In thinking about outcomes of preterm infants, it
is useful to consider the two major differences
between preterm and term infants. First, preterm
infants are born early and thus must deal with the
extrauterine environment with immature organ systems.
In addition many of these systems, especially
the central nervous system, are still undergoing
major development. Second, preterm infants spend
their last weeks or months of gestation in a different
environment.