Baby born 14 weeks early goes home from hospital

An infant girl named Marta was recently discharged from the City Hospital in Ruda, Poland after four months in intensive care. Marta was born in September at just 26 weeks gestation. She weighed less than one pound at birth. The hospital said Marta never even needed intubation or mechanical ventilation, which are often necessary when premature babies’ organs haven’t finished forming.

What’s the survival rate for extremely premature babies? Four out of five survive to be discharged from the hospital, according to a new study of over 10,000 infants born in the United States at 22-28 weeks gestation.

But 14 U.S. states allow abortion up to fetal viability, which is typically presumed to be around 24 weeks gestation. Poland has some of the most pro-life laws in Europe.