Question

An infant is considered to be premature if it:

A. is born before 38 weeks' gestation or weighs less than 6 lb.
B. weighs less than 5.5 lb or is born before 37 weeks' gestation.
C. is born before 40 weeks' gestation or weighs less than 7 lb.
D. weighs less than 5 lb or is born before 36 weeks' gestation.

Answer 1

An infant is considered premature if it weighs less than 5.5 lb or is born before 37 weeks gestation. Low birth weight increases the risk of mortality and developmental delays. Pre-term birth means infants have spent less time growing in the uterus.

Step-by-step explanation:

The average birth weight for a full-term infant, defined as 36-40 weeks after fertilization, is approximately 7.5 lb (3.4 kg), and by 37 weeks, the fetus's organ systems are developed enough to survive outside the uterus without many of the risks associated with premature birth. Accordingly, the correct answer to the given question is B. weighs less than 5.5 lb or is born before 37 weeks gestation.