Increase in number of babies surviving at 23 weeks

The number of babies who are surviving after being born at 23 weeks is increasing, new figures have revealed.  

The statistics show that at least 120 babies survived after being born at 23 weeks over the past four years. Last year, six of eight babies born at 23 weeks at the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust survived after being admitted to the neonatal unit for treatment.

Six of seven babies born at 23 weeks at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) and given life saving treatment also survived. All five born at 23 weeks at North Bristol NHS Trust last year also lived.

In 2011, 565 babies were aborted at 23 weeks’ gestation.

Fiona Bruce, Conservative MP and chair of the all-party pro-life group, said: “I do not understand why there is not more outcry about the fact that we allow viable babies to be aborted. The new figures support what we have known for a while: that advances in pre-natal care make a mockery of our 24-week abortion limit.”

Read more (Sunday Times) >