Have you ever heard that a newborn baby is underweight? When you hear such news, you feel a little scared and curious, right? "Why did that happen? Will the baby be okay?" Many questions come to mind. So today we are going to talk about this condition called Low Birth Weight . This is something that many parents need to know.
What is Low Birth Weight?
Simply put, if your newborn baby weighs less than 2500 grams (that's 2.5 kilograms or 5 pounds 8 ounces) , that's what we call low birth weight. This is the weight that the baby is weighed at birth.
On average, about 80 out of 100 babies born at term (between 37 and 41 weeks of gestation) weigh between 2,600 grams (2.6 kg) and 3,800 grams (3.8 kg).
But here's the thing, just because a baby is born with a low birth weight doesn't mean that they will be a low-weight baby when they grow up. In fact, some babies with low birth weight are healthy even though they are small.
However, a baby's birth weight can help doctors decide if they need special care right after birth. This is because some babies can have serious health problems due to low birth weight. If your baby is very small at birth, it may be harder for him to eat, gain weight, and fight off illnesses . Some babies may also have long-term health problems.
How common is this condition?
Low birth weight babies are being born all over the world, including in our country. For example, in the United States, about one in every 12 babies born in 2021 was born with a low birth weight. That's about 8.52% of live births. So this is not that uncommon.
What are the symptoms of low birth weight?
Babies born with a low birth weight appear much smaller than healthy, normal-weight babies. Also, the baby's head may appear larger than the rest of the body. They may also appear thin because they have less body fat.
What causes low birth weight?
There are two main causes of low birth weight. They are:
1. Premature birth
2. Fetal growth restriction
Premature birth
A premature birth, or ``Preterm birth``, is when your baby is born before the 37th week of pregnancy. A premature birth means that your baby has not had enough time to develop and gain weight inside your uterus. This is because a baby gains most of its weight in the last few weeks of pregnancy.
Fetal growth restriction
Another major cause is fetal growth restriction, or what doctors call ``Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)''. This is when a baby is unable to grow and gain weight as much as they should while in the womb. Sometimes, the baby can be born small because the parents are small. This is normal.
But some babies develop IUGR because something interferes with their growth during pregnancy. This can be caused by:
- Placenta Problems: The baby receives the nutrients and oxygen it needs through the placenta. So, if there is any problem with the placenta, it will affect the baby's development.
- Your health: Some illnesses the mother has during pregnancy (e.g. high blood pressure, diabetes) can affect the baby's development.
- The baby's health: Sometimes, growth can be stunted due to a genetic condition or infection in the baby.
What are the risk factors that affect this?
There are several factors that increase your risk of having a low birth weight baby. Here are some of them:
- Chronic illnesses you have during pregnancy: For example, if you have a long-term illness like diabetes mellitus or high blood pressure.
- Infections during pregnancy: Some infections can affect the baby's development.
- Using certain medications during pregnancy: Do not take any medication during this time without the advice of a doctor.
- Using things like alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy: These are very harmful to the baby.
- Not gaining enough weight or not maintaining weight during pregnancy: Eating a balanced diet is very important.
- Conceiving more than one baby (Multiples): This risk is higher when you are expecting twins or triplets.
- Exposure to lead or air pollution.
- Mothers under 17 or over 35 years old.
- Preterm labor.
"Not everyone who has all of these risk factors will have a low birth weight baby. Also, someone who doesn't have any of these factors can still have a low birth weight baby. So don't panic, but it's important to be aware of this."
What are the complications of this condition?
Babies born with a low birth weight are at higher risk of developing certain health problems. Their small bodies are not as strong as those of babies born with a normal birth weight. They may have difficulty eating, gaining weight, and fighting off illnesses . Also, babies with a low birth weight have less body fat, making it harder for them to stay warm .
The lower the baby's birth weight, the higher the risk of complications. Some of these problems that can occur early on include:
- Low oxygen levels at birth.
- Infections.
- Jaundice.
- Breathing difficulties: Especially Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome (IRDS), a respiratory disease caused by immature lungs.
- Nervous system problems: For example, bleeding inside the brain (Intraventricular Hemorrhage - IVH) may occur.
- Digestive system problems: Conditions such as ``Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)``, which causes severe damage to the intestinal tissue.
There is also a higher risk of developing long-term problems :
- Delays in motor and social development: This means that things like walking and talking may be a little late.
- Learning differences.
- Health conditions that can occur as you grow older: things like high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
How to identify low birth weight?
When you go to the clinic during your pregnancy, your doctor will use various methods to get an idea of your baby's size. One way is to track your weight gain. Another is to measure the `fundal height` . This is the distance from the top of the uterus to the pubic bone. Your doctor will also use an `(ultrasound)` scan to check the growth and development of the baby.
Within the first few hours after birth, a doctor will weigh the baby. They will compare the baby's weight with the gestational age and record it in the medical record. A baby weighing less than 2500 grams (2.5 kilograms) is called low birth weight, and a baby weighing less than 1500 grams (1.5 kilograms) is called very low birth weight .
How is low birth weight treated?
Your baby's doctor will decide what treatment is needed for a low birth weight baby. They will decide on this treatment based on your baby's:
- Gestational age.
- Overall health status.
- Medical history.
- Depending on the degree of tolerance to medications, medical procedures, or treatments .
Treatment for low birth weight usually includes:
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) care: This is the intensive care unit for newborns.
- Placing a baby in a temperature-controlled bed: This is very important because it is difficult for young babies to maintain their body temperature.
- Special feeding: Sometimes, if the baby is unable to suckle, milk is given as a liquid through an intravenous (IV) line or a tube placed in the stomach.
- Treatment required for other complications.
Babies born with a low birth weight, unless there are other complications, usually catch up with other babies in terms of physical development over time. Depending on your baby's condition, your doctor may refer them to a specialist for further treatment.
What happens if my baby is born with a low birth weight?
If your baby is born with a low birth weight, he may need special care in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) . He will stay in the NICU until he gains enough weight and the doctors think he is well enough to go home.
The survival rate of a low birth weight baby depends on its weight at birth. Babies weighing less than 500 grams (0.5 kg) have the lowest chance of survival. However, advances in medical science have made it possible to save even very small babies.
When you see your little one in the NICU, you will feel very sad and scared. That is normal. But trust your baby's doctors. They will do everything they can to help your baby gain weight and get him ready to go home from the hospital.
Can low birth weight be prevented?
Yes, you can help prevent your baby from being born with a low birth weight. Be careful of these things during your pregnancy:
- Go to the clinic on time (Regular checkups): Follow the doctor's instructions exactly.
- Get the right amount of calories and nutrition: Eat a balanced, nutritious diet.
- If you have diabetes, control your blood sugar levels.
- Completely avoid using alcohol and tobacco.
How do I take care of my baby?
If your baby was born with a low birth weight, ask your doctor what you can do to help him gain weight and stay healthy. As your baby gets older, make sure he is eating healthy foods and playing and being active . It is also important to take him to the clinic on time for his vaccinations .
By going to the clinic regularly, your baby's doctor can identify health conditions that could cause problems as he grows up. Vaccinations can also protect your baby from dangerous diseases.
What questions should I ask my doctor?
You can ask your doctor questions like these:
- What can I do to reduce the risk of having a low birth weight baby?
- If my baby was born with a low birth weight, what can I do to help him gain weight?
- Will my baby have serious problems due to low birth weight?
- Does my child need any tests or medical procedures?
- What treatment do you recommend for my child?
- Does my child need to take any medicine?
Finally, remember (Take-Home Message)
Some babies with low birth weight are small and healthy. But your newborn's birth weight can help doctors decide if he or she needs special care right after birth. Some babies can have serious health problems because of low birth weight. If your baby is born with a low birth weight, he or she may need to stay in the NICU. That can be hard to bear. But trust your baby's doctors . They are doing everything they can to help your baby. It's also important for you to practice healthy habits from the time you are pregnant and to follow your doctor's advice after you have your baby.
` low birth weight, premature birth, fetal growth restriction, NICU, baby health, pregnancy, child care
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