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The joy most women feel during the first trimester may be tinged with the fear of miscarriage. Many doctors use the term "viable" to describe if a pregnancy is likely to go to full term. Viability is used to describe both the pregnancy and the fetus.

• A viable pregnancy is one that has a chance of reaching a live birth.
• A viable fetus is a baby who is able to survive outside the uterus.

Viable Pregnancy

Your doctor can determine if you have a viable pregnancy as...

The joy most women feel during the first trimester may be tinged with the fear of miscarriage. Many doctors use the term "viable" to describe if a pregnancy is likely to go to full term. Viability is used to describe both the pregnancy and the fetus.

• A viable pregnancy is one that has a chance of reaching a live birth.
• A viable fetus is a baby who is able to survive outside the uterus.

Viable Pregnancy

Your doctor can determine if you have a viable pregnancy as early as six to seven weeks in. A heartbeat is an assuring sign that the pregnancy is viable. If the pregnancy is nonviable (no heartbeat is detected or you have an ectopic pregnancy), you will have to decide if you want to have a natural miscarriage (if there are no other health issues) or if you want to have a dilation & curettage (D&C) procedure.

Viable Fetus

A fetus is viable when critical organs, such as the lungs and kidneys, are developed enough to function either with or without medical attention. Generally, around Week 24 a fetus could be born and survive with proper care, but this varies with each pregnancy.

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