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Survival of Premature Infants Survival Rates | What Determines Survival | Frequently Asked Questions Birth Weights 501-1500 grams
Survival Rates for Low Birth Weight Infants Data Sources Whether or not a child will survive is a question on the minds of parents when their child is admitted to the NICU. Fortunately, most babies admitted to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) have a good chance of survival. The graph above shows the survival rates for very low birth weight infants (birth weight less than 1500 grams or 3 lbs., 5 oz.). The data was published by the Vermont Oxford Network and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network.1,2 Birth weight is used more often than gestational age to measure survival because it is often easier to get a more accurate measurement of weight than gestational age. What Does the Graph Show? The graphs of the two data sets show identical survival rates for infants who weigh between 751 and 1500 grams. The differences in survival for the smallest infants (birth weights from 501 to 750 grams) are probably caused by differences in the populations of infants and time periods of measurement, NOT by differences in medical care. The data shown above may not accurately reflect the survival rates in all areas of the United States or in other countries. Medical people use the metric system (grams, liters) to record babies' weights and other measurements. Although this system is unfamiliar to many Americans, it is the system most widely used in Europe and other areas of the world. Also, the metric system is easier to use to figure out drug dosages for babies than the English pound system. That’s why when you ask how much your baby weighs, you often get an answer in grams or kilograms. Use the conversion chart to change grams to pounds. |
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