Christine,
Our hospital designates as "Near Term" any infant under 38 weeks and not in
the NICU.  We do treat these infants differently, monitering temperature,
respirations and heart rate every 4 hours, checking bilirubin and blood
sugars periodically, and doing a car seat study.  We have babies as young as
35 weeks and as small as 4 lbs 12 oz.  They don't behave like full term
babies and need extra breastfeeding support. 

We developed our guidelines from the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine
(protocol #10) at www.bfmed.org and from AWHONN at www.awhonn.org

We haven't been able to make any changes in the number of inductions.  Women
are delivered by scheduled appointment, and those who "walk in off the
street" can be made to feel like they have inconvenienced the staff.  

It's so sad.
Jeanne Mitchell
Austin, TX
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Christine Lichte
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2007 8:18 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: (37-39 weekers)

Hi. I searched the archives but was not able to get information on babies
born between 37 and 39 weeks. I thought I heard these babies are at risk
also for things such as jaundice, low glucose, breastfeeding problems.
There is a lot of info on babies born between 35 and 37 weeks.  We do so
many inductions and many babies are born around 38-39 weeks. Many moms seem
to think they only have to make it to 37 weeks. I need some information that
explains why it is important to let babies have a full gestation.  I know
some babies come on their own before 40 weeks, but I am referring to the
inductions. We are a level I nursery so we are not used to preterm babies.
It is ironic that we tend to treat our babies as completely full term when
most never see 40 weeks!  If we do have a baby deliver at 41 weeks (like we
had today) then it is because mom had little to no prenatal care so the doc.
couldn't schedule an induction! 
Thanks for your time.

Christine Lichte, IBCLC

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