Do Outcome Parameters Differ in Babies Born at a Gestational Age of 36 and 37 Weeks?

Abstract

Background: The aim to compare aspects of Late-Preterm Birth at 36 GW and an Early-Term Birth at 37 GW and determine the connection of risk factors for both gestational ages during hospitalization.

Methods: This retrospective epidemiological study included 200 newborn babies of a gestational age of 36+0/7 GW to 37+6/7 GW who were treated at the Department for Intensive Care and Neonatology and their mothers during  in the period from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022.

Main findings: The mothers who gave birth in the 36th week of pregnancy were not significantly different according to age, parity, type of birth, abortion history and mode of conception from the mothers who gave birth in the 37th week of pregnancy. Furthermore, 80% of the newborn babies in both sample groups had good APGAR scores and birthweights, but only approximately 20 % had no pathological conditions and required no therapy, with approximately 30% of both sample groups having some neurological pathology when discharged.

Principal conclusion: It is crucial to recognize that there is no significant difference in the outcome of newborns with 36 and 37 GW and that they require significant medical multidisciplinary supervision by obstetricians and pediatricians.