as young as 24-26 weeks.

[soxthecatrules]

The only average I know for sure is that at 32 weeks the survival rate is 95%. Due to my history w/ pre-e 32 weeks was my goal when I was pregnant with DD. The rest was icing on the cake. We were fortunate and got LOTS of icing!!

IRL I have seen 1-24 weeker, 2-25 weekers, 1-27 weeker and 2-28 weekers....all survive. Many of these babes will have life long problems but will have productive and happy lives nonetheless.

[ApplePieBaby]

Oh I am liking these odds!
I will be 32 weeks on Saturday, and I had the steroid shots

In 2006 we lost a 25 weeker after 9 weeks in the NICU, so I never even thought I'd get this far.

[soxthecatrules]

FWIW...a friend of mine was pregnant with twins the same time I was expecting DS. She was having many difficulties. Her OB wanted her to get to 34 weeks and anything after that was icing on the cake.

My understanding is that the 32+ weekers that don't survive generally (not always) have something so wrong with them that their chances of survival were questionable even if they had made it to term. I know this is not always the case. I wish I could remember the actual sources I read this from. It could have been "March of Dimes" or pre-eclampsia.org . I'm not sure.

I wish you the best of luck!!

[susienjay]

Originally Posted by ApplePieBaby

Oh I am liking these odds!
I will be 32 weeks on Saturday, and I had the steroid shots

In 2006 we lost a 25 weeker after 9 weeks in the NICU, so I never even thought I'd get this far.

I'm so sorry about your losses. I remember reading about your dd here. I had a 29 weeker in 2006.

I had 32 week twins in 2004 that spent 36 days in NICU. I had had the steroid shots and they were pretty much just grower/feeders for their whole stay. I've never seen a chart for average stays but I'd be interested in what it is. I was originally told it would probably be at least 3 weeks up to 8 weeks (their due date) but I'm not sure what is average.

[~bookcase~]

Originally Posted by soxthecatrules

The only average I know for sure is that at 32 weeks the survival rate is 95%.

this makes me feel sick to read in that shocked kind of way :

[ApplePieBaby]

Well I've hit 33 weeks today! But it's sounding like tomorrow is the day... unless my platelets and liver enzymes miraculously go up.

[Le Bec]

At our NICU the general rule of thumb was that usually babies come home very close to their due dates. I've not seen a table with that information though.

[OGirlieMama]

Originally Posted by ApplePieBaby

Well I've hit 33 weeks today! But it's sounding like tomorrow is the day... unless my platelets and liver enzymes miraculously go up.

33 weeks is amazing, Jayme! I hope that if you did have the babies, they and you are all doing well. I will be sending good thoughts!

[ApplePieBaby]

Yep, I did have them on Sunday! They are doing GREAT! Much different than having a 25 weeker!!!

[Amys1st]

Originally Posted by ApplePieBaby

Yep, I did have them on Sunday! They are doing GREAT! Much different than having a 25 weeker!!!

CONGRATS! This news has made my day after knowing what you went thur w your 24 weeker right after I had mine. :

[OGirlieMama]

Originally Posted by ApplePieBaby

Yep, I did have them on Sunday! They are doing GREAT! Much different than having a 25 weeker!!!

Best news ever!!! I already said so over on the multiples board, but wanted to say it here, too.