elop problems.
and appropriateness of any information or advice
provided. Liability for any act or omission occurring
in reliance on this document or for any loss, damage
bral palsy, which
Disclaimer: The advice and information contained herein
or injury occurring as a consequence of such act or
es from mild
problems
is provided in good faith as a public service. However the
Outcomes
omission is expressly
disclaimed.
accuracy
of any statements made is not guaranteed and it
natation (common) to
is the responsibility of readers to make their own enquiries
The earlier a baby is born, their risk of having
as to the accuracy, currency and appropriateness of any
needingaadisability
wheelchair
increases. Disabilities in children
information or advice provided. Liability for any act or
omission occurring in reliance on this document or for any
loss, damage or injury occurring as a consequence of such
act or omission is expressly disclaimed.
may not be noticed until they are several
years old. Despite many tests, your doctor
may not know early on whether your baby will
common
in children
develop
problems.
y
ese mayProblems
range may
frominclude cerebral palsy, which
means
a disability that varies from mild
common)
to severe
problems with motor skills and coordinatation
mmon). (common) to not being able to walk and
This brochure should only be used in association with a
consultation from a neonatal paediatrician.
Produced by: NCCU
Women and Newborn Health Service
Produced by: NCCU
Email: [email protected]
needing a wheelchair (uncommon).
y severeLearning
disability,
it is are very common in
difficulties
born extremely preterm. These
mmon inchildren
very preterm
may range from mild developmental delay
stralia. (common) to severe intellectual disability
Website:
Email: [email protected]
http://wnhs.health.wa.gov.au
Website: www.wnhs.health.wa.gov.au
© July 2014 WNHS 0601
© WNHS 0601
August 2013
This information is available in
alternative formats upon request
(uncommon).
needingAlthough
to wearblindness
a
is a very severe disability,
is fortunately extremely uncommon in very This information is available in
but can itsometimes
preterm babies born in Western Australia. alternative formats upon request
Problems with hearing and needing to wear a
hearing aid is not common but can sometimes
babies
are
occur in preterm babies.
reterm
rm follow-up
program
in most preterm babies
After they
go home,
arethese
healthy.babies
We have a long-term followd support
up program in place to regularly check and
support these babies and their families.
A small number of babies have ongoing
have ongoing
medical
medical needs and these babies will be
referred
l be referred
toto Princess Margaret Hospital for
treatment.
for treatment.
23 to 25 Weeks
make their own enquiries as to the accuracy, currency
W OME N A N D N E W B OR N H E A LTH S E RV ICE
King Edward Memorial Hospital
374 BagotHealth
Road Subiaco
WA 6008
Women and Newborn
Service
King Edward Memorial
Hospital
Telephone:
(08) 9340 2222
Facsimile: (08) 9388 1780
374 Bagot Road Subiaco WA 6008
W O M E N A N D N E W B O R N H E A LT H S E R V I C E
King Edward Memorial Hospital
Information for Parents
Birth of Your Baby
at 23 to 25 Weeks
Information for Parents
PREGNANCY
Telephone: (08) 9340 2222
WNHS
Community
Advisory Council
your
voice
Delivering a Healt
your individual situation and help you make
decisions
about your baby’s care.
This brochure contains information about
the issues and decisions you may need to
consider if your baby is born very early. This
can be an extremely emotional time and our
staff are here to support you. The doctors
involved in your care include obstetricians
and paediatricians, who are experts on
managing extremely preterm birth, and will
explain your individual situation and help you
make decisions about your baby’s care. This
brochure should only be used in association
with a consultation from a neonatal
paediatrician.
Please note: this brochure is about
pregnancies at 23 weeks and over. If your
pregnancy is less than 23 weeks, please
speak to your doctor for more information.
Survival of babies born early
Your baby’s chances of long term survival are
greatly increased the longer you are pregnant.
Not all babies born at 23 to 25 weeks
gestation (15 to 17 weeks early) are able to
survive the birth process and resuscitation in
the delivery room or operating theatre. Those
who do survive will get admitted to neonatal
intensive care. The survival rate for babies
who get admitted to neonatal intensive care is
approximately 60 per cent at 23 weeks, rising
to 80 per cent at 24 to 25 weeks.
disability. The range and degr
greatly and includes mild disa
significant learning problems
Please note:inthis
brochure
is about pregnancies at
Disabilities
babies
born early
Hospital guidelines
motor skills and co-ordination
23 weeks
andare
over.
yourtopregnancy
is less thanAt 23 weeks gestation (17 weeks early)
Babies
born early
moreIflikely
have
disability including severe cer
disabilities
babiesspeak
who areto
born
at term
23 weeksthan
please
your
doctor for more Individual circumstances vary widely and you
(40 weeks).
and your doctors will
make the best
deafness
anddecision
severe intellect
information.
regarding your baby’s resuscitation and care.
The table below shows the percentage of
disability usually means not b
Often, babies at 23 weeks gestation are able
babies born at KEMH between 23 and 25
Survival of babies born early
to be resuscitated and
admitted to the NICU.
an adult.
weeks who have a disability. The range and
Sometimes, despite all our efforts to keep them
degree of disability varies greatly and includes
Gestation Any do not survive.
Yourdisability,
baby’s
of learning
long term survival alive,
are very premature babies
mild
suchchances
as significant
You will be able to talk to your doctors about
problems
and mild problems
with motor
greatly increased
the longer
youskills
are pregnant. your baby’s care and any concerns you may
Disabilit
and co-ordination, through to severe disability
have.
Not all babies
born at
23blindness,
to 25 weeks gestation (15
including
severe cerebral
palsy,
(16 weeks early)
deafness
and severe
intellectual
disability.
to 17 weeks
early)
are able
to survive the birth At 24 weeks gestation
2
3 w
61% Although these babies areeeks often very sick,
Severe disability usually means not being
process and
resuscitation
in the delivery room orintensive care treatment is usually given
independent
as an
adult.
because survival rates are good.
operating theatre. Those who do survive will get
Any
Severe
At 25 weeks gestation (15 weeks early)
Gestationto neonatal intensive care. The survival
24 weeks 37% admitted
Disability
Disability
While still very early, most babies at this
23 for
weeks
61% get admitted
17% to neonatal
gestation do survive and intensive care is
rate
babies who
always provided
24 weeks
8%
intensive
care is37%
approximately
60 per cent at 23
25 weeks
35%
2%
25 weeks 35% Support available
weeks rising to 80 per cent at 24-25 weeks.
Source: KEMH data from babies born 2004 - 2007
The Social Work Department can provide you
Babies born alive at 23 to 25 weeks are always
with information and practical support while
very sick and require intensive care, often for many
Source: KEMH data from babies bor
you or your baby are
in hospital.
months.
Ph: (08) 9340 2222
Pastoral Care Services provide emotional and
spiritual support to families with babies in the
NICU.
Ph: (08) 9340 1726