Womb rent.

The relationship between gestational age at delivery and the cost of neonatal care was analyzed for 137 infants of 24 to 34 weeks' gestation born between 1973 and 1977. Cost estimates were based on hospital charges actually collected, adjusted to 1977 rates and weighted according to a smoothed survival curve. The cost estimates varied according to gestational age, development of RDS, and both in turn were related to survival. The estimated cost per infant without regard to survival status was as follows: 24 weeks' gestation, $7,000/infant; a bimodal peak cost of $36,000/infant at 26 and again at 29 weeks' gestation; 34 weeks' gestation, $9,000/infant. Between 29 and 34 weeks' gestation the average cost of hospital care fell about $5,400/week or $772/day. At certain periods of gestation, safe postponement of delivery for even a few days may result in significant financial benefits.