Can a baby be born at 500g and survive?

The survival rate of extremely premature babies has improved significantly over the past few decades.

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the survival rate of babies born at 22 to 25 weeks of gestation has improved from 5% in the early 1990s to over 50% in recent years.

However, the survival rate for babies born at less than 22 weeks remains very low, around 10%.

The lowest recorded birth weight for a baby to survive is 226 grams, reported in 2018. This baby was born in Germany at 25 weeks and 6 days of gestation.

Babies born at such a low birth weight typically require intensive medical care, including respiratory support, nutritional support, and protection from infection.

Even with the best medical care, the long-term health outcomes for babies born at 500 grams are uncertain, as they are at risk for various complications such as developmental disabilities, chronic lung disease, and visual impairments.