Evaluation of preterm delivery between 32-33 weeks of gestation

Preterm labor after 34 weeks of gestation has shown no great difference from full-term labor in terms of neonatal morbidity and mortality when proper antepartum management (antibiotics or steroids treatment) is done. However, various studies have discussed different views on the risks and safety of preterm delivery at 32(+0)-33(+6) weeks of gestation. We evaluated the complications of different preterm groups that included the neonates born at 32(+0)-33(+6) weeks of gestation (142), stratified randomly selected neonates born at 34(+0)-36(+6) weeks of gestation (267) and neonates born after 37(+0) weeks of gestation (356) at our hospital between December 1999 and April 2006. As a result, it was found that neonates born at 34(+0)-36(+6) weeks of gestation showed no great difference from infants born at full term. However, neonates born at 32(+0)-33(+6) weeks were more likely to be admitted to neonatal intensive care unit or develop neonatal complications significantly than the neonates born at 34(+0)-36(+6) weeks and at full term. Therefore, it is suggested that neonates born at 32(+0)-33(+6) weeks have higher risk of neonatal complications following their preterm labor than those born at later than 34(+0) weeks. Thus, it would be difficult to accept the idea that preterm labor at 32(+0)-33(+6) weeks is safe.