Patient's question:
The child from our relative's family was born at full term, so we call him a full-term little one. I've heard a saying that full-term little ones aren't smart. Is there any scientific basis for this? How come full-term little ones aren't smart?Doctor's answer:
A full-term baby refers to an infant whose birth weight is below the average weight of infants with the same gestational age by 10%, while a full-term baby (gestational age of 37 weeks, 42 weeks) weighs more than 2500 grams. The infant may be a result of intrauterine growth restriction. These infants have sufficient gestational age at birth but have low postnatal capabilities. They are prone to congenital abnormalities, such as meconium aspiration, hypothermia, polycythemia, hypoglycemia, and intrauterine infection. Particularly, developmental, neurobehavioral, and intellectual delays.