Late-Preterm Infants: Close Enough to Term?

Course overview

The group of infants categorized as late-preterm are a growing public health concern. Although they may look like term newborns in appearance and weight, they have a greater risk for respiratory problems, temperature instability, hyperbilirubinemia, hypoglycemia, infection, apnea, feeding difficulties, breastfeeding failure, poor neurodevelopmental outcomes, and rehospitalization. In 2005, the National Institutes of Health recommended calling infants born between 34 0/7 weeks and 36 6/7 weeks late-preterm instead of near-term infants because their increased physiologic and metabolic immaturity reflected higher morbidity and mortality, and their special needs are often closer to those of premature infants. This course provides nurses with information about the incidence, etiology, identification, and care of late-preterm infants.