Low Birth Weight Babies 101: The Essential Guide

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The average weight of full-term babies (41 weeks)
is about 7 lbs (3.2 kg). However, some babies are
born with certain birthing complications. For
instance, some may be larger than the average
size, and some, low birth weight babies.
What is Low Birth Weight?
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO),
if your baby is born less than 2 kgs at birth
(i.e., less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces) he or she is
of low birth weight, regardless of the
gestational age.   1 in 12 babies, that is
around 8 are born as low birth weight infants
across the world.
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What Are The Causes Of Low Birth Weight?
During your pregnancy, you often visit the doctor
to check if you are fine health-wise and whether
your baby is growing properly or not. If your
healthcare provider thinks that your little ones
growth may be restricted, he or she will take you
through ultrasound scans often every 2 to 4
weeks. In fact, low birth weight babies can
either be born premature or full-term and there
are several reasons why a baby may be born, low
birth weight. The reasons are as follows 
Problems With The Placenta
The placenta is essential for foetal development.
It provides the all-essential nutrients and
oxygen via the umbilical cord blood. Placental
complications may disrupt the natural oxygen and
nutritional supply to the developing baby inside
you, thus not impacting the babys growth inside
and outside you, positively.
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Uterine Complications

• When your healthcare practitioner sees
  abnormalities in the uterus like 
• heart-shaped uterus.
• muscular barrier in the uterus.
• slightly dipped uterus.
• inner cavities in the uterus with a separate
  cervix and vagina may result in slow growth in
  the baby inside, birth defects, and low birth
  weight of your infant.

Foetal Growth Restriction
Placental problems (as mentioned above),
pregnancy infections, pregnancy hypertension and
other health conditions are some of the reasons
behind Foetal growth restriction, which is also
known as Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR).
So, due to Intrauterine Growth Restriction
(IUGR), the baby inside does not grow very well
and you may give birth to a low-birth-weight baby.
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History Of Low Birthweight
If you have had a low birthweight or premature
baby in the past, you may have the same
experience as well.
Multiple Pregnancies
If you have twin or triplets or more, there are
chances the baby or babies you deliver would be
low birth weight. As the babies will not get
enough space to develop well in your womb. 
Substance Abuse During Pregnancy
If you drink or smoke during your pregnancy, it
can disrupt the oxygen supply to the little one
inside and can delay the growth of the baby in
your womb, thus resulting in low birth weight.
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Lack Of Nutrition During Pregnancy
During your pregnancy, youre supposed to have
a healthy and well-balanced diet. However, lack
of nutrition during your pregnancy may affect
your newborns weight.
Chronic Pregnancy Health Conditions
There are several chronic health conditions that
can cause a baby to be born with low birth
weight, including high blood pressure, diabetes,
heart, lung, and kidney problems.
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Age
Infections During Pregnancy
If you are more than 35 years old, you are more
susceptible to giving birth to a baby, who is low
birth weight.
During pregnancy infections including rubella,
chickenpox, sexually transmitted infections, etc
can give rise to low birth weight babies. 
What Are The Complications Of Low Birth Weight
Babies? 
In this condition, your baby may be under
neonatal care, after birth and might even have to
stay in the hospital for a few weeks to check for
the most common condition like Jaundice, till
such time that he or she is healthy and fine to
be back home. 
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How Can You Treat Low Birth Weight In Your Baby
During Pregnancy?

• Well! An early detection is prevention.
  Therefore, during your prenatal doctor visits,
  your healthcare practitioner will use different
  types of techniques like
• Taking the fundal measurement from the 20th week
  of your pregnancy, thus measuring height of the
  baby in your womb.
• Taking picture of babys head, bones and abdomen
  through scans during your pregnancy.
• Checking your weight and suggesting you to keep
  your weight under control.
• Checking your diet, and suggesting you a diet
  which might be good for your babys development
  in your womb.
• Checking your health conditions and suggesting
  you to follow ways and keep these conditions
  under check. 

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Are There Ways To Overcome Low Birth Weight In
Your Newborn Baby?

• Even after following the prenatal treatment
  methods, you may not be able to help yourself
  from giving birth to a low birth weight baby. In
  this case, there are ways to overcome the
  condition and they are as follows 
• Take your little one for regular check-up to keep
  the developmental milestones under control
• Breast milk is the best nutrition for your low
  birth weight newborn. Continue breastfeeding to
  help your little one grow. 
• Introduce your little one to solid right after he
  or she has crossed the half year mark (6
  months). 
• Give him or her medicines taking suggestions from
  your childs specialist. 

Being patient is key! We know it is normal for
you to feel worried when it is about your babys
health and well-being. However, you neednt worry
much! Keep consulting your gynaecologist during
your pregnancy and dont forget to consult the
paediatrician for your child, after birth. Also
follow our blog page to get some more advise on
pregnancy, baby care and the benefits of cord
blood banking.
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THANKS!
Do you have any questions? You can find us at
info_at_cordlifeindia.com Toll Free Number 1800 121
6200 Website www.cordlifeindia.com
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