Some Statistics on Premature Birth

     I'm compiling information to ease my worries, and help me to have a level-headed frame of mind if complications occur, or Elora comes early.

     But please, dear Lord Jesus, I pray that Elora is born safely!

     Various factoids and sources that I'm learning from:

-----According to a report last year by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, the three major problems are respiratory complications and lung disease, problems with bowel function and long-term neurological damage. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-health/11121592/Premature-babies-How-24-week-old-babies-are-now-able-to-survive.html)

-----Cerebral palsy affects about 10 per cent of those born at 23 weeks (the risk falls to 1-2 per cent at 26 weeks). (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-health/11121592/Premature-babies-How-24-week-old-babies-are-now-able-to-survive.html)

----- It costs about £1,500(1,500 British Pounds=2,337 US dollars) a day to keep a baby in intensive care, £900 in a high-dependency cot and then a sliding scale of costs for special care, transitional care and normal care.(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-health/11121592/Premature-babies-How-24-week-old-babies-are-now-able-to-survive.html)

-----a table:

Weeks of pregnancy	Survival rates
23	Nearly 2 to 3 out of 10 survived (about 7 to 8 out of 10 died)
24	5 out of 10 survived (5 out of 10 died)
25	Nearly 8 out of 10 survived (about 2 out of 10 died)

(http://www.emedicinehealth.com/what_to_expect_when_you_have_an_extremely_premature_infant-health/article_em.htm)

-----this was one of the more severe cases I read about:

'For her first few months Hope experienced one problem after another: septicaemia, pneumonia, bowel problems, meningitis. 

Initially, the HIllis's were told their daughter only had 24 hours to live - and that's why they called her Hope

'She even went into cardiac arrest on the operating table while they were performing a procedure to relieve fluid on her brain. We'd leave the neo-natal unit for a much-needed break and, on arriving home, receive a call to tell us that Hope had taken a turn for the worse and we would have to dash back again. 

Sarah says what happened to Hope has made her appreciate just how precious her children are

'For the first four years of her life Hope virtually lived in hospital. When we eventually took her home, I did secretly wonder how I would cope with a daughter with such critical health issues. 

'She has cerebral palsy, her immune system is so weak that she constantly succumbs to life-threatening illnesses, such as meningitis, and she recently had a tracheotomy fitted because damage to her brain stem was causing her breathing to falter when she was asleep. She also has mild learning difficulties.

'Now, while it might sound strange, I feel I'm lucky. What happened to Hope has made me appreciate just how precious my children are. It's brought us closer together as a family.
Hope is so bubbly - she won't let anything hold her back.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2256242/Over-half-babies-survive-birth-24-weeks-legal-abortion-limit---cost-health-families-Four-mothers-tell-stories.html#ixzz3hs4dR1Hz
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(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2256242/Over-half-babies-survive-birth-24-weeks-legal-abortion-limit---cost-health-families-Four-mothers-tell-stories.html)

-----this article was a hopeful one talking about 22, 23 weekers:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/07/health/premature-babies-22-weeks-viability-study.html