Are babies born at 34 to 36 weeks gestation at risk for medical problems?
Late preterm infants are usually healthier than babies born earlier, and they are almost as likely as full-term babies to survive. Late preterm babies often weigh between 4 1/2 and 6 pounds, and they may still appear thinner than full-term babies. These babies remain at higher risk than full-term babies for newborn health problems, including breathing and feeding problems, difficulties regulating body temperature, and jaundice. These problems are usually mild, and most babies make a quick recovery. Most of these babies can be breast- or bottle-fed, although some (especially those with mild breathing problems) may need tube-feeding for a brief time. It is estimated that at 35 weeks gestation, the weight of the brain is only around 60 percent that of term infants. Late preterm babies are unlikely to develop serious disabilities resulting from premature birth, but they may be at increased risk for subtle learning and behavioral problems. Can medical problems in premature newborns be preve
