Early discharge is not recommended due to the multi-
ple morbidity risks associated with late-preterm infants. In
a retrospective chart review of 235 late-preterm infants,
40% of the infants experienced a prolonged hospital stay;
75% of the 34-week gestation infants and 25% of the 36-
week gestation infants experienced prolonged hospital
stays due to oxygen need, phototherapy for hyperbiliru-
binemia, hypothermia, need for nasogastric feedings, or
antibiotic administration greater than three days (Pulver et
al., 2010). In a large multi-site study, Shapiro-Mendoza et al.
(2008) found that 22.2% of the 26,170 late-preterm births
had experienced at least one complication that could lead
to a prolonged hospital stay, compared to 3% of the
377,638 term infants; the 34-week gestation age group had
the highest morbidity (51%), and the percentage gradually
decreased with each advancing week, down to 5.9% mor-
bidity at 37 weeks gestation.