Table 1.
Characteristics of human fetuses and premature infants
| Gestational age (weeks + days) | Postnatal age (days) | PMA (weeks + days) | Sex | Clinical diagnosis and death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preterm infants (PMA = 32–33 gw) | ||||
| More premature infants (26–27 gw, 26–49 d of postnatal age at death) | ||||
| 26 | 42 | 32 | Male | Clinical sepsis |
| 26 | 43 | 32 + 1 | Male | Necrotizing enterocolitis |
| 26 | 49 | 33 | Female | Necrotizing enterocolitis |
| 26 + 5 | 35 | 31 + 5 | Male | Necrotizing enterocolitis |
| 27 + 2 | 26 | 31 | Female | Necrotizing enterocolitis |
| Less premature infants (32–33 gw, <4 d of postnatal age at death) | ||||
| 33 | 2 | 33 + 2 | Male | Nonimmune hydrops |
| 31 + 6 | 1 | 32 | Male | Nonimmune hydrops |
| 33 | 1 | 33 | Female | Diaphragmatic hernia |
| 31 + 5 | 3 | 32 + 2 | Male | Ileal perforation, peritonitis |
| 33 | 1 | 33 | Female | Clinical sepsis and shock |
| Near-term infants (PMA = 37–40 gw) | ||||
| More premature infants (35–37 gw, 14–22 d of postnatal age at death) | ||||
| 36 | 8 | 38 + 3 | Female | Cardiomyopathy |
| 36 | 22 | 40 + 1 | Male | Culture negative sepsis |
| 35 | 14 | 37 | Female | Necrotizing enterocolitis |
| 36 | 14 | 38 | Male | Diaphragmatic hernia |
| 35 | 14 | 37 | Female | Clinical sepsis |
| Less premature infants (37–40 gw, 1–4 d of postnatal age at death) | ||||
| 37 | 2 | 38 + 2 | Male | Hypoplastic lung |
| 37 | 1 | 37 + 1 | Female | Diaphragmatic hernia |
| 37 | 1 | 37 + 1 | Female | Metabolic acidosis, undetermined cause |
| 40 | 1 | 40 + 1 | Male | Hypoplastic right heart |
| 38 | 4 | 38 + 2 | Male | Diaphragmatic hernia |