New Gestational Age Designations: Full Term Starts at 39 Weeks

AANP is a proud member of the National Child and Maternal Health Education Program Coordinating Committee working on an annually-selected topic related to maternal and child health. This year, the committee is getting the word out about new gestational age designations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. The ACOG committee opinion replaces the use of "term," which previously indicated gestation between 37 weeks and 42 weeks, with the following gestational age designations:

• Early term - 37 0/7 weeks through 38 6/7 weeks
• Full term - 39 0/7 weeks through 40 6/7 weeks
• Late term - 41 0/7 weeks through 41 6/7 weeks
• Postterm - 42 0/7 weeks and beyond

This change reflects a growing body of research findings, some of which has been led by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, showing that key developmental processes occur between 37 weeks and 39 weeks. Babies born at or after 39 weeks have better health outcomes compared to those born before 39 weeks.

Please share with your patients! Unless there's a health problem, reaching full term means 39 weeks, not 37. Free resources and information.

Source: AANP E-Bulletin