The Late Preterm: A Population at Risk.

Late preterm infants (LPIs) are born between 34 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks' gestation and account for 72% of all preterm births in the United States. Born as much as 6 weeks early, the LPI misses the critical growth and development specific to the third trimester. The loss of this critical period leaves the LPI physiologically and metabolically immature and prone to various morbidities. Common morbidities include respiratory complications, feeding difficulty, hypoglycemia, temperature instability, hyperbilirubinemia, and neurodevelopmental delays.