What Is Infant Low Birth Weight?
low birth weight (LBW) is when babies weigh less than five pounds, eight ounces
at birth. LBW often occurs in babies who are born prematurely, before 37 weeks
of gestation. It is also common in multiple birth situations. According to the
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford, about 7 percent of all babies
born in the U.S. each year have LBW. The number is increasing, potentially due
to the fact that multiple births are increasing. Developing countries have much
higher incidences of infants with LBW.
average birth weight in the U.S. is around seven pounds (LPCH). Babies born with LBW appear smaller
than normal newborns. They are usually thin, have minimal body fat, and have
disproportionately large heads.
What Causes Infant Low Birth Weight?
birth weight is primarily caused by premature birth. Since babies grow a lot in
the later stages of pregnancy, many babies born before the 37th week are small,
or have LBW.
also be caused by:
with the placenta, or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
with the pregnancy
enough weight gain by the mother
nutrition, incomplete prenatal care, or drug or alcohol abuse by the mother can
also cause LBW.
U.S., babies born to African-American mothers or very young mothers (under 15 years
old) are more at risk (Child Health USA). Babies who are part of multiple
births are also more likely to be born with LBW.
What Complications Does Infant Low Birth Weight Cause?
born with low birth weight have a higher risk of developmental difficulties,
health complications, and death than babies born at a normal weight. These
babies are often weaker than babies with normal birth weight.
babies often have trouble eating, gaining weight, staying warm, and warding off
illness and infection. Some common health complications of LBW infants include
respiratory problems, underdeveloped organs (such as lungs), eye or ear
complications, digestive problems, neurological problems, and sudden infant
death syndrome (SIDS). The lower the birth weight, the greater the risk of
How Is Infant Low Birth Weight Diagnosed?
birth weight is determined by weighing the baby at birth. If the baby weighs less
than five pounds, eight ounces, he or she will be diagnosed with LBS. Very low
birth weight (VLBW) is the diagnosis for babies weighing less than three
pounds, five ounces.
the approximate size and weight of the baby throughout prenatal care. This
helps to identify a potential LBW situation early on. Ultrasound technology
measures the baby while in utero.
How Is Infant Low Birth Weight Treated?
for low birth weight depends on the unique situation of the baby and mother.
Babies born with LBW often need to stay in the hospital until they gain enough
weight. Babies with other complications, such as underdeveloped lungs or
intestinal problems, will stay in the hospital until their complications have
improved through medical care. LBW infants are often cared for in the neonatal
intensive care unit (NICU), using special temperature-controlled beds and
World Health Organization advises that low birth weight infants should be fed
their mother’s milk whenever possible. This aids growth and weight gain (WHO). If the mother’s milk isn’t available,
human donor milk is best. Formula is considered a last resort for nutrition.
What Is the Outlook For Infant Low Birth Weight?
born with low birth weight but no other complications often grow up normally.
In some cases, developmental delays, minor mental disabilities, or health
problems will persist throughout life, with varying degrees of severity.
for LBW infants with other complications depends on what health challenges they
face. Advances in medicine have made it more likely that babies with low birth
weight and related complications will survive. The lower the birth weight, the
higher the chance of mortality.