However, when the baby is born premature, or if the baby is born fullterm but with some underlying medical problems, then a low birth weight baby has an increased risk of. However, there is growing evidence that the adverse consequences of low birth weight continue throughout the life cycle. According to who or world health organisation, any baby who is born weighing lesser than 2. Babies with low birth weight neonatology jama jama. Low birthweight in newborns symptoms and causes what causes low birthweight. The statistical significance level used in this study was at p l ow birth weight is defined by the world health organization who as weight at birth less than 2500 g 5. Preterm birth born before 37 weeks of pregnancy and being small for gestational age, which are the reasons for lowbirthweight lbw, are also important indirect causes of neonatal deaths. Causes of death in the extremely low birth weight infant american. After accounting for publication bias, the apparent protective effect of overweight and obesity on low birth weight disappeared with the addition of imputed missing studies 0.
Definitions of low birth weight are based on average uk figures for all babies weights at birth nhs digital 2017. Low birth weight continues to be a significant public health problem globally and is associated with a range of both short and long. The consequences of low birth weight include fetal and neonatal. Fetal growth restriction also called fgr, growthrestricted, small for gestational age. A babys low weight at birth is either the result of preterm birth before 37 weeks of gestation or of. Low birth weight infants are those born weighing less than 2500 g. Birth weight is typically categorized for use among researchers and policy makers in order to identify groups who fall into high to low riskbirth weight groups. Low birth weight is more common in babies born in the uk to parents of asian, black or mixed heritage, than babies who are born to white european parents kelly et al 2009, nhs digital 2017. Between 20 and 2016, the smoking rate during pregnancy decreased from 14% to 11%. Introduction problem statement causes of lbw care of lbw baby kmc prevention references 3.
Over half of multiple birth babies have low birthweight compared with only about 6 percent of single birth babies. Webmd explains the causes, symptoms, and treatment of anemia during pregnancy. We will focus on what be believe to be the most important causes. A lowbirthweight baby may be healthy even though he or she is small. Very low birth weight refers to babies who weigh less than 3. There are two types of iugr asymmetric and symmetric iugr. There are multiple causes of low birth weight, including early induction.
Srinivas rao 2nd year pg community medicine low birth weight 2. Low birthweight childrens hospital of philadelphia. Interpretation guidelines a low percentage of babies born at a gestational age of greater than or equal to 37 weeks and with a. This is birth that happens too soon, before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
A babys low weight at birth is either the result of preterm birth before 37 weeks of gestation or due to restricted foetal intrauterine growth. In 1948, the who recommended this cut point as the standard definition in order to make international comparisons more easily. Maternal factors in predicting low birth weight babies med j malaysia vol 68 no 1 february 20 45 odds ratios were used to test the association between birth weight and maternal variables. Low birth weight lbw, defined as a birth weight pdf. After his initial findings a myriad of diseases have been found to be linked to low birth weight and undernutrition in utero and in the neonatal. Low birth weight refers to those infants born weighing less than 2500g. Low birth weight babies appear smaller than normal healthy birth weight babies and their head appears bigger than the rest of the body.
Low birth weight is most often caused by being born too early premature birth. Usually, elbw infants are born around 27 weeks of gestation or younger. Preterm birth is the leading cause of all under5 child mortality worldwide 11. Infant low birth weight definition and patient education. The causes of prematurity are unknown in most cases but premature delivery and also lbw is associated with the following conditions. The low birth weight figure may be influenced by the number of multiple births, which are known to have a lower birth weight than singleton births. Low birth weight policy brief world health organization. The manifest importance of reducing the incidence of low birth weight is most obvious for the first year of life.
Based on world health organization whos definition, low birth weight lbw defines as a child with birth weight lower than 2500 g. Low birthweight is closely associated with foetal and neonatal mortality and morbidity, inhibited growth and cognitive develop ment, and chronic diseases later in life. After his initial findings a myriad of diseases have been found to be linked to low birth weight and undernutrition in utero and in the neonatal period. Overweight and obesity in mothers and risk of preterm. Preterm infants are born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. But a lowbirthweight baby can also have many serious health problems. Premature birth is a term for a baby born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Infant low birth weight lbw happens when babies weigh less than 5 pounds and 8 ounces at birth.
Low birth weight health encyclopedia university of. Babies with low birthweight look much smaller than other babies of normal birthweight. The two main causes for a baby to be born at a low birth weight are premature birth and intrauterine growth restrictions iugr. Low birth weight health encyclopedia university of rochester. Maternal factors in predicting low birth weight babies. The term extremely low birth weight elbw is used to describe babies born with weight less than 1,000 grams 2 pounds, 3 ounces. Low birth weight baby causes and feeding management. In most cases, he may be healthy if the lbw is due to the genetic conditions. Top 10 causes of low birth weight babies howstuffworks.
There are multiple causes of low birth weight, including early induction of labour or caesarean birth for medical or nonmedical reasons, multiple pregnancies, infections and chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure5. The primary cause is premature birth, being born before 37 weeks gestation. Birth weight is one of the most important health indicators of development in every country as one of the main factors for normal growth and development and even survival of newborns and infants. An imbalance in the amount of stored calories can lead to many diseases. A report that explores who is at risk of having a low birth weight baby in washtenaw county. Low birthweight in newborns symptoms and causes boston. Low birth weight is defined as less than 2500 g at delivery. Another cause of low birthweight is intrauterine growth restriction. Lbw contributes to 60% to 80% of all neonatal deaths. Causes and consequences of low birthweight a babys low weight at birth is either the result of preterm birth before 37 weeks of gestation or of restricted foetal intrauterine growth. Anemia is common during pregnancy, but it can lead to serious problems for your unborn child. Babies are born with low birth weight because of prematurity being born too early, poor intrauterine growth growing too slowly in the womb, or both.
In addition, economic studies in lowincome settings have demonstrated that. Very low and extremely low birthweight infants introduction and definitions. The causes of low birth weight babies are quickly being uncovered. Faststats is an official application from the centers for disease control and prevention s cdc national center for health statistics nchs and puts access to. Risk factors of low birth weight and effect of them on. Who care of the preterm and lowbirthweight newborn. Sometimes due to iugr, which is a condition of delayed growth of the foetus while in the womb, a baby may be born with low birth weight. Top 12 alarming causes of low birth weight in babies. Low birth weight low birth weight is a leading cause of. Premature birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy and fetal growth restriction are the most common causes of low birthweight. Low birth weight is not synonymous with preterm deliveries. Low birthweight is when a baby is born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces. The march of dimes has valuable information for how to have a healthy pregnancy smoking while pregnant 2014 2016 pdf. Thus, a low birth weight infant could be born preterm or could be born at term gestation following a period of poor intrauterine fetal growth.
Premature birth is one of the most common causes of low birthweight. Sixtyseven percent of all low birth weight babies are premature births. A low birthweight babys head may appear to be bigger than the rest of the body, and he or she often looks thin with little body fat. Low birth weight is a leading cause of neonatal mortality death before 28 days of age. There are two main reasons why a baby may be born with low birthweight. Lbw is the cause of 70% of newborns mortality, especially in developing countries.
Introduction birth weight 1st weight of fetus or new born obtained after birth. If your baby is born between 37 to 42 weeks of pregnancy and weighs around 5 pounds 2. Top 12 causes of low birth weight in babies being the parent. Wolke and others published preterm and low birth weight babies find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate.
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