I think it's about 26 weeks nowadays (10 years ago maybe it was 28-30 weeks) -- though most preemies that early will still die, and those that survive will have to spend many months in the hospital.

I would suggest you do your research on a medical site. Babies of 24 wks. were surviving a year or two ago. Now they may even be viable at a younger gestation.

It is important to keep in mind that there is much more to this difficult situation than survival. Most extremely premature babies who survive have at least some degree of handicap. The problems related to the brain are by far the most important, because brain injuries often affect what is most human about us, and brain injuries cannot heal themselves. There have been a couple of 22 week gestation babies who have survived to thier first birthday and beyond that, I know not. http://members.aol.com/DDerleth/extreme.html

About 23 to 24 weeks. That is not to say miricles don't happen, though!

I hope you are not a real professor because I you are you haven't done your homework that's for sure. I was born in 1986 at 26 weeks 3days weighing 2 lbs. 10oz. and have no health problems whatsoever. I was not the only one born that week or even that day that premature and not the only one to survive either.

my friend had a baby at 24 weeks last year, he was 2 pounds 9 ounces, he's now 8 months old and doing fine

Our Son was born on 10th Dec 2007 weighing 1lb 9oz at 24 weeks gestation, we was told to expect the worse as the figures arnt favorable. 15-20% survival at 24 Weeks, 0-3% at 22 weeks, 5-10% at 23 weeks. Retrospectivly I found that late 26 week and 27 week babies tend to have a 50/50 chance. In answer to your question Bliss told us that the earlist baby to be born and survive todate was 23weeks in the uk. 22 days in Europe. I believe a 21 week 6 day baby was born in Florida and is still alive but poorly. Our baby is 101 days old and still not at his original birth date of 30th March. He's a fighter and is doing well but we know that we are very, very lucky.

From my google search I've found a baby that survived just under 22 weeks... the baby was born under 10 ounces! But the doctors are expecting the baby to do well and not suffer serious long term health problems.

"James Elgin Gill (born on 20 May 1987 in Ottawa, Canada) was the earliest premature baby in the world. He was 128 days premature (21 weeks and 5 days gestation) and weighed 1 lb. 6 oz. (624 g). He survived and is quite healthy. Amillia Taylor is also often cited as the most-premature baby. She was born on 24 October 2006 in Miami, Florida, at 21 weeks and 6 days gestation. At birth she was 9 inches (23 cm) long and weighed 10 ounces (283 grams). She suffered digestive and respiratory problems, together with a brain hemorrhage. She was discharged from the Baptist Children's Hospital on 20 February 2007. The record for the smallest premature baby to survive was held for some time by Madeline Mann, who was born at 26 weeks weighing 9.9 oz (280 g) and 9.5 inches (24 cm) long. This record was broken in September 2004 by Rumaisa Rahman, who was born in the same hospital at 25 weeks gestation. At birth she was eight inches (20 cm) long and weighed 244 grams (8.6 ounces). Her twin sister was also a small baby, weighing 563 grams (1 pound 4 ounces) at birth. During pregnancy their mother had suffered from pre-eclampsia, which causes dangerously high blood pressure putting the baby into distress and leading to birth by caesarean section. The larger twin left the hospital at the end of December, while the smaller remained there until 10 February 2005 by which time her weight had increased to 1.18 kg (2 pounds 10 ounces). Generally healthy, the twins had to undergo laser eye surgery to correct visual problems, a common occurrence among premature babies. Historical figures who were born prematurely include Johannes Kepler (born in 1571 at 7 months gestation), Isaac Newton (born in 1643, small enough to fit into a quart mug, according to his mother), Winston Churchill (born in 1874 at 7 months gestation), and Anna Pavlova (born in 1885 at 7 months gestation)." Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premature_birth#Records

Have a look at this site.........you'll find an answer here and a whole lot more about issues surrounding extremely prem babies..... soniaandjong.blogspot.com

On March 26th 1996 i had my daughter in the Liverpool womens hospital...she was 23 weeks gestation and weighed 1 pound 6 oz.....she is now 12 years and 4 months....has CP, hydracelphalus and 2 vp shunts inserted but leads a very "normal" life. This is a rarity for a baby to be born 12 plus years ago at this gestation and to survive but it still prooves it can be done. A absolute miracle child....and such a special young lady.

According to USA TODAY in 1991 23 weeks with no disabilities. I gave birth to a 23 week 5 day old premature infant in 1991. He was due on Christmas and was born September 4, 1991. He is 5'11 weighs 125 and wears a size 18 in kids. In all regular classes passed all state mandated test and has a 3.0 average in school. He has very mild CP and is not on a walker or in a wheel chair. He doesn't have braces either. He walks with a very slight limp.