Low Birth Weight Prevention and Treatment
Low birth weight (LBW) is defined as a birth weight of a liveborn infant of less than 2,500 g (5 pounds 8 ounces) regardless of gestational age. Subcategories include very low birth weight (VLBW) which is less than 1500 g (3 pounds 5 ounces), and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) which is less than 1000 g (2 pounds 3 ounces). Normal Weight at term delivery is 2500 g - 4200 g (5 pounds 8 ounces - 9 pounds 4 ounces).
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 thing any mother can do is to see her health care 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.
Folic acid plays a major role when preventing any type of birth defects or health problems. Four hundred micrograms of folic acid daily (usually starting before conception) can reduce the chances of your baby being born with low birth weight and/or other health factors like neural tube defects. If a mother smokes, a good time to quit is when she finds out she’s pregnant. Most health care providers say it’s best to quit smoking three months before conception, but not all pregnancies are planned. For mothers with a previous infant with a neural tube defect, 1 gram of folic acid a day is recommended, and folic acid supplementation should be ongoing, as a mother should be taking folic acid at least 3 months PRIOR to conception.
Low Birth Weight Treatment
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 birthweight, and how long it takes him or her to reach the appropriate weight to go home. Many hospitals have a specific weight requirement for discharge, but it is not always an absolute number and depends on the underlying causes and issues. 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. 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.
Source :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_birth_weight
http://www.pregnancycorner.com/giving-birth/complications/low-birth-weight.html
