Why was the term "late preterm birth" conceived?

There are probably many reasons why we now have a category of newborn, the "late preterm"; those that have been born in this grey area between premature and term.  Research over the past decade has noted a trend with an increase in births during this time period as well as long term consequences for children that were born during this stage of development.  It was not until the two were put together, that specialists in Obstetrics and in particular Neonatology and Pediatrics realized that this group needed to be singled out and monitored more closely.  The Association of Women's Health, Obstetrics, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) has been instrumental in leading the way when they developed the guidelines for "Assessment and care of the late preterm infant.  Evidence-based clinical practice guideline" in 2010.  Visit this site and review the guideline.
http://www.guideline.gov/content.aspx?id=24066&search=late+preterm+infants

We will be discussing this guideline this week, share what you have learned and questions that you have about this group of newborns.

Designing a nursing course

 

Designing a new nursing related course.  What an opportunity; design a course that I feel will be beneficial to nursing students for the next decade.  I can think of a few that I would like to redesign, but starting from scratch, oh my!

I have been a nurse for almost 40 years; now this I cannot believe.  I still enjoy caring for my patients in the Neonatal ICU (NICU) and forming relationships with their families.  This area of nursing is seldom covered in nursing school; they do touch on newborn care.  So, I am leaning towards a course that goes into more detail in the care of a premature or ill newborn.  They frequently start out in the newborn nursery, but soon are transferred to the NICU when complications are detected.

The Late preterm or Near term newborn is a group of newborns of major concern these days with the increased number of babies that are born in this gray area between premature and term; 35-38 weeks gestation.  Usually newborns 35 weeks or older are given a chance to "prove themselves" in the newborn nursery.  All this means is that they are monitored more closely and given the chance to prove that they can maintain their temperature, feed adequately and not lose more than 9 % of their birth weight by 3 days of life.

This is sounding more promising already.  I am eager to begin this assignment.  Check out these website for information regarding this newly designated population.

http://www.uptodate.com/contents/late-preterm-infants
http://preemies.about.com/od/preemiehealthproblems/a/LatePretermBirth.htm