Late Preterm Infants

Course overview

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends calling infants born between 34 0/7 weeks and 36 6/7 weeks late-preterm instead of near-term because their physiologic and metabolic immaturity cause higher morbidity and mortality; their special needs are often closer to those of premature rather than term infants. This group of infants, categorized as late-preterm, are a growing public health concern. Although they may look like term newborns in appearance and weight, late-preterm infants (LPI) have a greater risk for respiratory problems, temperature instability, hyperbilirubinemia, hypoglycemia, infection, apnea, feeding difficulties, breastfeeding failure, poor neurodevelopmental outcomes, and rehospitalization. The goal of this course is to provide nurses with an overview of the risks and common complications of late-preterm infants and ways to provide collaborative care across healthcare disciplines.