Clinical outcomes for babies born between 27 – 31 weeks of gestation: Should they be regarded as a single cohort?

Preterm babies born between 27 and 31 weeks of gestation are understudied and historically, have been grouped as a single cohort. Increased evidence relating to clinical outcomes is shaping models of care for babies born ≤26 weeks of gestation. Similar consideration of births between 27 and 31 weeks of gestation is now warranted. To address this, a clear understanding of the impact of progressive maturation in utero on the clinical care required, and on neonatal and infant outcomes of this group of preterm babies is helpful.