The Early Term Infant is defined as an infant born between 37 0/7 and 38 6/7 weeks’ gestation, whereas late preterm infants are born between 35 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks’ gestation.
According to the updated Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine protocol #10 entitled ‘Breastfeeding the Late Preterm and Early Term Infants, Second Revision 2016’, early term infants have more health risks as compared to full term infants, born between 39 0/7 and 41 6/7 weeks.
In the last decade many US hospitals have changed their standard orders for the care of late preterm infants due to their higher risks of hypothermia, low blood sugar, high bilirubin, poor feeding resulting in dehydration, and sepsis.
This updated protocol recognizes that early term infants are more prone to high bilirubin levels, hospital readmission, and decreased breastfeeding initiation and duration. In addition, early term infants born via Cesarean birth have a higher risk of neonatal intensive care unit admission, sepsis, respiratory problems, and hypothermia.