People, it is 10 days to V-Day!!  Screw Valentine’s Day and its overpriced chocolate, I’m talking about Viability Day.

Sometimes I’m hesitant to post about something that seems too Debbie Downer, but a recent post on the boards reminded me that other people worry about the same things, whether they are high-risk or not, whether our situations look the same or not.  Reaching “viability” is one of those things that many a mama-to-be has longed for regardless of how easy or difficult her pregnancy has been.

Viability is generally considered 24 weeks, though some resources say it is 23 weeks.  Viability doesn’t mean that your baby can definitely live outside of the womb, but it means he or she has a much better chance of survival on their own (with lots and lots of medical assistance for the really early ones, of course).

Weeks of Gestation

Chance of Survival

21

0%

22

0-10%

23

10-35%

24

40-70%

25

50-80%

26

80-90%

27

90% or higher

Source

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Being high risk and knowing that our little boys have a much increased risk of arriving early, viability has been on my mind.  A. Lot.  In early pregnancy, I didn’t think about it much because it was just so far away still.  As viability has become closer and closer, it has become one of the focuses of my daily thoughts.  Starting about three weeks prior to viability, I have been in the midst of a huge emotional struggle to not let fear get the best of me.  The thing is, we’re soo close, but being “close” doesn’t give my babies great odds right now. 

Last week, I had a really off day.  My rib and pelvis were really hurting and my tummy just felt weird.  It didn’t hurt exactly; it just didn’t feel good.  It took me all day to realize that my stomach was tightening up sporadically.  After putting two and two together on my way home from work and realizing I was likely experiencing contractions, I had a little cry while hoping they were only Braxton Hicks, started guzzling water, and laid down to rest.  Thankfully, that did the trick and within two hours everything was all quiet in my uterus again.  It really scared me and drove home the point that my babies just can’t come out yet.  It didn’t help that a girl in my twin group lost her babies earlier that week.  She went in to labor at 22 weeks, and there was nothing to be done to save the babies.  The idea of being so very close and still not have a chance somehow seems like an extra offense in an already horrible situation.

To help me focus on the positives, last week I made a little V-day Countdown for my desk at work.  It is extremely satisfying to cross off each day and know that my babies are so much closer to being in a position that they have at least a 50/50 shot.  Obviously, it’s much better if they just keep cooking in there for many more weeks, but this lady will breathe a huge sigh of relief when 24 weeks rolls around.  Then, I’ll start focusing on the next goal:  28 weeks!

Did you countdown to viability?  How did you feel when you crossed the 24 week line?