6 Causes of babies born with low weight & bull; hello healthy

Birth weight reflects the results of development in the womb and the baby's nutritional adequacy at birth. Babies are said to have low birth weight or LBW if they weigh less than 2500g (2.5 kg). Some of the other classifications for low birth weight are: very low birth weight if it is under 1.5 kg, and extreme low birth weight if it is under 1 kg.

Low birth weight not only affects the condition of the baby at birth but also the health and even the survival of the baby. In general, babies born prematurely or less than 37 weeks of gestation have a lower birth weight than normal babies. Apart from the duration of pregnancy, the birth weight of the baby is determined by several factors which are generally related to the health of the mother and health during pregnancy.

1. The nutritional status of the mother's baby before pregnancy

The nutritional status of a mother-to-be determines the intake the baby gets in the womb. Adequacy of nutritional status before pregnancy was assessed using a body mass index (BMI). One study showed that women who are underweight or with a BMI <18.5 are twice as likely to have a low weight baby than individuals with a normal BMI. Before entering pregnancy, BMI describes the development of the body and the adequacy of intake for mother and baby.

2. The mother's weight when pregnant

Increased intake to meet the needs of the baby will definitely have an impact on weight gain during pregnancy. Weight gain ranges from 5 kg to 18 kg which is adjusted to the nutritional status before pregnancy, in normal body individuals the recommended weight gain is around 11 kg to 16 kg. Gaining too little weight increases the risk of a low birth weight baby. This is evidenced by research by Frederik and his colleagues which found that weight gain for pregnant women has a positive relationship with baby weight at birth, the greater the increase in weight of pregnant women, the higher the weight of the baby at birth.

3. Mother's age at pregnancy

Low birth weight babies are generally found in mothers who become pregnant during adolescence. The body of a teenager woman is not ready to experience pregnancy, this can also be due to adequate nutrition at that age. Teenage pregnancy most often occurs at the age of 15-19 years. As a result, the risk of giving birth to a low birth weight baby is 50% higher than the normal age for pregnancy, or around 20-29 years.

4. Interval of childbirth

If the time of pregnancy is too close to the time of giving birth to the previous child, it is possible that the mother's body has not stored enough nutrition for the next pregnancy. Nutritional needs will increase during pregnancy, and will be even higher if the mother is pregnant and has to breastfeed simultaneously, thereby increasing the risk of low birth weight babies. A study in India found that mothers who gave birth to LBW tended to have shorter birth intervals. The average LBW occurred in mothers who gave birth only 24 months apart from the previous birth.

5. Maternal health condition

Maternal health while undergoing pregnancy and medical history before can contribute to LBW. Not only physical health problems, but also maternal psychological health. Here are some maternal health problems that can cause low birth weight babies:

1. Anemia - This condition is generally caused by a deficiency of iron (Fe) in the blood during pregnancy and is treated by taking iron supplements during pregnancy.
2. History of miscarriage and childbirth LBW - one of the problems that cause miscarriage is when the body is unable to maintain the womb. Individuals over the age of 30 are usually more at risk of having a weaker womb so that they are at risk of preterm delivery and LBW.
3. Infectious Diseases - some of the infectious diseases that can cause LBW are HIV, toxoplasmosis and listeria. HIV can be transmitted through the placenta of an HIV-infected mother to the baby, causing developmental and immune disorders to the baby since the womb. While toxoplasmosis and listeria infect through food that is not cooked or is not hygienic.
4. Pregnancy complications - including disruption of the uterus and lower placenta that the baby has to be delivered by caesarean section at less than normal gestational age.
5. Pregnancy blues - caused by hormonal disorders that cause constant sadness during pregnancy. The impact can eliminate the constant appetite and fatigue in pregnant women.
6. Exposure to alcohol and cigarette smoke during pregnancy (passive or active) - consumption of both causes toxins to enter the bloodstream of pregnant women and can damage the placenta, thereby damaging the source of nutrition for the unborn baby. Both can also cause cell damage, especially protein and lipid layers. Drinking as much as 20 grams of alcohol can cause the fetus to experience developmental and breathing problems.

6. Giving birth to twins

With more than one baby in the womb, the body will try harder to meet nutritional needs. If you experience nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy, this can lead to low birth weight. Babies born with twins also tend to have a smaller body because of limited space to develop while in the womb so that they have a lower birth weight. It is better for mothers who have been detected to have twins to increase adequate intake and increase body weight ranging from 14 kg to 23 kg in order to reduce the risk of giving birth to twins with low birth weight.

READ TOO:

• Excess Weight During Pregnancy Can Be Risky to Children's Heart
• The Impact of Bulimia on Pregnant Women and Babies
• Why Pregnant Women Need to Do Genetic Screening

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