How Long Will We Spend in Hospital?

It is one of the most frequently asked questions: how long will my baby stay in hospital or when can we go home?  

Miracle Babies Foundation asked miracle families to assist us in working out the average time a premature baby spent in hospital in relation to their gestation at birth. In response, 625 miracle families submitted their child’s birth details, from 23 weeks gestation to 40+ weeks, along with the number of days spent as a patient in a NICU or SCN. We compiled the answers to work out the average length of stay.

It is very important to remember that this is only to be used as a rough guide. Just as every child is unique, so is their journey through a NICU or SCN, and it is very difficult to determine just how long they will require hospitalisation.

Most babies will be discharged by the due date, some will be discharged earlier and others will require hospitalisation for much longer.

   Gestation      Average length of stay in hospital

• 23 weeks             143 days (20 weeks + 3 days)
  
  
• 24 weeks             133 days (19 weeks)
  
  
• 25 weeks             108 days (15 weeks + 3 days)
  
  
• 26 weeks             101 days (14 weeks + 3 days)
  
  
• 27 weeks             80 days (11 weeks + 3 days)
  
  
• 28 weeks             76 days (10 weeks + 6 days)
  
  
• 29 weeks             75 days (10 weeks + 5 days)
  
  
• 30 weeks             50 days (7 weeks + 1 day)
  
  
• 31 weeks             49 days (7 weeks)
  
  
• 32 weeks             36 days (5 weeks + 1 day)
  
  
• 33 weeks             27 days (3 weeks + 6 days)
  
  
• 34 weeks             21 days (3 weeks) 
  
  
• 35 weeks             16 days (2 weeks + 2 days)
  
  
• 36 weeks             11 days (1 week + 4 days)
  
  
• 37 weeks             22 days (3 weeks + 1 day)
  
  
• 38 weeks             10 days (1 weeks + 3 days)
  
  
• 39 weeks             18 days (2 weeks + 4 days)
  
  
• 40+ weeks           22 days (3 weeks + 1 day)