[Recommendations for the perinatal management and follow up of late preterm newborns]

Abstract

Prematurity is the main reason for neonatal morbidity and mortality, and has become one of the greatest problems in public health, especially in developed countries. Prematurity rate has increased during the last 2 decades. This increase may be attributed to late preterm babies, that is, those with a gestational age between 34(+0) and 36(+6) weeks. Perinatal morbidities, as well as long term complications, are more frequent in this population than in term babies. The incidence is more similar to the one observed in earlier premature babies. The SEN34-36 group of the Spanish Society of Neonatology suggests these recommendations for the management of late preterm babies. Strategies are offered not only for the early detection of possible complications, but also for the correction of these morbidities, and from the point of view of a family and development centered care. Follow up is strongly recommended due to the high rate of late morbidities.

Keywords: Follow up; Late preterm; Morbimortalidad neonatal; Neonatal morbidity and mortality; Prematuridad; Prematurity; Prematuro tardío; Seguimiento.