Describe the effect of extremely low birth weight babies on the family and community. Consider short-term and long-term impacts, socioeconomic implications, the need for ongoing care, and comorbidities associated with prematurity. Explain how disparities relative to ethnic and cultural groups may contribute to low birth weight babies. Identify one support service within your community to assist with preterm infants and their families and explain how the service adequately addresses the needs of the community, or a population in your community. Provide the link to the resource in your post.

Low birth weight

main point

• Low birth weight refers to babies who weigh less than 5 pounds and 8 ounces at birth.

• Some babies with low birth weight are healthy, but others have serious health problems and require treatment.

• Preterm labor (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) and restriction of fetal growth are the most common causes of low birth weight.

• Perform all prenatal checks during pregnancy. Your healthcare provider will monitor your baby's growth and development at each visit.

• Discuss with your service provider how to reduce the risk of low birth weight babies.

What is low birth weight?

Low birth weight refers to babies who weigh less than 5 pounds and 8 ounces at birth. Some underweight babies are healthy even when they are young. But low birth weight can cause serious health problems for some babies. Babies with low birth weight may have trouble feeding, gaining weight, and fighting infections. Some babies with low birth weight may also have long-term health problems. In the United States, about one in ten babies (about 8%) is born with low birth weight.

What causes the baby to have low birth weight?

There are two main reasons why babies have low birth weight:

1. Premature delivery. Preterm labor is when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. About 7 out of 10 underweight babies are born prematurely. The earlier the baby is born, the lower the birth weight. In the United States, about one in ten babies is born prematurely. Talk to your healthcare professional about what you can do to reduce the chance of a premature baby.

2. The growth of the fetus is restricted. This means that the baby did not gain weight before birth. You may hear the words "restricted growth," "suitable for a small gestational age," or "very young" to describe these babies. They may be underweight at birth simply because their parents are young. Others may be underweight at birth because something slows down or stops the growth of the uterus. One in 10 babies (10%) has growth restriction. Your healthcare professional may think that if the size of the uterus (uterus) does not increase, the baby's development will not be normal. You can use ultrasound and fetal heart rate monitoring to monitor the baby's growth and health. In some cases, the baby's growth can be improved by treating the mother's health problems (such as high blood pressure).

Conditions that affect the baby in the womb (such as certain infections and birth defects) can lead to premature labor and limited fetal development. Birth defects or birth defects are health conditions that occur at birth. Birth defects can change the shape or function of one or more parts of the body. They can cause general health problems, physical development or how it works. They can limit the development of the baby in the womb, which can lead to low birth weight. Babies with birth defects are more likely to be born prematurely than babies without these defects.

Are you at risk of having low birth weight babies?

We know that certain factors increase your chances of having a low birth weight baby. These are called risk factors. Having risk factors does not mean that you will be born with a low birth weight baby. These are called risk factors. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will surely have a baby with a low birth weight. But it can increase your odds. Since many low birth weight babies are premature, many of the risk factors for low birth weight are similar to those for preterm and premature birth. Talk to your healthcare professional about what you can do to reduce your risk.

Medical risk factors for having a baby with low birth weight

• Preterm labor - This is labor that begins too early; that is, before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

• Chronic health conditions - These are health conditions that last a long time or happen over and over again over a long period of time. These conditions should be treated with a health professional. Conditions that can lead to low birth weight include high blood pressure; diabetes; and heart, lung, and kidney problems.

• Infections: Certain infections, especially uterine infections during pregnancy, can slow the baby's growth in the womb. These include cytomegalovirus, rubella, chicken pox, toxoplasmosis, and certain sexually transmitted infections (also called sexually transmitted infections, sexually transmitted diseases, or venereal diseases).

• Placenta problems: The placenta grows in the uterus and provides food and oxygen to the baby through the umbilical cord. Certain problems in the placenta can reduce the flow of blood and nutrients to the baby, which can limit its growth. In some cases, it may be necessary to give birth prematurely to avoid serious complications for the mother and baby.

• Not gaining enough weight during pregnancy - Women who do not gain enough weight during pregnancy are more likely to have a low birth weight baby than women who gain the appropriate amount. If you have an eating disorder or have been treated for an eating disorder, tell your healthcare professional. Your provider can monitor your health and your baby's health very carefully throughout your pregnancy to help avoid complications and make sure you are both healthy.

• Having had a low-weight baby in a previous pregnancy

• Being pregnant with twins, triplets, or more babies. More than half of multiple babies are born underweight.

Risk factors for low birth weight from daily living

• Smoking, drinking alcohol, and using illegal drugs - Pregnant women who smoke cigarettes are almost twice as likely to have a low birth weight baby than women who do not smoke. Tobacco slows the baby's growth and increases the mother's chances of having a premature birth. Consumption of alcohol and illegal drugs during pregnancy can delay the growth of the baby in the womb and cause birth defects. Some drugs, like cocaine, can increase your chances of having a premature birth.

• Exposure to environmental pollution and lead.

• Low socioeconomic level. It is a combination of multiple factors, such as your education, work, and income (the amount of your income).

• Domestic violence. This happens when your partner hurts or abuses you. This includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.

Other risk factors for low birth weight: age and race / ethnicity

Teenage mothers (especially mothers under the age of 15) or mothers over the age of 35, compared to other women, increase the risk of having a low-weight baby. In the United States, black women are more likely to give birth to underweight babies than other women. The annual rate of low birth weight babies in each group is:

• About one in seven black babies (about 13%)

• Approximately every 12 American Indian / Alaska Native babies (approximately 7%)

• About 1 in 13 Hispanic babies (about 7%)

• 1 in 14 white babies (about 7%)

It is unclear why this breed plays a role in low birth weight. The researchers are working hard to find more information.

What are the common health problems of low weight babies?

Newborns with low birth weight are more likely to have problems than babies with normal birth weight. Some people need special care in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to treat medical problems, such as:

• Respiratory diseases, such as dyskinesia syndrome (RDS). This type of respiratory problem is common in babies born before 34 weeks of pregnancy. Babies with RDS do not have a protein called a "surfactant," which prevents small air pockets in the lungs from compressing or crushing. Surfactant treatment helps these babies breathe easier. Babies with RDS may also need oxygen and other respiratory aids for their lungs to function properly.

• Cerebral hemorrhage (also called intraventricular hemorrhage or IVH). This is intraventricular hemorrhage (HIV), usually in the first three days of life, cerebral hemorrhage or bleeding can affect low birth weight premature babies.

Bleeding into the brain is usually diagnosed by ultrasound. Most bleeds are minor and can compensate for themselves, with few or no persistent problems. More severe bleeding can cause pressure on the brain, causing fluid to build up in the area. This can cause brain damage. To reduce humidity, the baby can be treated with medicine. In some cases, the surgeon may insert a catheter into the baby's brain to drain the fluid.

• Permanent arterial catheter. (PDA, its abbreviation in English). PDA is a common heart problem in premature babies. Before birth, a large artery called an "arterial duct" allows the baby's blood to pass through the lungs. This artery is usually closed after birth so that blood can circulate to the baby's lungs and absorb oxygen. When the arteries cannot close properly, it can lead to heart failure. Professionals use tests like ultrasound to check if the baby has a PDA. Babies with PDAs should be treated with medications that help close the arteries. If the medicine doesn't work, the baby may need surgery.

• Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). This is a problem in the baby's intestines. The intestine is a long tube under the stomach that helps digest food. NEC can appear within 2 to 3 weeks after birth. It can be dangerous for babies. It can cause eating problems, abdominal inflammation, and other complications. Babies with NEC are treated with antibiotics, and while the intestines heal, they are fed intravenously (through a vein) rather than by mouth. In some cases, the baby may need surgery to remove the damaged parts of the intestine.

• Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). ROP is a problem that affects the blood vessels of the eye. It mostly affects babies born before 32 weeks of pregnancy. Most cases heal on their own and without loss of sight or with very limited loss. However, some babies need treatment to prevent vision loss.

• Jaundice. It is a condition that occurs when the skin and white parts of your baby's eyes appear yellowish. It is caused by an accumulation of a substance in the blood called "bilirubin". It happens when the liver is not fully developed or is not working. Babies with severe jaundice may be treated with light therapy, replacement tansfusion, or intravenous immunoglobulin (also called IVIg). During light therapy, your baby is placed under special lights that help the body change bilirubin into a form that can be passed through the urine. During the replacement transfusion, the blood is replaced with new blood to remove bilirubin from the blood. If you and your baby have different blood types, your baby may receive immunoglobulin (a protein in the blood) through a needle in a vein. This helps treat ice cold so that your baby is less likely to need a replacement transfusion.

• Infections. The immune system protects the body from infections. The premature baby's immune system may not be fully developed, which can lead to infections.

What health problems can low birth weight cause?

Underweight babies are more likely to experience certain medical problems later in life than underweight babies, including:

•diabetes

• Heart disease

• hypertension

• Intellectual and developmental disabilities. These are questions about the way the brain works. This can cause a person to experience difficulties or delays in physical development, learning, communication, self-care, or interaction with others.

• Metabolic syndrome. This is because you have high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease at the same time.

•obesity. This means being overweight or having a body mass index of 30 or more.

Ask your baby's healthcare provider what you can do to help your baby's health. As you age, be sure to eat nutritious food, stay active, and perform all health checks. Regular childhood checkups can help your health care provider discover medical conditions that can cause problems when your baby grows. These checks also help ensure that your child receives all of the immunizations necessary to protect himself from certain harmful diseases.

If your baby is stunted, do you need early intervention services?

Yes, if your baby is stunted, be sure to get early intervention services as soon as possible. Developmental delay is when your child has not reached the expected developmental milestones. A developmental milestone is a skill or activity that most children can do at a certain age. Milestones include sitting, walking, talking, social skills, and thinking skills. Early intervention services can help improve children's growth. They can help children from birth to age 3 learn important skills. Service