Higher risk for adverse health outcomes in babies born between weeks 37 and 38, compared to those born between weeks 39 and 41

Early born babies are more predisposed to low blood sugar, respiratory problems and cesarean section. Early born babies are considered to be those born in weeks 37 and 38, after the last menstrual cycle of the mother. A study published by University of Buffalo in JAMA Pediatrics proves that many of these babies aren’t healthy. “Our results show the need for an increased awareness among health care providers that even though we consider babies born at 37 or 38 weeks almost term, they are still, to a large extent, physiologically immature”, says Shaon Sengupta, MD, corresponding author and formerly a UB medical resident in the Department of Pediatrics and Women and Children`s Hospital of Buffalo. The findings “…have important implications for obstetric and neonatal care and research. The findings reinforce the concept that maturation is a continuum and any preset gestational age cannot be assumed to provide a clear separation between immaturity and mature”, said William Oh of Brown University and Tonse N.K. Raju of the Eunice Kennedy Shiver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The senior author of this study is Satyan Lakshminrusimha, MD, associate professor of pediatrics in the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and chief. Adverse outcomes encountered by early born babies include hypoglycemia, need for respiratory support or intravenous fluids, intravenous antibiotics or intubation.