When a preterm delivery is expected, parental counseling should be based on accurate data regarding survival rates and the likelihood of major disability among survivors at the given gestational age. This is crucial at the borderline of viability, when management options being discussed with the parents often include withholding or withdrawal of life support.
In this study, the authors showed that educating doctors is important: Ensuring Accurate Knowledge of Prematurity Outcomes for Prenatal Counseling
| Weeks | Survival | Long Term Neurodevelopmental Impairment |
|
| <23 | <5% | 70% | |
| 24 | 30% | 55% | |
| 25 | 60% | 40% | |
| 26 | 85% | 20+% | |
| 27 | 90% | 20+% | |
| 28 | >90% | <20% | |
Source: Vermont Oxford Network Database (2000)