How many weeks early can a premature baby survive?

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on September 22, 2024
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Preterm birth refers to births that occur after 28 weeks of pregnancy but before 37 weeks. Preterm infants have lower resistance compared to full-term infants and generally require special care to survive. The survival rate varies with the gestational age: at 32 to 33 weeks, the survival rate can reach 95%; at 28 to 31 weeks, it is between 90% and 95%; at 26 weeks, it is around 80%; and at 27 weeks, it is about 90%. After 34 weeks of pregnancy, the survival rate of the baby is very high, almost the same as that of a full-term baby.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Causes of Premature Birth

There are many causes of preterm birth, such as cervical loosening during pregnancy, gynecological inflammations, underdeveloped uterus, congenital uterine malformations, and uterine fibroids, as well as pregnancy-related hypertension and diabetes, which can also lead to preterm labor. Additionally, carrying twins can increase uterine tension and potentially cause preterm birth. Other factors include long-distance travel, fatigue, emotional fluctuations, family relocation, abdominal trauma, prolonged standing, high psychological stress, advanced maternal age, and placental abruption during pregnancy, all of which can contribute to the occurrence of preterm birth.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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How is premature birth defined?

Preterm birth is defined in relation to miscarriage and full-term birth. A birth before 28 weeks of pregnancy is considered a miscarriage; a birth after 37 weeks of pregnancy is considered full-term; and a birth between 28 weeks and 36 weeks and six days is considered preterm. Since preterm birth occurs in the late stages of pregnancy, the fetus has a certain chance of survival. However, efforts should be made to delay the timing of preterm birth as much as possible to increase the survival rate of the fetus. It is generally believed that births between 28 and 34 weeks are considered early preterm, during which the survival probability of the fetus is relatively low; whereas births after 34 weeks up to 36 weeks and six days are considered late preterm, during which the maturity of the fetus is higher and the survival rate is also relatively high.

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Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
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Do contractions easily lead to premature birth?

There are two types of contractions. The first type is false labor contractions, which occur in the late stages of pregnancy. They generally happen more in the evening or afternoon and disappear in the morning. The true labor contractions are regular and intensify in waves, accompanied by an increase in vaginal discharge or spotting. If it's false labor, rest can usually improve the condition, and it's not a concern. However, some people, due to extreme anxiety, may experience frequent false labor contractions. In such cases, our general approach is still to recommend treatment for pregnancy maintenance. If it's true labor, there is definitely a possibility of premature birth.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Does placenta previa cause preterm birth?

When a placenta previa occurs, it is likely to lead to premature birth. Placenta previa is a condition where, after 28 weeks of pregnancy, the placenta is positioned low in the uterus, often below the presenting part of the fetus, and attaches to the lower segment of the uterus or near the internal os of the cervix. In the late stages of pregnancy, dilation of the cervix can cause the placenta to be misaligned with the uterine wall, leading to recurrent, painless bleeding. When the bleeding reaches a certain amount, it can easily lead to premature separation of the placenta, inducing uterine contractions and the onset of premature birth. In cases of placenta previa with significant vaginal bleeding, it is necessary to terminate the pregnancy promptly.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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How to care for premature infants

The care of premature babies is very important. Since the physical resistance of premature babies is weaker than that of full-term infants, premature babies generally need to be placed in incubators to maintain body temperature. If an incubator is not available, methods such as using a hot water bottle for warmth can be employed, or putting cotton hats on the babies. During feeding, breastfeeding is an option. For very small babies who have poor sucking ability or uncoordinated swallowing functions, or for babies who are ill, the mother can express her milk, which can then be fed to the baby via a tube through the nose. Artificial feeding is also an option.