preterm

[ pree-turm ]

adjective

1. occurring earlier in pregnancy than expected; premature:

   preterm labor.

noun

1. a baby born prematurely, especially one born before the 37th week of pregnancy and weighing less than 5½ pounds (2.5 kilograms).

preterm

/ ˌpriːˈtɜːm /

adjective

1. (of a baby) born prematurely

adverb

1. prematurely

Word History and Origins

Origin of preterm¹

First recorded in 1925–30; pre- + term

Example Sentences

So if a pregnant woman skips an appointment or an exam, there’s a possibility that a problem in her pregnancy that could lead to a preterm birth will go undetected.

From MIT Technology Review

“This is a three-pound baby, not a six-to-12-pound baby,” Glenn said, explaining that preterm labor is usually faster given the baby’s small size.

From Washington Post

The hospital patient database has gaps that complicated any analysis of extremely preterm babies’ outcomes.

From ProPublica

Medicaid records indicate that some extremely preterm babies wind up at New Mexico hospitals that are not equipped to care for them.

From ProPublica

The group declined the news organizations’ request for mortality rates of extremely preterm babies at Lovelace and Presbyterian.

From ProPublica

“I went into preterm labor at 22 weeks with my son… I hope one day we both can have healthy babies,” a woman writes.

From The Daily Beast

And a 2010 study found a link between women who drank diet soda while pregnant and the risk of preterm delivery.

From The Daily Beast