One risk factor for newborn resuscitation is gestational age less than:

Gestational age is a significant factor in newborn health and can greatly influence the need for resuscitation. Infants born before 36 weeks of gestation are considered preterm and are at higher risk for various complications, including respiratory distress, temperature instability, and poor feeding. These risks are due to the fact that preterm infants often have underdeveloped organs, particularly their lungs, which may not produce sufficient surfactant needed for proper lung function.

When a newborn is born at less than 36 weeks, there is a greater likelihood of requiring assistance in establishing effective breathing and maintaining adequate oxygenation. Guidelines in neonatal resuscitation emphasize the importance of recognizing these risks early, as timely intervention can improve outcomes in newborns requiring resuscitation.

Compared to the other gestational ages listed, being born at less than 36 weeks more clearly correlates with needing resuscitative measures, making it a critical threshold in the assessment of newborns at risk for complications. Infants born at earlier gestational ages, such as 30 weeks or 32 weeks, certainly have even higher risks but the distinction at less than 36 weeks provides a more inclusive criterion for identifying newborns who may need assistance in the immediate postnatal period.