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Weight Gain
Updated on 16 February 2024
Medically Reviewed by
Kusum Sabharwal
Obstetrician & Gynecologist - MBBS| DGO
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All new parents have a lot to worry about the health and well-being of their newborn. While some of them might just be natural worries, there are some that could really be reasons for concern. Low birth weight is one such issue and it is important to understand what it is, its causes and its treatment.
A baby is considered to have low birth weight if he or she is born weighing less than 2,500 grams or 5 pounds, 8 ounces. While certain underlying medical conditions lead to low birth weight, not all babies with low birth weight suffer from medical conditions or illnesses. Some babies could just be born with a low weight due to a variety of reasons and low birth weight is not considered problematic.
Let us understand the most common causes of low birth weight:
Premature birth is the most common cause of low birth weight as the baby gets lesser time to grow and gain weight inside the mother’s body. The earlier the baby is born, the lesser weight he or she is likely to have.
Another cause of low birth weight is a medical condition called intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in which the baby’s growth doesn’t happen properly during pregnancy.
Additionally, things like smoking and drinking, infections and previous low birth weight pregnancy can also cause the baby’s low birth weight.
Low birth weight babies can face many problems as they are not strong enough. Some of these problems include:
Low oxygen levels
Difficulty in feeding and staying warm
Breathing problems
Problem in gaining weight
Problems with internal organs like lungs, intestines and digestive system
Being more prone to infections
Problems regulating blood sugar
Higher chances of problems like cerebral palsy, asthma, blindness and stunted development as they grow old
Treatment for low birth weight usually depends on the baby's condition, age and general health. Treatment for low birth weight usually includes the following:
Almost all low-birth-weight babies are placed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for special care till they gain some weight and are feeding and breathing well. Such babies also need special medical follow-ups, diet and medications. Most low-birth-weight babies achieve normal growth after some time if they don’t have any serious complications or problems.
Babies with low birth weight are also placed on temperature-controlled beds to provide them with the ideal environment for rapid growth and development and prevent any further complications as they are very vulnerable.
Sometimes babies with low birth weight are also given special feedings through a tube in their stomach if they are unable to suck. Or they may be given food through an intravenous line (IV).
Here are some ways you can prevent low birth weight:
The best way to deal with low birth weight is effective prenatal care so that the chances of low birth weight are eliminated or reduced significantly.
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Medically Reviewed by
Kusum Sabharwal
Obstetrician & Gynecologist - MBBS| DGO
View Profile
Written by
Parul Sachdeva
A globetrotter and a blogger by passion, Parul loves writing content. She has done M.Phil. in Journalism and Mass Communication and worked for more than 25 clients across Globe with a 100% job success rate. She has been associated with websites pertaining to parenting, travel, food, health & fitness and has also created SEO rich content for a variety of topics.
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