[{"Title":"Gestational age","UniqueID":"v36188858","Index":1.0,"Summary":"

Gestational age Gestational Age is defined as the number of weeks between the first day of the mother's last normal menstrual period and the day of delivery. More accurately, the gestational age is the difference between 14 days before the date of conception and the date of delivery. Gestational age is not the actual embryologic age of the fetus, but it is the universal standard among obstetricians and neonatologists for discussing fetal maturation.

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Birthweight","UniqueID":"v36188887","Index":2.0,"Summary":"

Preterm infants tend to be smaller than term infants. The Fenton growth charts provide a more precise assessment of growth vs gestational age (see figures and ).

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"General references","UniqueID":"v36188900","Index":3.0,"Summary":"

1. Hamilton BE, Martin JA, Osterman MJ: Births: Provisional Data for 2021. National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Vital Statistics Rapid Release Program, no 20. Hyattsville, MD. National Center for Health Statistics. 2022.

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Etiology","UniqueID":"v36188906","Index":4.0,"Summary":"

Preterm delivery may be

","HeadType":"F_Head","SchemeItemProp":"itemprop=\"cause\" itemscope itemtype=\"http://schema.org/MedicalCause\"","Children":[{"Title":"Obstetric risks or complications","UniqueID":"v36188914","Index":1.0,"Summary":"

Preterm delivery may be

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"itemprop=\"cause\" itemscope itemtype=\"http://schema.org/MedicalCause\"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Spontaneous preterm delivery","UniqueID":"v36188923","Index":2.0,"Summary":"

Preterm delivery may be

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"itemprop=\"cause\" itemscope itemtype=\"http://schema.org/MedicalCause\"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Etiology references","UniqueID":"v86137293","Index":3.0,"Summary":"

Preterm delivery may be

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"itemprop=\"cause\" itemscope itemtype=\"http://schema.org/MedicalCause\"","Children":[]}]},{"Title":"Complications","UniqueID":"v36188983","Index":5.0,"Summary":"

The incidence and severity of complications of prematurity increase with decreasing gestational age and birthweight. Some complications (eg, necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular hemorrhage) are uncommon in late preterm infants.

","HeadType":"F_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[{"Title":"Central nervous system (CNS)","UniqueID":"v36188995","Index":1.0,"Summary":"

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Ocular","UniqueID":"v36189028","Index":2.0,"Summary":"

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Infectious","UniqueID":"v36189051","Index":3.0,"Summary":"

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Pulmonary","UniqueID":"v36189073","Index":4.0,"Summary":"

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Gastrointestinal","UniqueID":"v36189040","Index":5.0,"Summary":"

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Cardiac","UniqueID":"v36188987","Index":6.0,"Summary":"

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Renal","UniqueID":"v36189063","Index":7.0,"Summary":"

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Metabolic","UniqueID":"v36189091","Index":8.0,"Summary":"

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Temperature regulation","UniqueID":"v36189117","Index":9.0,"Summary":"

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Complications references","UniqueID":"v36189111","Index":10.0,"Summary":"

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]}]},{"Title":"Diagnosis","UniqueID":"v36189125","Index":6.0,"Summary":"

Obstetric history and postnatal physical parameters

","HeadType":"F_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[{"Title":"Diagnosis reference","UniqueID":"v36189142","Index":1.0,"Summary":"

Obstetric history and postnatal physical parameters

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]}]},{"Title":"Preterm, Very Preterm, and Extremely Preterm Infants","UniqueID":"v36189148","Index":7.0,"Summary":"

A preterm infant is an infant born before 37 weeks of gestation. Very preterm infants are 28 to 31 6/7 weeks. Extremely preterm infants are < 28 weeks.

","HeadType":"E_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[{"Title":"Complications","UniqueID":"v36189152","Index":1.0,"Summary":"

A preterm infant is an infant born before 37 weeks of gestation. Very preterm infants are 28 to 31 6/7 weeks. Extremely preterm infants are < 28 weeks.

","HeadType":"F_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Symptoms and Signs","UniqueID":"v36189160","Index":2.0,"Summary":"

A preterm infant is an infant born before 37 weeks of gestation. Very preterm infants are 28 to 31 6/7 weeks. Extremely preterm infants are < 28 weeks.

","HeadType":"F_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Evaluation","UniqueID":"v36189163","Index":3.0,"Summary":"

A preterm infant is an infant born before 37 weeks of gestation. Very preterm infants are 28 to 31 6/7 weeks. Extremely preterm infants are < 28 weeks.

","HeadType":"F_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[{"Title":"NICU monitoring and screening","UniqueID":"v36189170","Index":1.0,"Summary":"

Serial physical examinations are important in monitoring infants' progress and detecting new problems (eg, respiratory problems, jaundice). Frequent weight assessments are necessary to optimize weight-based medication dosages and feeding.

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Later screening","UniqueID":"v36189194","Index":2.0,"Summary":"

Screening for retinopathy of prematurity Retinopathy of Prematurity is recommended for infants born ≤ 1500 g or ≤ 30 weeks of gestational age and for larger and more mature infants who have had an unstable clinical course. The first examination is done according to a schedule based on the infant's gestational age (see table ). Examinations are usually repeated at 1- to 3-week intervals depending on the initial findings and are continued until the retina is mature. Some of these follow-up examinations are done after the infant is discharged. The use of digital photographic retinal images is an alternate method of examination and follow-up in areas where a skilled examiner is not routinely available.

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Evaluation reference","UniqueID":"v36189241","Index":3.0,"Summary":"

1. Kaeppler C, Switchenko N, DiGeronimo R, Yoder BA: Do normal head ultrasounds need repeating in infants less than 30 weeks gestation? J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 29(15):2428-2433, 2016. doi: 10.3109/14767058.2015.1086741

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]}]},{"Title":"Treatment","UniqueID":"v36189277","Index":4.0,"Summary":"

A preterm infant is an infant born before 37 weeks of gestation. Very preterm infants are 28 to 31 6/7 weeks. Extremely preterm infants are < 28 weeks.

","HeadType":"F_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[{"Title":"Feeding","UniqueID":"v36189284","Index":1.0,"Summary":"

Feeding should be by nasogastric tube until coordination of sucking, swallowing, and breathing is established at about 34 weeks of gestation, at which time breastfeeding Breastfeeding is strongly encouraged. Most preterm infants tolerate breast milk, which provides immunologic and nutritional factors that are absent in cow’s milk formulas. However, breast milk does not provide sufficient calcium, phosphorus, and protein for very low-birthweight infants (ie, < 1500 g), for whom it should be mixed with a breast milk fortifier. Alternatively, specific preterm infant formulas that contain 20 to 24 kcal/oz (2.8 to 3.3 joules/mL) can be used.

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Hospital discharge","UniqueID":"v36189289","Index":2.0,"Summary":"

Preterm infants typically remain hospitalized until their medical problems are under satisfactory control and they are

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Treatment references","UniqueID":"v86137343","Index":3.0,"Summary":"

1. Narvey MR; Canadian Paediatric Society, Fetus and Newborn Committee: Assessment of cardiorespiratory stability using the infant car seat challenge before discharge in preterm infants (< 37 weeks' gestational age). Paediatr Child Health 21(3):155–162, 2016. doi: 10.1093/pch/21.3.155

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"itemprop=\"possibleTreatment\" itemscope itemtype=\"http://schema.org/MedicalTherapy\"","Children":[]}]},{"Title":"Prognosis","UniqueID":"v36189247","Index":5.0,"Summary":"

A preterm infant is an infant born before 37 weeks of gestation. Very preterm infants are 28 to 31 6/7 weeks. Extremely preterm infants are < 28 weeks.

","HeadType":"F_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Prevention","UniqueID":"v36189305","Index":6.0,"Summary":"

A preterm infant is an infant born before 37 weeks of gestation. Very preterm infants are 28 to 31 6/7 weeks. Extremely preterm infants are < 28 weeks.

","HeadType":"F_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Key Points","UniqueID":"v36189310","Index":7.0,"Summary":"

A preterm infant is an infant born before 37 weeks of gestation. Very preterm infants are 28 to 31 6/7 weeks. Extremely preterm infants are < 28 weeks.

","HeadType":"F_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"More Information","UniqueID":"v36189323","Index":8.0,"Summary":"

A preterm infant is an infant born before 37 weeks of gestation. Very preterm infants are 28 to 31 6/7 weeks. Extremely preterm infants are < 28 weeks.

","HeadType":"F_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]}]},{"Title":"Late Preterm Infants","UniqueID":"v36189329","Index":8.0,"Summary":"

An infant born between 34 and 36 6/7 weeks of gestation is considered late preterm.

","HeadType":"E_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[{"Title":"Complications","UniqueID":"v36189333","Index":1.0,"Summary":"

An infant born between 34 and 36 6/7 weeks of gestation is considered late preterm.

","HeadType":"F_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Evaluation","UniqueID":"v36189357","Index":2.0,"Summary":"

An infant born between 34 and 36 6/7 weeks of gestation is considered late preterm.

","HeadType":"F_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[{"Title":"Evaluation reference","UniqueID":"v36189373","Index":1.0,"Summary":"

1. Committee on Fetus and Newborn, Adamkin DH: Postnatal glucose homeostasis in late-preterm and term infants. Pediatrics 127(3):575–579, 2011. doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-3851

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]}]},{"Title":"Treatment","UniqueID":"v36189392","Index":3.0,"Summary":"

An infant born between 34 and 36 6/7 weeks of gestation is considered late preterm.

","HeadType":"F_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]},{"Title":"Prognosis","UniqueID":"v36189379","Index":4.0,"Summary":"

An infant born between 34 and 36 6/7 weeks of gestation is considered late preterm.

","HeadType":"F_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[{"Title":"Prognosis reference","UniqueID":"v36189386","Index":1.0,"Summary":"

1. Woythaler M: Neurodevelopmental outcomes of the late preterm infant. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med 24(1):54-59, 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.siny.2018.10.002

","HeadType":"G_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]}]},{"Title":"Key Points","UniqueID":"v36189403","Index":5.0,"Summary":"

An infant born between 34 and 36 6/7 weeks of gestation is considered late preterm.

","HeadType":"F_Head","SchemeItemProp":"","Children":[]}]}]