Question

Angeline was born several weeks before her due date. Although she was small, her birth weight was appropriate, based on time spent in the uterus. Angeline is a ________ infant.

A) small-for-date
B) small-for-weight
C) mature
D) preterm

Answer 1

Angeline is a preterm infant because she was born before the full term of pregnancy but had a birth weight that was appropriate for her gestational age.

Step-by-step explanation:

Angeline was born several weeks before her due date, but her birth weight was appropriate for the time she spent in the uterus. Given this information, Angeline is a preterm infant. A preterm infant is defined as one who is born before completing the full term of pregnancy, which typically ranges from 36 to 40 weeks after fertilization. Being preterm does not necessarily mean the infant's weight is not appropriate for their gestational age.

Infants like Angeline, who have a birth weight that is suitable for the time they have spent developing in the womb, are considered to have a weight that is appropriate for their gestational age. It is important to differentiate between a preterm infant and a small-for-date or small-for-gestational-age infant, which refers to a newborn who is smaller than the typical weight range for their gestational age, regardless of whether they were born preterm or at full term.