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Late preterm infants are infants born at a gestational age between 34 + 0 ⁄ 7 weeks and 36 + 6 ⁄ 7 weeks. [1] They have higher morbidity and mortality rates than term infants (gestational age ≥37 weeks) due to their relative physiologic and metabolic immaturity, even though they are often the size and weight of some term infants.
Extreme preterm [2] is less than 28 weeks, very early preterm birth is between 28 and 32 weeks, early preterm birth occurs between 32 and 34 weeks, late preterm birth is between 34 and 36 weeks' gestation. [8] These babies are also known as premature babies or colloquially preemies (American English) [9] or premmies (Australian English). [10]
According to the WHO, a preterm birth is defined as "babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed." [20] According to this classification, there are three sub-categories of preterm birth, based on gestational age: extremely preterm (fewer than 28 weeks), very preterm (28 to 32 weeks), moderate to late preterm (32 to 37 weeks). [20]
A preterm birth, also known as premature birth, is defined as babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed. [40] There are three types of preterm births: extremely preterm (less than 28 weeks), very preterm (28 to 32 weeks) and moderate to late preterm (32 to 37 weeks). [40]
It is preterm if less than 37 weeks and post-term at or beyond 42 weeks of gestation. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have recommended further division with early term 37 weeks up to 39 weeks, full term 39 weeks up to 41 weeks, and late term 41 weeks up to 42 weeks. [24]
Adequate nutrition is needed for a healthy fetus. Mothers who gain less than 20 pounds during pregnancy are at increased risk for having a preterm or low birth weight infant. [51] Iron and iodine are especially important during prenatal development. Mothers who are deficient in iron are at risk for having a preterm or low birth weight infant. [52]
A multi-center European trial studied early versus late r-EPO in 219 infants with birth weights between 500 and 999 g. An r-EPO close of 750 U/kg/week was given to infants in both the early (1–9 weeks) and late (4–10 weeks) groups. The two r-EPO groups were compared to a control group who did not receive r-EPO.
Adults born preterm have higher all-cause mortality rates as compared to full-term adults. Premature birth is associated with a 1.2x to 1.6x increase in all-cause mortality rates during early to mid-adulthood. Those born extremely prematurely (22–27 weeks) have an even higher mortality rate of 1.9x to 4.0x. [3]