ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: As a level Illc NICU serving north central West Virginia, we have observed that many of our admissions of infants GA 33-37 weeks occurred on Friday. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution of delivery days for infants with GA between 33-37 wk. DESIGN/METHODS: Data of admitted infants are tracked through medical record from January 2002 to September 2006. The deliveries per day of the week (DOW) were compared. RESULTS: Of 1471 admission, the highest rate of delivery occurring on Fridays; lowest on Sundays. An unequal distribution of delivery DOW in infant GA 33-35 was observed, with the highest rate of delivery occurring on Wednesday. An unequal distribution of delivery DOW was also noted in infants with GA 36-37. However, Friday was noted as the most frequent DOW for delivery in this group. CONCLUSIONS: This Friday delivery phenomenon suggests delivery practices that may affect premature delivery, their morbidity and increased NICU occupancy.
