Final answer:
Fetal viability significantly increases with gestational age, with survival rates of 20-35% at 23 weeks, around 70% at 25 weeks, and over 90% after 26 weeks, all with necessary medical intervention.
Step-by-step explanation:
The viability of the fetus is a critical consideration in neonatal care, representing the fetus's ability to survive outside of the womb after birth. Fetal survival rates improve significantly with advancing gestational age. At 23 weeks of gestation, survival chances are between 20 and 35 percent with intensive medical care required. By 25 weeks, the chances increase to as high as 70 percent, albeit with the need for similar medical interventions.
A substantial increase in survivability is seen after 26 weeks, where more than 90 percent of pre-term infants can survive provided they receive necessary medical care. It's important to note that the fetus undergoes rapid development gains in the weeks leading up to birth, with crucial respiratory and nervous system development occurring around the 28th to 30th week, further increasing the probability of survival at these later stages.