Low Birth Weight Baby
Low Birth Weight Baby
Low Birth Weight Baby
INTRODUCTION
Foetal Causes :
• Foetal distress
• Multiple gestation
• Erythroblastosis foetalis
• Placenta praevia
• Abruptio placenta
• Foetal abnormalities
Maternal Causes :
• Maternal Malnutrition
• Poverty
• Multiple pregnancy
• Elderly gravida
• Illiteracy
• Chronic medical illness – CHD, CKD
• Infection during pregnancy – UTI,
Chorioamnionitis
PROBLEMS OF
PREMATURITY
Early
• Hypothermia (Temp < 95oF)
• Hypoglycaemia (RBS < 2.2 mmol/L)
• Respiratory Distress Syndrome / HIE
• Apnoeic spells
• Infection
• Feeding difficulties – Inability to suck & tolerate
feed
• Problems of gut – NEC, GERD
• Haematological problems – Anaemia, DIC, Vit. K
deficiency, Hyperbilirubinaemia
• Electrolyte imbalance
Late
• Cerebral Palsy
• Mental Retardation & poor school performance
• Seizures
• Microcephaly
• Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
• Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)
• Hearing & Visual impairment
• Growth failure
• Child Abuse
MANAGEMENT
Management depends on the birth weight of the
baby
1. >1.8 kg otherwise normal - requires special care
at home
2. > 1 .5 kg but < 1.8 kg - requires Hospital care
3. < 1.5 kg - Management in NICU
HOME MANAGEMENT
Feeding : EBF
Thermal Regulation :
Proper wrapping of the baby
Maintenance of the room temperature
Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC)
Prevention of infection
Immunisation
Follow up after 2 wks or if any problem arises
• Danger signals for early detection and referral to
hospital
• Lethargy, refuse to feed
• Hypothermia
• Tachypnea, grunting apnoea
• Seizures
• Abdominal distension
• Bleeding, icteric over palms/soles
Indication for hospitalization
• Unable to feed
• Sick neonate
HOSPITAL
MANAGEMENT
Principle of management of LBW in hospital
• Correction of hypothermia
• Correction of hypoglycaemia