Essay on Low Birth Weight

These conditions make newborns are at risk because Infants have more skin surface per pound of body weight than older children or adults, more skin means more radiant heat and more insensible water loss. Less brown fat and glycogen stores decreased ability to maintain flexion increased body surface area compared to weight.

According to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, “In the United States, nearly thirteen percent of babies are born preterm, and many of these babies also have a low birth weight.” The baby may be put into the NICU for varies reasons. However, the most common reason that a child is put into the NICU is because he or she is

I consider the data collected and analysis performed in this research project quite reliable.The only way I could consider age influencing the maternity length of a mother and the newboern's birth weigh would be in the case of a young gal whom's internal organs have not been entirely develop resulting in a premature baby with a lower birth weight than most average newborns. Although the ncbirths data was collected over a decade ago I do not consider it to be unreable at all for the variables of age, weeks and

In addition to infant mortality, infant survivors of LBW and preterm delivery, often experience greater problems in childhood and adulthood. Some of these experiences include higher rates of respiratory illness, impaired growth, cognitive and emotional deficiencies, lower academic achievement and risk of hypertension, diabetes and mental health issues (Behrman and Butler, 2007, Conley and Bennett, 2000 and Raikkonen et al., 2007). The Center for Disease Control (CDC) report that African American pregnancies are at an elevated risk for poor birth outcomes. Figure 1. shows national birth outcomes for African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian pregnancies, as reported by the CDC in 2013:

In the Low Country area of South Carolina( Allendale, Bamberg, Hampton, and Orangeburg counties), African American women have been linked with low birth weight babies. Within the low country black babies are born at a low birth weight more frequently than babies of any other ethnic group. The Low Country Healthy Start program is designed to eliminate disparities in perinatal health and improve birth outcomes and quality of life in African American women. A process evaluation will be conducted in order to define the risk associated with chronic disease, recognize who is high risk, what services are provided by LCHS, who receive these services, and if the services provided are efficient.

Receiving good prenatal care is extremely important for an expecting mother. The prenatal period has a great impact on the newborn's health. Low birth weight is a problem among a certain population of newborns. It is crucial to understand the conditions in poverty and its

Discuss disparities related to ethnic and cultural groups relative to low birth weight infants and preterm births.

Maintaining healthy lifestyles such as eating healthy diets as well as proper health care can improve outcomes for mother and infants. WIC participants are more likely to receive adequate prenatal care. This in turn means longer pregnancies and infants are born with higher birth weights. Adequate maternal health and nutrition can reduce some of the leading risk for infant mortality such as low birth weight and prematurity ("Women, Infant and Children," 2015). Premature infants have longer hospital stays and additional health expenses then babies that are born full term. Children enrolled in WIC programs are also more likely to receive regular health

Premature birth has been linked to a vast array of lungs problems, the earlier the birth the greater risk of health complications(Davis R and Mychaliska G, 2013). A majority of the health problems will affect the infant for the rest of their life (Davis R and Mychaliska G, 2013). Infants born between the canalicular and the saccular period (week 25) have lung development that is unsuitable for gas exchange (Davis R and Mychaliska G, 2013). Two major complications that arise with undeveloped lungs is bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and pulmonary arterial hypertension (Mahgoub L. et al. 2017).

The San Luis, AZ rate of low-weight births is that of 59.7 per 1,000 births this rate is actually lower than the state rate of 70.6 per 1,000 births (San Luis PCA, 2016). Although this rate is lower than the state rate it still remains as a concern as the county wide rate did increase within 2 years (Arizona Health Matters, 2016). Given that low-birth weight, prenatal care, and infant mortality can be interconnected the lack of appropriate care and the rising trend in the delivery of low-weight births will impact the rate of infant mortality directly within the community.

According to Elinah’s medical records, her race being an African woman, low economic status (currently a full-time student), having a short cervical length, stress related to unplanned pregnancy and UTI would put her at high risk for preterm labor. For instance, having a short cervix confers a higher risk of pre-term labor. In addition, bacterial infection stimulates the production of substances that trigger uterine contractions and will lead to having a premature child (Ricci el al., 2017. Pg. 812).

Low birth weight (LBW), defined as an infant weighing less than 2500g at birth, and very low birth weight (VLBW), infants <1500g, are health outcomes that themselves are indicators of future health outcomes, as well as present and future morbidity and mortality risk (“Birth Outcomes,” 2017). A large component of these associated outcomes are neurobehavioral, manifesting as impaired cognitive and language development measured in childhood, as well as lower IQ, poorer academic achievement, and reduced executive function measured later on (Aarnoudse-Moens et al., 2009; Barre et al., 2011; Hack et al., 2002; Linsell et al., 2015; Litt et al., 2012). Although decreasing in prevalence, neurosensory impairments, such as cerebral palsy, blindness,

69-70), the first important thing for her is to avoid the consumption of alcohol, smoking, and drugs. She will need to follow a healthy diet that includes folic acid which is “vital to prenatal development” (p.74). Furthermore, she will need to avoid stress, anxiety and keep a stable mental health. There are several effective ways to care for LBW babies, as stated by Boyd, Johnson & Bee (2018), at birth LBW babies might not be able to suck and be breastfed by their mothers and doctors may use intravenous feeding or insert a tube in the esophagus or stomach to help the baby get the nutrients they he/she needs. Parents response to the LBW baby is crucial and may contribute to how fast the baby develops. The Kangaroo care or skin-to-skin is another way to help LBW babies develop by letting parents hold them for long times (pp. 102-103). Women should abstain completely from smoking and drinking throughout the pregnancy, the most critical period is the first

Socioeconomic conditions also played a role in my preterm birth, because I live with someone who smoked cigarettes and also used illicit drugs from time to time. As a result I delivered a baby girl at 24 weeks gestation which is 16 weeks premature and was just two weeks beyond the point of viability. My child weighed 1 lb. 8 oz. and was 12 inches long. The psychological effects after the birth of my child were even more devastating. Knowing that the situation could have been prevented has always weighed heavy on my mind as my child battle with many issues due to her prematurity. These issues resulted in the use of oxygen, and apnea monitor, and also a feeding tube. In the beginning there were many developmental delays such as, she did call until she was one years old and she did not walk until she was two years old. Though those were the short term effects, there are also long-term effects such as lack of confidence and attention deficit disorder. Vision problems are another long- term effect that my daughter suffered from preterm birth. In many cases, the retina will detach from the eye causing blindness around the actual due date. Fortunately for me and my daughter we were able to avoid the detachment but we still have to deal with the vision problems caused by early delivery.

While some women who received no prenatal care had normal, uncomplicated births, others did not. Most of the women who did not receive adequate prenatal care gave birth to an underweight and underdeveloped infant. Among the benefits of early, comprehensive prenatal care are decreased risk of preterm deliveries and low birth weight (LBW)-both major predictors of infant morbidity and mortality. (Dixon, Cobb, Clarke, 2000). Preterm deliveries, deliveries prior to 37 weeks of gestation, have risen. Since the studies in 1987, which showed the rate of preterm deliveries as 6.9% of births, the 1997 rate shows an increase to 7.5%. Low birth weight, defined as an infant weighing less than 2500 grams (5lbs. 5oz) is often preceded by preterm delivery. Low