Majority of premature babies born at 22 weeks survive if given care, studies find

Medical advances in health care are making it possible for babies born prematurely to survive at a younger and younger age. A 2019 study from the University of Iowa provided surprising statistics for the survival rate of premature newborns. The study found that 64% of 22-week babies and 82% of 23-week babies born alive and whose parents wanted resuscitation survived to hospital discharge. A 2016 study in Germany found that 61% of 22-week babies and 71% of 23-week babies survived after being given care. A Swedish study found that 22-week babies given treatment had a 58% survival rate, while 66% of 23-week babies survived. In 2019, 54% of 22-week infants and 45% of 23-week infants in Britain treated in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) survived. Despite these studies, current medical guidance in the United States is to recommend resuscitation for babies born at 24 weeks but only to consider it for babies born at 22 and 23 weeks, The Federalist reported. Hospitals’ treatment for 22- and 23-week babies varies across the United States. Many hospitals do not offer care to 22-week infants, and some do not treat those born at 23 weeks. Parents have told heartrending stories of health care workers refusing to treat their newborns, even at hospitals with Level 3 NICUs, the recommended facility for this age group... Clinics often do not attempt to administer life-saving care to premature babies, claiming that the infant will be at an increased risk of disability as a result of the prematurity. However, it is impossible to tell if a baby will have any disabilities, as it varies from case to case... According to research, most abortions performed at 20 weeks or later are not because of any health issues with the baby. Many of the babies killed could have survived outside the womb if given the proper care