Can a baby survive if born at 29 weeks?
A baby born at 29 weeks has an excellent chance of survival if they receive care by a physician who is experienced in caring for and treating premature babies. After a preemie is born, they are typically cared for in the NICU. The survival rate for babies born at 29 weeks is between 80 and 90 percent.
At 29 to 30 weeks, premature babies weigh about 3 pounds and are about 17 inches long. While they're still very small, 29-weekers and 30-weekers have more fat stored under their skin, making them look more like full-term babies. They are also starting to shed their lanugo (the fine hair that covers a preemie's body).
Any preemie that's born earlier than 34 weeks gestation should spend several weeks in the NICU. On average, doctors recommend preemies stay in the NICU until three to four weeks before what their regular due date would have been.
Micropreemie is the term doctors use for babies either born before the 26th week of pregnancy or weighing less than 1.75 pounds (28 ounces) at birth. Because they're so tiny and weigh so little, micropreemies are at greater risk than even a preemie baby for health issues and disabilities as they grow older.
By the time you're 24 weeks pregnant, the baby has a chance of survival if they are born. Most babies born before this time cannot live because their lungs and other vital organs are not developed enough.
The chance of survival for premature babies
A full-term pregnancy is said to last between 37 and 42 weeks. Two thirds of babies born at 24 weeks gestation who are admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) will survive to go home. Ninety eight per cent of babies born at 30 weeks gestation will survive.
Preterm is defined as babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed.
How big is your baby at 29 weeks pregnant? Your baby now measures over 14 ½ inches (37 cm) and weighs 2 ¾ pounds (1.25 kg).
Problems with the uterus or placenta. Smoking cigarettes or using illicit drugs. Certain infections, particularly of the amniotic fluid and lower genital tract. Some chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, autoimmune disease and depression.
Extreme preemies without complications are typically ready for discharge two to three weeks before their due date.
When are babies lungs fully developed?
By 36 weeks, your baby's lungs are fully formed and ready to take their first breath after the birth. The digestive system is fully developed and your baby will be able to feed if they're born now.
Premature babies' heads will appear disproportionately larger than the rest of their bodies, and they may weigh as little as 3 pounds. At 30 weeks, preterm babies may also have: Fuzzy bodies, as they may still be covered in fine hair (called lanugo) Angular features because their fat stores haven't developed yet.
Feeding Your 29 Week Old Baby
At this stage, around 7-8 months, the two approaches to introducing solids become more similar.
29 weeks pregnant is how many months? Twenty-nine weeks pregnant is seven months pregnant. Keep in mind, though, that most doctors track pregnancy by week, not month—that's because pregnancy is really 40 weeks long, which is a little more than nine months.
29 weeks is how many months? You're in your seventh month!
“There are different levels of delays and long-term effects,” Dr. Reid adds, “but the vast majority of babies born at 28 to 30 weeks and beyond can survive without significant complications. At less than 28 weeks, survival is possible, but the risk of long-term complications is much higher.”
The longest pregnancy ever recorded was 375 days long (17 months). In comparison most women are pregnant for 280 days.
Usually, the earliest a baby can survive is about 22 weeks gestation. The age of viability is 24 weeks.
The earlier an infant arrives, the longer she may need to catch up -- but most do get there, Bear says. A baby born at 36 weeks may not be caught up at 6 months, but may be at within the normal range by 12 months. A baby born at 26 weeks or less may not catch up until they're 2-and-a-half or 3 years old.
- 57.5 percent of all recorded births occur between 39 and 41 weeks.
- 26 percent of births occur at 37 to 38 weeks.
- About 7 percent of births occur at weeks 34 to 36.
- About 6.5 percent of births occur at week 41 or later.
- About 3 percent of births occur before 34 weeks of pregnancy.
Does a 32 week baby have to stay in the NICU?
Most babies born at 32 weeks of pregnancy have only a few temporary health issues and need to stay in the NICU for only a few days to a few weeks. After birth, your baby may need extra help learning and developing the skills needed for feeding, staying warm, and breathing on their own.
High levels of stress that continue for a long time may cause health problems, like high blood pressure and heart disease. During pregnancy, stress can increase the chances of having a premature baby (born before 37 weeks of pregnancy) or a low-birthweight baby (weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces).
It is best not to take your baby out in public for the first three months after bringing your baby home from the hospital. When you do take him/her out, try to avoid crowds of people who might have colds and other illnesses.
ACOG and SMFM use these definitions to describe term pregnancies: Early term: Your baby is born between 37 weeks, 0 days and 38 weeks, 6 days. Full term: Your baby is born between 39 weeks, 0 days and 40 weeks, 6 days. Late term: Your baby is born between 41 weeks, 0 days and 41 weeks, 6 days.
At 29 weeks pregnant, you are in your seventh month and you have sixty to seventy days left before your baby arrives. Your baby is continuing to gain weight with added fat and muscle, and they're also busily strengthening their little bones.
Try to eat little and often, cut out caffeine and avoid fatty and spicy foods, which can make heartburn worse. If this doesn't work, your midwife or doctor will be able to prescribe you something, which is suitable in pregnancy.
These three risk factors make you most likely to have preterm labor and give birth early: You've had a premature baby in the past. You're pregnant with multiples (twins, triplets or more). You have problems with your uterus or cervix now or you've had them in the past.
A premature baby needs to be able to maintain their body temperature in an open crib before they can go home. 1 When your baby is able to do this will depend more on their weight than their gestational age. In general, preemies can maintain their own body temperature once they weigh about 4 pounds.
In general, babies are at least 4 pounds (2 kilograms) before they are ready to come out of the incubator.
The earliest a baby can go home is 35 weeks gestation, but I usually advise parents to expect to go home close to their due date. If they get to go home earlier, it's a bonus.
What is the last organ to develop in a fetus?
The lungs are the last major organ to finish developing. When fully mature, they produce a chemical that affects the hormones in your body.
By 10–12 weeks of gestation, developing babies begin taking “practice” breaths. But these breaths provide them with no oxygen, and only refill the lungs with more amniotic fluid. Because it's normal for a fetus's lungs to be filled with fluid, a fetus can't drown in the womb.
However, while modest, the finding that babies born at 37 to 38 weeks were at a 10% increased risk of dying early, compared with those born after that gestation, was important given that early-term birth was two to three times more common than preterm birth, Crump said.
Premature babies are more likely to have chronic health issues — some of which may require hospital care — than are full-term infants. Infections, asthma and feeding problems are more likely to develop or persist. Premature infants are also at increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
There's no one answer here; all babies grow according to their own personal timeline, so some preemies may catch up within a matter of weeks, while others take a full year or two before they can be moved to a conventional growth chart for full-term babies.
While the average baby is born weighing about 8 pounds, premature babies can be teeny tiny. Preemies can weigh anywhere from 5 pounds … to just one pound. And when you are that tiny there are special considerations.
In week 29, your belly will become bigger and will continue to protrude even more. It may be hard for you to see your feet. The fundal height is 26 to 35 cm (10.2-13.8 in). The increased amount of amniotic fluid in the uterus is around 9 cm (3.5 in) above your navel.
If your uterus contracts due to orgasm, obstetrician Dr. Kim Langdon tells Romper that “the baby will not likely notice it.” However, she does explain that if your water has broken, “there is less amniotic fluid and so a contraction may be felt,” although having sex after your water has broken isn't recommended.
The earliest a baby can go home is 35 weeks gestation, but I usually advise parents to expect to go home close to their due date. If they get to go home earlier, it's a bonus.
Your Baby at Week 29
Your baby may begin to smile this week, especially in his sleep. Your little one is continuing to hiccup. They feel like light, rhythmic taps to you and aren't uncomfortable for baby, either.