Babies born between 32 and 36 weeks gestation face higher risks of brain development challenges than those delivered at full term, typically around 39 to 40 weeks. A large-scale study published in BMJ explored this issue, offering a comprehensive look at developmental outcomes linked to earlier birth. The researchers drew on health records from nearly 1.3 million Swedish children who did not have congenital defects, spanning births from 1988 to 2012. Over an average follow-up period of about 13 years, more than 75,000 children were diagnosed with at least one developmental condition, underscoring the long-term implications of prematurity for neurodevelopment. The findings help clinicians and families understand how gestational age may correlate with later developmental trajectories, even when other health factors appear stable at birth.
