Low birth weight

Low birth weight (LBW) is defined as weighing less than 2,500 g at birth. Low birth weight leads to an impaired growth of the infant with its attendant risks of a higher mortality rate, increased morbidity, impaired mental development, and the risk of chronic adult disease. The more severe the growth restriction within the LBW category, the higher is the risk of death.

Causes

The causes could include intrauterine growth retardation, maternal infections, low maternal nutrient intake, higher nutrient losses, and/or increased nutritional requirements during pregnancy. 

Diagnosis

In most cases, an ultrasound can inform the doctor before the baby is born that he or she is not gaining enough weight. The doctor may want to monitor the fetal heart rate and/or perform additional ultrasounds to monitor the baby’s progress. 

Treatment

Unfortunately, the only treatment while a mother is pregnant is to monitor and wait. Occasionally, a baby may need to be born prematurely in order to save its life or the mother’s life due to other medical factors.If you have a baby born with low birth weight, he or she may need to spend additional time in the hospital for close monitoring. This can last days, weeks, or months depending on how much your baby weighed at birth, the reason for the low birth weight, and how long it takes him or her to reach the appropriate weight to go home.

Preventing a Low Birth Weight Baby

There are many things an expectant mother can do to help reduce the chances of delivering a baby with low birth weight. The most important is to consult a healthcare provider on a regular basis. Regular check-ups can ensure that both mother and baby are healthy, growing, and developing properly. The health care provider can also help the expectant mother to manage any illnesses, conditions, or mental health issues she may have while she is pregnant.

Appropriate weight gain during pregnancy and a desirable fetal outcome may be possible by collectively improving food intake, food supplementation and improving micronutrient intake. It is also important to educate a mother to improve her family and her environment.