As we work to prevent prematurity and give babies the best start possible, it is important to know what constitutes a premature infant. Prior to this year, babies born between 37 and 42 weeks were considered full term and babies born before 37 weeks were considered premature. This meant that, though considered “late preterm”, a baby born at 36 weeks was still expected to be relatively healthy.
In 2013, The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Society for Maternal and Fetal Medicine redefined the definition of a full-term pregnancy as 39 to 40 completed weeks of gestation. This means that a baby born at 36 weeks has a greater risk of complications such as pneumonia, jaundice and infection than once expected. Its important that we advocate for changes in policy and practice based on this new information to ensure the best possible birth outcomes for women and children.
The LRN Group 