Describe preterm and small-for-date infants. How are they different?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer: Preterm infants are born several weeks or more before their due date. Although they are small, their weight may still be appropriate, based on time spent in the uterus. Small-for-date infants are below their expected weight considering length of the pregnancy. Some small-for-date infants are full-term. Others are preterm babies who are especially underweight. Small-for-date infants—especially those who are also preterm—usually have more serious problems. During the first year, they are more likely to die, catch infections, and show evidence of brain damage. By middle childhood, they are smaller in stature, have lower intelligence scores, are less attentive, achieve more poorly in school, and are socially immature. Small-for-date infants are especially likely to suffer from neurological impairments that permanently weaken their capacity to manage stress. Severe stress, in turn, heightens their susceptibility to later physical and psychological health problems.