Is the development of a 32-week preterm infant the same as that of a full-term infant?

Preterm infants born at 32 weeks usually differ significantly from full-term newborns during early development, with noticeable differences. However, in later stages of growth and development, their progress becomes essentially similar.

Infants born at 32 weeks are considered preterm and typically have a birth weight below 2.5 kilograms due to their early delivery. In contrast, full-term infants generally weigh more than 2.5 kilograms at birth. After birth, preterm infants require incubator care because they lack the ability to maintain body temperature in normal environmental conditions. If the temperature is inadequate, they may develop cold injury syndrome (hard swelling). Additionally, their organs are often underdeveloped, making them susceptible to conditions such as hyaline membrane disease (respiratory distress syndrome), which is much less common in full-term infants. Moreover, while jaundice in full-term newborns usually resolves within 14 days, jaundice in preterm infants tends to last longer, potentially persisting for about 21 days.

As preterm infants grow, with careful and attentive care, their subsequent growth and development become fundamentally comparable to those of normal full-term infants.