The earliest a baby can be born and still survive is around 22 weeks of pregnancy. At this stage, survival is possible but uncommon, and outcomes vary widely. Each extra week in the womb greatly improves a baby’s chances of survival.
Data from large studies show that about 1 in 4 babies born at 22 weeks survive to leave the hospital. Survival increases to about half at 23 weeks and continues to rise quickly after that. Even when babies survive at very early stages, many face serious medical complications during their hospital stay.
Survival depends on several factors, including the baby’s exact gestational age, birth weight, and whether advanced newborn intensive care is available. Care practices also differ between hospitals and countries, which explains why survival rates are higher in well-resourced neonatal units, especially in the United States.
If there is a risk of very early preterm birth, care should be guided by a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and a neonatology team. Decisions about treatment should always be made with medical professionals, as there is no safe way to influence survival without specialized hospital care.