A University of Iowa study of thousands of premature births nationwide shows some babies born as early as 22 weeks have a reasonable chance of survival, provided they receive treatment.  Many parents of extremely preterm infants are advised any treatment beyond comfort care is unsuccessful, but U of I pediatrics professor Dr. Edward Bell says viability should be determined on a case by case basis.

In addition to gestational age, Bell cautions that a number of factors contribute to determining the viability of an extremely preterm baby.  Different hospitals have different resources in providing the best treatment.  Whether the infant is a multiple, and if the mother received steroid shots before giving birth are also factors.

Bell says he doesn’t recommend all preterm infants born as early as 22 week receive active care, although he says some of these infants do have a chance to survive, if they get the proper treatment.