Which term describes gestational age less than 35 weeks?

Which term describes gestational age less than 35 weeks?

• A. Late preterm
• B. Preterm
• C. Full term
• D. Post term

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how we label babies by how far along the pregnancy has progressed. Any birth before 37 weeks is considered preterm. Since “less than 35 weeks” falls before 37 weeks, the broad term that fits is preterm. Late preterm, which is roughly 34 to 36 6/7 weeks, is a narrower subset within preterm and would only apply if the gestational age is specifically in that range. Full term and post term refer to later gestational ages (around 39–40 weeks for full term, and beyond 42 weeks for post term), so they don’t describe births before 37 weeks.

The main idea here is how we label babies by how far along the pregnancy has progressed. Any birth before 37 weeks is considered preterm. Since “less than 35 weeks” falls before 37 weeks, the broad term that fits is preterm. Late preterm, which is roughly 34 to 36 6/7 weeks, is a narrower subset within preterm and would only apply if the gestational age is specifically in that range. Full term and post term refer to later gestational ages (around 39–40 weeks for full term, and beyond 42 weeks for post term), so they don’t describe births before 37 weeks.