It is said that a baby is considered full term when it is born between weeks 37 and 42 of gestation, but between the two there is a huge period of time for the gestation of a human being. Nothing less than five weeks, a fundamental time for the development of the baby.
Obviously, being born in week 37 is not the same as being born in week 42 . That is why the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology decided a few years ago to introduce some changes in the definitions of what a full-term birth is.
According to the new definitions they have given:
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Babies born between 37 and 39 weeks are considered “early term .”
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Babies born between 39 and 41 weeks are considered “normal full-term .”
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Babies born between 41 and 42 weeks are considered “late term .”
Every day in the womb is essential
For their part, babies born before 37 weeks are considered premature, while those born beyond 42 weeks are considered post-term.
Between the two dates there are several weeks in which each day is essential for the baby’s development . A study published in the journal Human Reproduction that has analyzed data from 130 pregnant women concludes that the duration of labor, comparing normal deliveries, excluding preterm deliveries, can vary by up to 37 days .
Although both are considered at term, the differences at the baby’s developmental level are many. Babies born at week 37 are at greater risk than those born at week 40, as they have not benefited from essential days for their lungs to mature.
In addition, in the last weeks of pregnancy the baby increases approximately 200 grams per week , accumulates fat that will allow it to better regulate the temperature outside and to improve the functioning of the organs, among other things.
On the other hand, being born before week 39 is related to greater respiratory, hearing or learning complications, to name a few differences. Two weeks, one and even days, can be key in the development of the baby.
Not only for the maturation of your lungs and weight gain, staying in the womb until the baby decides when to be born is also essential for brain development, therefore they recommend not to advance labor if there are no clear reasons to do so. .
In addition, it is useful to clarify that induced deliveries and caesarean sections scheduled before week 39 are not considered normal term deliveries, and therefore are not recommended.
In Babies and more | The five phases of childbirth: what will happen at each moment explained step by step, Each week in the womb improves the cognitive development of the future baby, Pregnancy week by week: from conception to birth
