Follow-up recommendations for the late preterm infant Recomendaciones de seguimiento del prematuro tardío

The population of late preterm infants (PT), those born between 34 + 0 and 36 + 6 weeks of gestation, accounts for 70-74% of all premature infants, and is not specifically included in most of the follow-up protocols for preterm infants. For many years, PTs have been handled as if they were term newborns, which has led to a limited knowledge of their outcome in the medium and long term. Their neonatal morbidity is associated with a higher incidence of postnatal complications, with an increased rate of hospital re-admissions due to malnutrition, hyperbilirubinaemia, and respiratory problems, when compared to term infants. Cerebral immaturity may be the main cause of the deficits observed in the long-term neurodevelopment of this population, making them more vulnerable. Several issues have been described, such as delays or disabilities in the pre-school stage, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, intellectual disability, schizophrenia, and psychological development of behavioural and emotional disorders. The SEN34-36 Group of the Spanish Society of Neonatology, in collaboration with the Spanish Association of Primary Care Paediatrics, have developed these follow-up recommendations with the main objective of reducing the impact of prematurity on PT development. The secondary objectives of the document are to make neonatologists and paediatricians aware of the risks of sequelae of PTs, to determine and unify the evaluations and / or interventions that should be carried out, to offer clinical follow-up tools for the early detection of developmental delays, and to coordinate the care by all the professionals involved

Recomendaciones de seguimiento del prematuro tardío.

The population of late preterm infants (PT), those born between 34+0 and 36+6 weeks of gestation, accounts for 70-74% of all premature infants, and is not specifically included in most of the follow-up protocols for preterm infants. For many years, PTs have been handled as if they were term newborns, which has led to a limited knowledge of their outcome in the medium and long term. Their neonatal morbidity is associated with a higher incidence of postnatal complications, with an increased rate of hospital re-admissions due to malnutrition, hyperbilirubinaemia, and respiratory problems, when compared to term infants. Cerebral immaturity may be the main cause of the deficits observed in the long-term neurodevelopment of this population, making them more vulnerable. Several issues have been described, such as delays or disabilities in the pre-school stage, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, intellectual disability, schizophrenia, and psychological development of behavioural and emotional disorders. The SEN34-36 Group of the Spanish Society of Neonatology, in collaboration with the Spanish Association of Primary Care Paediatrics, have developed these follow-up recommendations with the main objective of reducing the impact of prematurity on PT development. The secondary objectives of the document are to make neonatologists and paediatricians aware of the risks of sequelae of PTs, to determine and unify the evaluations and / or interventions that should be carried out, to offer clinical follow-up tools for the early detection of developmental delays, and to coordinate the care by all the professionals involved

Apoyo a la lactancia materna en Atención Primaria

La leche humana se reconoce como el alimento idóneo para todos los niños por sus probados beneficios en la salud de la madre y del niño. La Organización Mundial de la Salud recomienda la lactancia materna exclusiva durante los primeros seis meses de la vida y, al menos hasta los dos años, complementada con otros alimentos. Esta recomendación se extiende a los recién nacidos enfermos y prematuros, salvo raras excepciones. Las pruebas sobre el efecto protector de la lactancia materna en la salud del niño y de la madre son muy robustas en relación con catorce enfermedades, nueve infantiles y cinco maternas. El apoyo a la lactancia materna desde Atención Primaria tiene un efecto favorable y consistente, con un riesgo de efectos adversos mínimo y que precisa una disponibilidad de recursos asumibles. En los centros de salud se sugiere implantar las prácticas recomendadas por la Academia Americana de Pediatría o los siete pasos de la Iniciativa de Humanización de la Asistencia al Nacimiento y Lactancia para prolongar la lactancia materna. Se sugiere formar a los médicos en lactancia materna, implicar a enfermeras consultoras en lactancia y favorecer el apoyo entre pares para prolongar la lactancia materna