Two-Thirds of Babies Born at 22 and 23 Weeks of Gestation Survive if Given Care

By Dustin Siggins Published on May 26, 2016

Babies born at 22 weeks and 23 weeks of gestation are likely to survive if given proper care, according to a new study of infants born at a German hospital. 25 percent “born at the border of viability and offered active care survived without severe complications.” The study appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics.

The University of Cologne Medical Center’s study, which looked at babies born from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2014, found that 67 percent of these babies who were given “active pre-natal and postnatal care” were discharged from the hospital alive. Out of 106 babies born at 22 or 23 weeks, 86 received that kind of care and 58 survived to be discharged.

“The survival rate was 61% (17 of 28) for infants born at 22 weeks of gestation and 71% (41 of 58) for infants born at 23 weeks of gestation,” according to the online abstract for the study. Half of the babies who died died from respiratory failure and one-quarter from multiorgan failure. Others suffered from severe complications.

The study’s publication came shortly after a 21-week old unborn child was left to die  at an abortion clinic in Arizona. In a statement, Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser tied the study’s results to her organization’s support for a ban on abortions after 20 weeks’ gestation as well as the Born Alive Protection Act. The latter would require doctors to give proper medical care to babies who survive abortions.

The recorded 911 call made from the Arizona clinic showed that the child was not given care that would have helped it survive. According to Dannenfelser, the baby “suffered, awaiting medical care the abortion clinic was incapable of providing.”

SBA spokesperson Mallory Quigley told The Stream that the German study shows the survivability of extremely premature babies is “approaching what the survival rates would be for babies born later in pregnancy.”

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Like the article? Share it with your friends! And use our social media pages to join or start the conversation! Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, MeWe and Gab.

Inspiration
The Scarcity Mindset
Robert Morris
More from The Stream
Connect with Us