It has been researched that babies born after 23 to 26 weeks of pregnancy have a 50% chance of survival. That is a good figure especially for some of us who had never carried that far before. Or those of us who did not know we had an incompetent cervix until it was already too late to have a cerclage placement. After 28 weeks, the little one has 80 to 90% chance of survival, and a normal healthy life subsequently. It is also more common for those carrying multiples to have premature babies, not to say some carry to fullterm with a cerclage intact.
Having said that, those who have had a preemie in an NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) will know better than to expect an easy road ahead. No matter what the statistics say, there is still the other 20 to 90% chance of something going terribly wrong, and the anxiety alone is enough to make us cringe at the thought of having a premature baby tied to tubes in the hospital for weeks, maybe months. Breastfeeding is practically impossible, and some of us are not even allowed to hold or touch our baby for fear of infection.
The severity of complications that may be involved either immediately after birth or later in life very much depend on the birth weight of the little one (read further http://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/preterm-delivery-premature-baby#1) and the neonatal care received. A lot of other factors will also determine the survival of a premature baby, and it is widely believed that baby girls are more likely to survive, as are singletons than multiples. One deciding factor is also whether the doctor had time to administer steroids before the birth to speed up lung development.
All mommies with a preemie will tell you the thing they look forward most is to bring baby back home - it is usually an indication that the doctor is confident that all is well from now on. Then of course the practical issues of looking for clothes and booties small enough for the little doll come into play. And mommies being mommies, some of us will stay up all night eventhough the little one is fast asleep as we just feel the compulsion of checking on his/her breathing every 5 minutes. Caring for a premature baby at home is sure to be different from caring for a fullterm baby, but it does not have to so gut wrenching. Get all the support you are offered, and ask all the questions you need to ask your specialist before you leave the hospital.
Yes it may not be the road we would have desired, but with an incompetent cervix, this is a possibility which we always have to consider. The possibility of having a preemie, that is. Many of us carry to term, of course, with proper care and preparation, but for those who don't trust in the statistics, and trust in God. And once baby is back home, treasure the homecoming, cherish the moments, perhaps even have that baby shower (Read Week 29 here) which you have planned earlier but had to cancel you went into labour before the party day. Baby is home.
But hey... if you are still happily pregnant, I'm sure you will be feeling more at ease now. Stitch is still there, you are back to running to the bathroom every half hour, and you are waddling around without being able to see your toes, but even if baby comes now, there is no longer the intense worry and anxiety you endured earlier when baby wasn't yet viable. Now just enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and get those things which you haven't been able to get going the last few months... GOING! Yes, and I mean the crib, the nursery, the shopping, the nesting!
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