[butterdezillion]

I’m sorry for your loss. Our first was stillborn at 42 weeks. I don’t think a day has gone by when I have not thought of her. Someday I will see her and hold her.

My understanding is that if the doctors have advance warning of a seriously premature birth there are medications they can give to enhance/speed up lung development.

There’s not a lot of information in this article, but I question the doctors’ commitment to try to preserve the life of this child.

Maybe somebody who knows more can give us more perspective.

[Abby4116]

I'm sorry for your loss also. God's way isn't always our way.

I think they can do something to keep the lungs from "sticking together" for lack of a better description. Not sure that there is much to speed development.

Perhaps the doctors had their own agenda here - it doesn't sound like these parents wanted an "abortion of convenience". I think the parents are being used.

[khelus]

... My understanding is that if the doctors have advance warning of a seriously premature birth there are medications they can give to enhance/speed up lung development. ...

You are correct. I worked with someone whose wife developed severe appendicitis at a point where it was too soon for a cesarean because of poor lung development. She was hooked up to an IV with antibiotics (in case the appendix burst) and given medication to accelerate lung development. After only a few days they were able to perform the cesarean and appendectomy. The baby spent a few days in an incubator and was fine thereafter. The appendix burst as they were preparing to remove it. One week later baby and mother were thriving.