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Preterm Vs. Premature

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has found that premature births account for more than one-third of infant deaths in their first year of life and complications from prematurity are the number one killer of infants in this country. Preterm infants are those who are born before they reach full-term status, 37 weeks, but not all infants born prior to this point are physiologically premature. While often used interchangeably by both laypeople and medical personnel, some significant differences can exist between a preterm baby and a premature one.

  1. History

    • At one point in time, doctors defined all low birth weight infants as preterm. As research evolved, it became clear that weight and size were not the only issues differentiating babies born early from their full-term counterparts. A very small baby might be born at a normal time with no complications while a preterm infant can be quite large but face significant health issues due to their early arrival.

    Significance

    • While many people automatically assume that a baby born after 37 weeks will be mature and one born prior to 37 weeks will have complications due to prematurity, this isn't necessarily true. A full-term infant can suffer from complications if her lungs or other organs aren't developed sufficiently, and a moderately preterm infant can be as physiologically mature as one born at term. The PrematurityPrevention.org factsheet defines the two terms like this: "Preterm means the baby is delivered before (pre-) the time for term. Premature means the baby is born before (pre-) it has had time to fully develop or "mature"--which takes about 40 weeks."

    Time Frame

    • According to the March of Dimes, full-term is considered 37 to 42 weeks. Babies born outside of those ranges are considered pre- or post-term. The CDC breaks the designations down further by defining them as "very preterm," which means they were born prior to 32 weeks gestation or "moderately preterm," which is used to designate those born between 32 and 36 weeks gestation.

    Considerations

    • While some infants born before 37 weeks are mature enough to do well without any type of specialized medical interventions, many others need significant help to survive and thrive. A research study published in the August 2004 issue of Pediatrics magazine found that babies born near term at 35 to 36 weeks gestation can still experience a wide range of health problems, including increased rates of jaundice and low blood sugar levels. The medical community tends to use these terms interchangeably because the costs of being born early can be quite severe for many babies, and there is no way of predicting which babies will do well when born before 37 weeks and which will face severe health issues.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Since research studies repeatedly show that the healthiest babies are those born after 37 weeks gestation, it's important to avoid the complications due to preterm birth or prematurity if at all possible. The March of Dimes urges all doctors to avoid scheduling routine C-sections or inductions before women have reached the 39th week of their pregnancy. Women should pay close attention to their symptoms and contact their care provider immediately if they suspect they are in labor prior to 37 weeks.

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