Low birth weight (LBW) is the term used for babies born weighing less than 2.5 kg. Most full-term newborns weigh around 2.6-3.8 kg.
A low birth weight baby may be healthy despite being small. However, low birth weight babies can also have many serious health problems.
Check out more details about low birth weight in this article!
Causes of low birth weight
The primary reason of low birth weight is typically premature birth, occurring before 37 weeks of gestation. Premature babies have less time in the mother's womb to grow and gain weight.
Most of the baby's weight is gained in the last weeks of pregnancy. IUGR, or impeded foetal growth, is another factor that can contribute to low birth weight.
This happens when the baby does not grow properly during pregnancy. It could be due to problems with the placenta, the mother's health, or the baby's health. Babies can suffer from IUGR and be:
- Full-term: meaning born at 37-41 weeks gestation. These infants may be anatomically developed but diminutive in size.
- Premature: these babies are still very small and physically immature.
What are the symptoms of low birth weight ?
Besides being characterized by a weight of less than 2,500 grams, other symptoms of LBW are:
- The baby's body is smaller than a normal weight baby.
- The baby's head is larger than the body
- The baby is thin with little body fat.
Does low birth weight cause problems for the baby ?
Yes, it can. Babies who weigh less than they should at birth are at greater risk of health problems than normal-weight babies.
Some require special care in a hospital's newborn intensive care unit (also called NICU) to overcome medical problems. These include:
- Respiratory problems, such as respiratory distress syndrome (also called RDS). Babies with RDS don't have a protein called surfactant that keeps the tiny air sacs in the baby's lungs from getting damaged. Treatment with surfactant helps these babies breathe more easily. Babies with RDS may also need oxygen and other breathing aids to keep their lungs functioning.
- Bleeding in the brain (also called intraventricular hemorrhage or IVH). Most brain bleeds are mild and go away on their own. More severe bleeding can cause pressure on the brain which can lead to fluid buildup in the brain. This can lead to brain damage. In some cases, the surgeon will place a tube into the baby's brain to drain the fluid.
- Patent ductus arteriosus. Patent Ductus Arteriosus occurs when the opening between the 2 main blood vessels coming from the heart does not close properly. This can cause extra blood to flow into the lungs. In many babies who have patent ductus arteriosus, the opening will close on its own within a few days after birth. Some babies require medication or surgery to close the opening.
- Necrotizing enterocolitis. This is a problem with the baby's intestines. The intestine is an elongated tube that forms an integral component of the digestive system. The digestive system facilitates the process of food decomposition in the body. Necrotizing enterocolitis poses a significant risk to infants and can result in feeding difficulties, abdominal enlargement, and various other issues. Babies suffering from necrotizing enterocolitis are treated with antibiotics and fed through an intravenous or IV tube. Some babies require surgery to remove the damaged part of the intestine.
- Retinopathy of prematurity. This eye disease occurs when a baby's retina does not fully develop within a few weeks after birth.
- Jaundice. This is a condition that makes the baby's eyes and skin appear yellow. This is caused by too much of a substance called bilirubin in the blood.
- Infection. The immune system protects the body from infections. In babies born too early, their immune system may not be fully developed and may not be able to fight infections.
What are the consequences ?
Low birth weight is caused by stunted fetal growth, prematurity, or both. It contributes to a range of adverse health outcomes; for example, it is associated with fetal and neonatal mortality and morbidity, stunted growth and cognitive development, and NCDs later in life.
Low birth weight babies are 20 times more likely to die than larger birth weight babies.
How to treat low birth weight
The doctor will determine the treatment required for low birth weight based on the gestational age, health condition of the pregnant mother, medical history and tolerance to medications, procedures or therapies.
The following treatments for low birth weight are usually done, among others:
- Treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the hospital
- Use of a temperature-controlled bed
- Specialized feeding, sometimes through an intravenous (IV) line or with a tube into the stomach if the baby is unable to breastfeed
- Babies born with low birth weight usually lag behind in physical growth, but this is fine as long as there are no other complications. These babies may be referred to other specialists for further treatment.
- How to prevent low birth weight
- Low birth weight can be prevented by doing the following:
- Have regular pregnancy check-ups
- Make sure the mother gets the right amount of calories and nutrients
- Manage blood sugar if the pregnant mother has diabetes
- Avoid smoking and alcohol.
If you have low birth weight problems, you can consult at Eka Hospital. This hospital presents an Obstetrics & Gynecology Service Center, namely the Neonatal Intensive Care Center (NICU).
Neonatal Intensive Care Center (NICU)
The Neonatal Intensive Care Center (NICU) is useful for intensive monitoring of vital signs, getting oxygen therapy, therapy through veins, and providing nutrition through devices.
Some of the facilities and services available include:
- LEVEL 1 facility: Infant care room/Mother's room, for low-risk infants.
- LEVEL 2 facility: Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) / Special Care Nursery (SCN), for high-risk infants
- LEVEL 3 facility: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), for high risk infants
Thank you for reading this article. Have a nice day.
