Complications of the Late Preterm Infant

Abstract

One of the goals of Healthy People 2010 (set in 1998) was to reduce preterm birthrates from 11.6% to 7.6%. However, in 2004, the preterm birthrate of 12.5% was actually higher than the rate in 1998. Approximately 65% of this increase in prematurity rate is attributed to the increasing birthrate of the late preterm infant. Care of the late preterm infant is far more complicated than many hospital policies and clinical guidelines imply. It cannot be stressed enough to frontline clinicians that late preterm infants are not full-term infants. Their care should not be defined by the same policies and practices that govern term infants. The purpose of this article is to explore the complications that accompany late preterm birth. The following complications will be discussed: thermoregulation challenges, feeding difficulty, late neonatal sepsis, prolonged physiologic jaundice, hypoglycemia, possible neurodevelopmental differences, and respiratory problems.

Breast Milk and Glucose for Pain Relief in Preterm Infants: A Noninferiority Randomized Controlled Trial

“…1 However, studies demonstrate higher morbidity of late preterm compared with healthy term neonates 2,3 and indicate that late preterm infants are at risk for prematurity-related complications such as hypothermia, hypoglycemia, respiratory distress, jaundice, and feeding difficulties, among other problems. 4,5 Monitoring of glycemic control through heel lancing during the first 24 to 48 hours of life is a common intervention for late preterm infants. Although minimally invasive, lancing is a painful procedure that activates cortical areas in term and preterm infants' brains.…”

Changes in physiological and behavioral parameters of preterm infants undergoing body hygiene: a systematic review

“…PTI demonstrate failure to maintain body temperature, which can lead to complications such as hypoglycemia, respiratory distress and failure in the proper establishment of breastfeeding (16) .…”

Management of the Late Preterm Infant

“…A report from Kaiser noted that the mean length of stay for a 34-week gestational age infant was 5.9 days compared with 1.8 days for term infants. 9 The increased length of stay is also associated with higher birth hospitalization costs compared with term infants (5-6 fold higher).…”