Low birth weight is a term used to describe a baby born weighing less than 2.5 kilograms (kg).
Low birth weight is caused by intrauterine growth restriction, prematurity or a combination of both. Low birth weight is more common in developing countries than in developed countries.
However, data on low birth weight in developing countries are often limited because most deliveries occur at home or in small health facilities, where cases of low birth weight babies are often underreported.
Symptoms of Low Birth Weight
Babies born with low birth weight are characterized by the size and weight of the baby that are below normal. The baby’s tiny body is also not as strong as a normal baby, so he may have more difficulty eating, gaining weight, and fighting infections.
Because they have very little body fat, low birth weight babies often have difficulty staying warm at normal temperatures.
Nearly all low birth weight babies require special care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), until they gain weight and are well enough to go home.
The survival of low birth weight babies depends largely on how much the baby weighs at birth. The lower the baby’s weight, for example less than 500 grams, the lower the survival rate.
Causes of Low Birth Weight
Low birth weight is most often caused by the baby being born too early (premature birth). That is, before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Babies who are born prematurely have less time to grow and develop in the mother’s womb.
This condition makes it difficult for the baby to gain weight. In fact, most babies gain weight during the last weeks of pregnancy.
Another cause of low birth weight is a condition called intrauterine growth restriction ( IUGR). This condition occurs when a baby does not grow properly during pregnancy.
This can be caused by several things, ranging from problems with the placenta, the mother’s health, or the baby’s health. Babies with intrauterine growth restriction conditions are divided into two conditions, namely:
1. Full term
That means babies born between 37 and 41 weeks of gestation. These babies may be physically mature, but small.
2. Premature
These babies are very small (usually from premature birth ) and physically immature.
Risk Factors for Low Birth Weight
In addition to premature birth and IUGR, there are other things that can increase the risk factors for low birth weight. This usually occurs during pregnancy. Here are the factors:
1. Infection during pregnancy
Specific infections during pregnancy such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, and toxoplasma can cause babies to be born with low birth weight.
2. Not gaining enough weight during pregnancy
Mothers with sufficient weight show that their nutritional needs are met. Fulfilled nutrition during pregnancy can provide sufficient nutritional intake to the child in the womb.
3. Previous pregnancy with a low birth weight baby
Mothers who have a history of premature birth in their first pregnancy have a higher risk of premature birth in their second pregnancy.
This risk can increase gradually according to the number of premature births a mother experiences.
4. Smoking
Oxygen and nutrient supply can be reduced due to carbon monoxide and nicotine in cigarette smoke. This results in slower growth and development in babies.
In addition, mothers who smoke can also increase the risk of birth defects in children, such as cleft lip and cleft palate.
5. The mother’s age when pregnant is less than 17 years or more than 35 years
The mother’s gestational age can affect the growth and development of the child in the womb.
Too young age or pregnancy at age over 35 years is at risk of giving birth to a child with low birth weight. This is related to reproductive health conditions and biological readiness.
Low Birth Weight Diagnosis
During pregnancy, the baby’s birth weight can be estimated in various ways. The height of the fundus (the top of the mother’s uterus) can be measured from the pubic bone.
This measurement in centimeters usually corresponds to the number of weeks of pregnancy after week 20. If the measurement is low for several weeks, the baby may be smaller than expected.
Ultrasound (a test that uses sound waves to create images of internal structures) is a more accurate method of estimating the size of the fetus.
Measurements can be taken of the fetal head, abdomen, and thigh bones and then compared to a growth chart to estimate fetal weight.
Newborns will be weighed within the first few hours after birth. Weight is compared to the baby’s gestational age and recorded in the medical record.
A birth weight of less than 2.5 kg is diagnosed as low birth weight. Babies weighing less than 1.5 kg at birth are categorized as very low birth weight.
Management of Low Birth Weight
Treatment will depend on the child’s symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the baby’s condition is. Treatment for low birth weight often includes:
- Care in the NICU care unit.
- Temperature-controlled bed.
- Special feedings are sometimes given through a tube into the stomach if the baby cannot suck, or they are given through an IV (intravenous) line.
Low birth weight babies usually catch up on physical growth if they have no other complications. Babies who have other health problems may need a special follow-up health care program.
Low Birth Weight Complications
Babies born prematurely often have complications. Sometimes it’s hard to know if the problem is because the baby was born too early, or because they were so small.
In general, the lower the birth weight, the greater the risk of complications. Some common problems with low birth weight babies include:
- Low oxygen levels at birth.
- Difficulty keeping warm.
- Difficulty eating and gaining weight.
- Infection.
- Breathing problems and immature lungs (infant respiratory distress syndrome).
- Nervous system problems, such as bleeding in the brain (intraventricular hemorrhage).
- Digestive problems, such as serious inflammation of the intestine (necrotizing enterocolitis).
- Sudden infant death syndrome.
Babies with very low birth weight are at risk of long-term complications and disabilities. Long-term complications may include:
- Cerebral palsy.
- Blindness.
- Deafness.
- Developmental delay.
Low Birth Weight Prevention
Regular prenatal care is the best way to prevent premature birth and low birth weight babies.
At a prenatal visit, a healthcare provider will check the health of the pregnant woman and the fetus in the womb.
Pregnant women are advised to follow a healthy diet during pregnancy. This will help the pregnant woman gain enough weight, to help the baby grow and help the pregnant woman stay healthy.