1. What is Adjusted Age in Pregnancy?

Adjusted age is the age a premature baby would be if they had been born on their due date. It accounts for prematurity when assessing developmental milestones and growth in infants born before 37 weeks gestation.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the adjusted age formula:

Where:

• \( \text{Chronological Age} \) — Actual age since birth in weeks
• \( \text{Due Date} \) — Expected date of delivery
• \( \text{Birth Date} \) — Actual date of birth

Explanation: The formula subtracts the weeks of prematurity from the chronological age to determine developmental age equivalent.

3. Importance of Adjusted Age Calculation

Details: Adjusted age is crucial for proper assessment of premature infants' growth and development, preventing inappropriate comparisons with full-term infants.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the baby's current age in weeks, the original due date, and actual birth date. All values must be valid (age > 0, birth date before due date for premature infants).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How long should adjusted age be used?
A: Typically until 2-3 years corrected age, though some developmental assessments may use it longer for extremely premature infants.

Q2: Does adjusted age affect vaccination schedules?
A: No, vaccinations should be given based on chronological age, not adjusted age.

Q3: What's the difference between corrected age and adjusted age?
A: They are essentially the same - both terms refer to age accounting for prematurity.

Q4: How does this affect developmental milestones?
A: Premature infants should be expected to reach milestones closer to their adjusted age rather than chronological age.

Q5: When can I stop adjusting for prematurity?
A: Most children catch up developmentally by age 2, though extremely premature infants may take longer.