Fetal Viability

Fetal viability refers to the potential of a prematurely born fetus (developing baby) to survive outside the uterus after birth. The viability of a fetus means having reached such a stage of development as to be capable of living, under normal conditions, outside the uterus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that the viability of the fetus is possible after 20 weeks of fetal life. However, there is no worldwide accepted gestational age at present that defines viability, perhaps because the biomedical and technological aspects that regulate viability vary widely in different parts of the world.