[The classification of newborn infants with reference to length of gestation and birth weight]

Classification of newborns by birth weight and length of gestation has proved to meet both clinical and scientific demands. Classification by these criteria was applied to 16,888 newborns at the Regional Hospital of Schwerin, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, between 1969 and 1977. Particular attention was given to statistical treatment of the inhomogeneous group of infants of low birth weight. Analysis of this kind is proposed at national level, depending on improvement of postpartum diagnosis.