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Low Birth WeightWhat is low birth weight?Low birth weight is a term used to describe babies who are born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces (2,500 grams). An average newborn usually weighs about 8 pounds. A low-birth-weight baby may be healthy even though he or she is small. But a low-birth-weight baby can also have many serious health problems. What causes low birth weight?Low birth weight is most often caused by being born too early (premature birth). That means before 37 weeks of pregnancy. A premature baby has less time in the mother's womb (uterus) to grow and gain weight. Much of a baby's weight is gained during the last weeks of pregnancy. Another cause of low birth weight is a condition called intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This occurs when a baby does not grow well during pregnancy. It may be because of problems with the placenta, the mother's health, or the baby's health. Babies can have IUGR and be:
Which babies are at risk for low birth weight?In addition to premature birth and IUGR, things that affect the pregnant woman can increase the risk of having a low birth weight baby. They include:
What are the symptoms of low birth weight?In addition to weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces, babies with low birth weight look much smaller than babies of normal birth weight. A low-birth-weight baby's head may look bigger than the rest of his or her body. He or she often looks thin with little body fat. How is low birth weight diagnosed?One of the main reasons for regular prenatal exams is to make sure your baby is growing well. During pregnancy, the size of your baby is estimated in different ways. Your steady weight gain is one way of checking on the baby's growth. Another way is fundal height:
Your healthcare provider may also use fetal ultrasound to check your baby's growth and development. Ultrasound uses sound waves to create a picture of your baby. It is a more accurate than checking fundal height. Measurements can be taken of your baby's head, belly (abdomen), and upper leg bone (femur). These measurements are used to estimate his or her weight. Babies are weighed within the first few hours after birth. The weight is compared against the number of weeks of pregnancy (gestational age). If your baby weighs less than 2,500 grams (5 pounds, 8 ounces), he or she has a low birth weight. Babies weighing less than 1,500 grams (3 pounds, 5 ounces) at birth are considered very low birth weight. Babies who weigh less than 1,000 grams (2 pounds, 3 ounces) are extremely low birth weight. How is low birth weight treated?Treatment will depend on your child’s symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is. Treatment for low birth weight often includes:
How well a baby with low birth weight does depends largely on how much the baby weighs at birth. Babies who weigh less than 1 pound, 1.5 ounces (500 grams) have the most problems and are much less likely to survive. Low-birth-weight babies typically catch up in physical growth if they have no other complications. Babies may need to have special follow-up healthcare programs. What are possible complications of low birth weight?Low-birth-weight babies often have problems. The baby's tiny body is not as strong as a baby of normal birth weight. He or she may have a harder time eating, gaining weight, and fighting infection. Low-birth-weight babies often have a hard time staying warm because they don't have much fat on their bodies. Babies that are born premature often have complications. It is sometimes hard to tell if the problems are because they were born early, or because they are so small. In general, the lower the birth weight, the greater the risk for complications. Some of the common problems of low-birth-weight babies include:
Babies with very low birth weight are at risk for long-term complications and disability. Long-term complications may include:
Talk with your baby's healthcare provider for information about your baby's risks for complications. Can low birth weight be prevented?More babies are surviving even though they are born early and are very small. This is because of advances in the care of sick and premature babies. But preventing preterm births is 1 of the best ways to prevent babies born with low birth weight. Regular prenatal care is the best way to prevent preterm births and low-birth-weight babies. At prenatal visits, the healthcare provider will check the health of you and your baby. It is important to:
Key points about low birth weight
Next stepsTips to help you get the most from a visit to your child’s healthcare provider:
What are the 3 categories of low birth weight?Low birth weight (LBW): A LBW baby weighs less than 2500 grams, or 5 lbs 5 oz. Very low birth weight (VLBW): A VLBW baby weighs less than 1500 grams, or about 3 lb 9 oz. Extremely low birth weight (ELBW): An ELBW baby weighs less than 1000 grams, or about 2 lb 3 oz.
Which of the following is the standard classification for a low birthweight infant group of answer choices 3 lbs or less 4 lbs or less 5.5 lbs or less 6 .5 lbs or less?Babies that weigh less than 2500 grams at birth are classified as "low birth weight."
Is 5.5 lbs small for a baby?A low birth weight means that the baby is less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces. A high birth weight means that the baby is more than 8 pounds, 13 ounces.
When a newborn is categorized as low birth weight he she weighs quizlet?A baby is considered have low birthweight if he/she weighs less than 5.5 pounds at birth. According to the National Center of Health Statistics, about 7.8% of all babies born in the U.S. are categorized as low birthweight.
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