The spelling of the term infant is straightforward enough, but its pronunciation can be a bit tricky. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is spelled /tɜrm ˈɪnfənt/. The first syllable is pronounced with an open-mid back unrounded vowel (represented by the symbol ɜ); the second syllable has a short i sound (represented by i); and the final syllable has the schwa sound (represented by ə). Overall, the term infant refers to a newborn baby who is born full-term and is not premature.
A term infant refers to a newborn baby who is born at or near the expected completion of a full-term pregnancy, typically between 37 and 42 weeks of gestation. This period of gestation is considered full term, as it encompasses the expected duration for a healthy pregnancy that allows the baby to fully develop and mature in the mother's womb.
In medical terms, a term infant is one who is born after completing a full 37 weeks of gestation, but before reaching 38 weeks. Term infants are considered to have completed their development in utero and are more likely to have fully functional organs and systems necessary for normal growth and development outside the womb.
These full-term infants are generally healthier and require fewer medical interventions compared to premature or preterm babies who are born before 37 weeks of gestation. Term infants typically have a higher birth weight and are less prone to complications associated with prematurity, such as respiratory distress syndrome, infection, and feeding difficulties.
Once a term infant is born, they are expected to exhibit the usual developmental milestones and establish regular feeding and sleeping patterns. They usually have mature reflexes and are capable of maintaining body temperature without external assistance.
In summary, a term infant is a newborn who has completed the full duration of a normal pregnancy, from 37 to 42 weeks, and is considered to have a higher likelihood of good health and development compared to premature infants.
The word "term infant" is derived from both the Latin and English languages.
The term "infant" comes from the Latin word "infans", which means "young child" or "baby". This developed into the Old French word "enfant" and eventually reached English as "infant" in the 14th century.
The word "term" in this context refers to the completion of a full gestational period during pregnancy. In medicine, a "term pregnancy" typically refers to a pregnancy that has reached 37 to 42 weeks of gestation, which is considered full-term. This usage of "term" originates from the Old English word "terme", which means "period" or "fixed time".