Delivery of the marginally preterm infant: What are the minor morbidities?

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine frequencies of minor morbidities associat ed with delivery between 32 and 36 weeks' gestation. STUDY DESIGN: The study population consisted of all infants delivered betwe en 32 and 36 weeks' gestation at a tertiary care hospital during 1997. Mate rnal and neonatal charts were abstracted for maternal history, pregnancy co mplications, and neonatal demographics comparing complications present at e ach gestational week. The Student t test, chi(2) analysis, and stepwise reg ression analysis were used to assess statistical significance. Odds ratios were calculated. RESULTS: There were 553 patients eligible for study. There was increased ri sk of neonatal intensive care unit admission with delivery before 34 weeks' gestation (P < .04). An increased incidence of feeding difficulties was pr esent before 35 weeks' gestation (P < .001). Hypothermia remained more freq uent until 35 weeks' gestation (P < .05). Delivery at 35 weeks' gestation d id not increase the mean number of neonatal hospital days. CONCLUSION: Although the incidences of major morbidities decline after 32 w eeks' gestation, minor morbidities continue up to 35 to 36 weeks' gestation and may lengthen neonatal hospitalization.