Development of infants born at 37 . weeks

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

Infants born at 37 weeks of gestation are considered early-term infants. Although early term infants closely resemble full term infants on the surface, they are at higher risk of health problems. A baby born at 37 weeks gestation will have how?

A normal pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks (280 days) from the first day of your last period (also called your last period) until your due date. The due date of a pregnant woman is the date on which the doctor predicts that she will give birth based on the first trimester ultrasound or the last menstrual period.
The American Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (also known as ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (also known as SMFM) define a full-term pregnancy as a pregnancy that lasts from 39 weeks 0 days to 40 weeks 6 days. This means that your pregnancy can range from 1 week before your due date to 1 week after your due date. Babies born at full term will have the best health status compared to babies born earlier or later.
ACOG and SMFM classify term pregnancies as follows:
Early-term: a fetus is born between 37 weeks 0 days and 38 weeks 6 days. Full-term: The fetus is born between 39 weeks 0 days and 40 weeks 6 days. Late-term: the fetus is born between 41 weeks 0 days and 41 weeks 6 days. Post-term: the fetus is born after 42 weeks 0 days. Previously, a normal pregnancy that could last from 37 to 42 weeks was called a term pregnancy. Previous evidence suggests that this 5-week period is a safe time for most fetuses to be born. In 2013, ACOG and SMFM updated their definitions of term pregnancy because research shows that every week of pregnancy is important for the health of the unborn baby. There are many important factors that can happen to the fetus during the last few weeks of pregnancy. For example, the fetal brain and lungs continue to develop.
Studies show that babies born between 37 weeks 0 days and 38 weeks 6 days (early full term) have a greater risk of health problems than those born at full term (later). 39 weeks). One of the reasons is the immaturity of the organs in these babies.

Babies born between 37 and 38 weeks, even though they are considered full term, are classified as early term because these babies have not yet fully matured their organs, especially the brain and breathing. Premature full-term infants look a lot like full-term infants, but they still face more risks than full-term infants.
Currently, the rate of early term pregnancy (37–38 weeks gestation) tends to increase and contributes significantly to reducing the overall gestational age of the newborn at birth. In the US, the mean gestational age at birth has decreased from 40 weeks of gestation in 1994 to 39 weeks of gestation in 2004.
Early term pregnancy is associated with an increased incidence of diseases such as respiratory distress syndrome, respiratory distress syndrome. transient rapidity in neonates and the need for ventilatory use, as well as an increased risk of infant mortality at 37 weeks compared with term neonates. For this reason, both the Royal Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG) and the American Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) choose to define term at 39 weeks' gestation to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes. in neonates born before full term (gestational age 39–40 weeks).
There is little evidence regarding the incidence of long-term complications in this group of early term pregnancies, particularly affecting cognitive function. A higher gestational age was associated with a lower risk of requiring special care and education at school. Studies show that in infants born at term is associated with better neurodevelopment, based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence.
The researchers found that these early term infants had a significantly higher risk of adverse outcomes compared with the term group. The researchers also found that delivery by elective cesarean section at this gestational age increased the risk of fetal death even higher, from the 9.7% risk of neonatal intensive care hospitalization ( NICU) for vaginal delivery increased to 19% for cesarean delivery. Some problems a 37-week-old infant may experience, including:
Difficulty breastfeeding (may not latch well, inability to coordinate sucking and swallowing, trouble sleeping) Poor weight gain and easy diarrhea breathing problems (slow absorption of lung fluid, easy to stop breathing) Susceptible to hypothermia Easy to get infections. Jaundice (two percent of term infants have jaundice, compared with 18 percent of premature term babies)

These infants need to be monitored more closely. They have twice the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, because babies don't have much muscle strength to support breathing, don't have much body fat, so they are prone to hypoglycemia and hypothermia. .
Besides, these babies may look healthy on the surface, but they have small differences from full-term babies. Research suggests there may be an increased risk of cognitive and emotional retardation.
In the early days, it is important to care for early term infants to recognize the risk of poor feeding and seek the support of a lactation consultant if you are breastfeeding. Breastfeeding or tube or intravenous feeding may be necessary. The baby's blood sugar and oxygen levels must be monitored. After the mother and baby are discharged from the hospital, regular check-ups and monitoring can be carried out, and parents should be instructed on danger signs and take them to a doctor immediately.

Because babies born at 37 weeks are still at risk for complications from immature organs. Therefore, it is quite possible for babies to be treated in the NICU, but this rate is much less than that of premature babies. This depends on the baby's birth weight and their overall health. Babies born to mothers who smoke, drink alcohol or abuse drugs are more likely to be born prematurely and have more health problems from birth. Children with respiratory symptoms such as pulmonary regurgitation syndrome may require supportive respiratory interventions for a period of time.
Initial treatment for a low-birth-weight premature full-term infant begins with care of the baby in the hospital NICU. These infants may have weakened immune systems and are more susceptible to illness than full-term infants. Breastfed babies receive antibodies from breast milk and can more easily avoid illness.
After the child is discharged from the hospital, it is important to feed the child regularly to help him gain weight. Take your child to see a pediatrician to help monitor his growth and development, keeping in mind the developmental milestones he or she needs to reach. If your child has long-term complications, you can talk to a specialist to best treat and manage the condition.

When a child has abnormal signs of health, parents can take the child to Vinmec Health system for timely examination and treatment.
As a key area of ​​Vinmec Health System, Pediatrics Department - Vinmec Times City International Hospital always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts thanks to the following advantages:
Gathering a team of leading doctors and nurses in Pediatrics: including leading experts, highly qualified (professor, associate professor, doctorate, master), experienced, worked in big hospitals like Bach Mai, 108.. The doctors are all well-trained, professional, have a heart - reach, understand young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.

Reference source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/