POSTMATURE INFANT Meaning and
Definition
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A postmature infant refers to a baby that is born after the typical gestational period of 37 to 42 weeks. This condition is also known as post-term pregnancy. The average length of pregnancy is 40 weeks, and when a baby is born beyond this period, it is called postmaturity. A postmature infant can have several characteristics that distinguish them from babies born at term.
One characteristic of a postmature infant is significantly slower growth rate as the baby continues to grow in the womb beyond the normal gestational period. This can result in a higher birth weight, longer length, and larger head circumference than babies born at full term.
Another feature of postmaturity is the presence of dry and wrinkled skin, which occurs due to the increased loss of protective vernix caseosa and amniotic fluid. Additionally, the baby may have an excess amount of hair and long fingernails.
Postmature infants are also at an increased risk of certain complications compared to babies born at term. These can include meconium aspiration syndrome, hypoglycemia, respiratory distress, low blood oxygen levels, reduced fat stores, and compromised feeding abilities.
Given the potential risks associated with postmaturity, close monitoring during pregnancy is crucial, and if postmaturity is suspected, interventions such as inducing labor or performing a cesarean section may be considered to ensure the well-being of both the mother and the baby.
Common Misspellings for POSTMATURE INFANT
- oostmature infant
- lostmature infant
- -ostmature infant
- 0ostmature infant
- pistmature infant
- pkstmature infant
- plstmature infant
- ppstmature infant
- p0stmature infant
- p9stmature infant
- poatmature infant
- poztmature infant
- poxtmature infant
- podtmature infant
- poetmature infant
- powtmature infant
- posrmature infant
- posfmature infant
- posgmature infant
Etymology of POSTMATURE INFANT
The etymology of the word "postmature" can be traced back to the combination of two Latin roots: "post" meaning "after" and "maturus" meaning "ripe" or "mature".
In medicine, the term "postmature infant" refers to a baby that is born after the typical period of gestation (around 40 weeks) has passed. These babies are considered overdue or born "after maturity". The term is used to describe infants who are born in a more advanced stage of development compared to the average term baby.
