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.
Kathy,
ReplyDeleteI must say that I have enjoyed your blog very much and found it to be enlightening. I remember hearing the term "late preterm birth" and actually remember a discussion among my colleagues at the time of it being somewhat redundant. If a child was born less than 38 weeks, the child is preterm. If a child was over 38 weeks it was a term birth. The new term was something for us to think about as we would get infants that were "late preterm" in the NICU.
Kathy,
ReplyDeleteYet again you have peeked my interest. I had never heard the terminology of "late preterm". I just happened to be at a child birthing class with a friend and heard the instructor discussing how some OB's induce early and are recommending it. Is this putting mom at risk?