Learning about Fetal Development and Low Birth Weight

A child that weighs less than five pounds, eight ounces at birth is considered to have low birth weight. This can happen due to restricted fetal development, where the child is full-term and healthy, but small. This could be completely natural- for instance, if the parents are small, then the child may be small as well.

But in some cases, the baby development in womb may have slowed down or stopped at some point. This too can result in low birth weight. Premature babies also tend to have low birth weight. The earlier an infant is born, the lower her birth weight may be. The lower the birth weight, the higher the risk of contracting health problems.

What Causes Low Birth Weight?

Preterm labor often leads to premature infants with low birth weight. But we still don’t really know what causes preterm labor.

Here are some other factors that are commonly linked with low birth weight.

• If the momma-to-be’s weight is considered to be normal, she should gain about 25 to 35 pounds while she’s carrying. If she doesn’t, it could lead to a low birth weight tot.

• If a child has a birth defect, they are more likely to have a low birth weight as well. It’s worth noting that many infants with birth defects are often born prematurely.

• Fetal infections from viruses or parasites can slow down fetal development, affecting the birth weight as well.

• Sometimes there may be a problem with the placenta, which affects the amount of blood and nourishment given to the fetus. This can have an adverse effect on the child’s birth weight.

• Women who choose to smoke while they are carrying are twice as likely to have a low birth weight baby. Smoking can also increase the chances of premature delivery and affect fetal development. Alcohol and the use of illicit drugs may also lead to low birth weight and birth defects.

What You Can Do

There are a number of steps women can take to reduce the chances of having a baby with low birth weight.

• Set up a preconception appointment with your doctor. It’s important to get yourself checked before you try to get pregnant. Your health provider will screen you for health problems, make sure your vaccinations are up-to-date, and discuss your nutrition and health needs.

• If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, work with your doctor to try and get these under control before you get pregnant.

• Begin with your prenatal care early on and be regular about your appointments.

Start taking your health and your bambino’s health seriously, even before you conceive. This will help to drastically reduce the risk of low birth weight.