What is the gestational age for a premature baby?

The gestational age for a premature baby is considered to be anything less than 37 weeks. Therefore, an answer indicating 37 weeks is actually the cutoff point and would categorize babies born at that age as not being premature. A baby born before 37 weeks is considered premature, which means that gestational ages of 35 weeks and lower fall into the category of premature births.

For context, a full-term pregnancy typically lasts about 40 weeks, with different periods of early and late premature classifications. Therefore, gestational ages of 39 weeks and 40 weeks are well beyond the range that identifies a baby as premature. Recognizing the correct gestational age helps in understanding the development stages and potential health considerations for a baby that is born early.