Babies change very quickly. During the first year of life, a baby comes to triple the weight you had at birth, increasing its height by 50%, they will start to get their first little teeth, learn to crawl and then to walk and maybe even begin to say their first words.
Since these many changes in a short period of time, how important is the weight that had the baby at birth ?.
What weight can be considered normal for a newborn baby?
Most babies born at term (which were born between 37 weeks and 40 weeks) weigh between 6 pounds, 2 ounces (2,812 grams) and 9 pounds, 2 ounces (4,173 grams) and measure between 19 and 21 inches (48 to 53 cms.).
Most babies lose a little weight after birth. This occurs due to excess fluid present at the time of birth, and not cause for alarm. If, however, your baby will lose too much weight, this could be a sign indicating the presence of a health problem and the same / a should be monitored by a doctor.
Weight gain and stature is a very good indicator of good health in newborn babies. The weight and height of your baby should be closely monitored during the first months of life. A baby is growing normally considered safe and healthy, while poor growth can be an indicator of problems.
Under birthweight?
Babies born weighing less than 3 pounds, 4 ounces (1,500 grams) are considered very low birth weight babies. Only about 1.5% of babies born weighing too little. These babies are very thin in appearance, and her skin is certainly very pale or almost transparent.
Who they are affected by weigh less at birth?
Babies born prematurely and babies who are born of multiple pregnancies are more likely to be skinny about 33% of triplets and 10% of twins are very likely to be born with very low weight. Other factors that could cause low birth weight are:
- Age: Young women, especially those under 15, women are at serious risk of delivering babies with low birth weights.
- Mother's Health: Women who have smoked, taken drugs or consumed alcohol are more likely to give birth with low birth weights. Women who eat poorly, or not subject to proper prenatal care, with often-because of their socio-economic status or complicated pregnancies, are more likely to give birth with low birthweights.
- In the US, African-American women are twice as likely than Caucasian women to give very skinny babies.
Common problems of babies born with very low birth weight
Difficulty feeding and gaining weight.
- Development of infections.
- Low levels of oxygen at birth.
- Inability to maintain body temperature.
- Suffering from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
- Suffering from neurological problems, for example: intraventricular hemorrhage.
- gastrointestinal problems, for example, NEC or necrotizing enterocolitis , a serious disease of the intestine common in premature babies.
- Breathing problems, such as: SARS (a respiratory disease caused by lung immaturity).
Among the long-term complications for babies who are born with very low birth weight they include
- Cerebral palsy.
- Deafness.
- mental retardation.
- Blindness.
Much lower the weight, the greater the chances that the baby will eventually develop intellectual and neurological problems.
High birth weight and large stature Taking into account the gestational age
A baby born weighing 8 pounds, 14.8 ounces is considered a heavy weight baby; medical condition also known as macrosomia. Because the same / as fall within the normal range, they are not usually considered at risk infants. More problematic are very large babies, taking into account gestational age (LGA).
The term babies weighing more than 9 lbs, 3 ounces (4,200 grams) and girls born weighing more than 8 pounds, 9 ounces (4,034 grams) are considered LGA.
Factors Causing Great size, Considering Gestational Age
Genetics may play a role in the birth of LGA (for its acronym in English). Some babies will simply be high because their parents are high. The amount of weight gained by the mother during pregnancy can also play a key role with respect to the weight that will have the baby at birth, especially if it is not considered excessive.
Maternal diabetes (gestational diabetes or pre-existing ) is one of the most common causes of the development of LGA. High levels of sugar in the mother's blood cause the baby's body produces extra insulin, which could eventually lead to the development of fatty deposits and overgrowth.
Common problems of LGA babies
Difficulties during labor caused by the large size of the LGA babies are one of the most common problems. Among the problems related to labor and delivery of these babies may include:
- Difficulty being born.
- unduly prolonged vaginal delivery.
- Increase in cesarean deliveries.
When a diabetic mother is the cause of LGA, the baby will probably have problems regulating their blood glucose. This raises the following issues:
- Increased incidence of birth defects.
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
- Respiratory distress / difficulty breathing.
- Hyperbilirubinemia - yellowish appearance of the skin, eyes, mucous membranes.
Remember that it is important to monitor the weight of newborn babies in order to ensure that they are safe, healthy and that its growth is normal. Birth weight is not necessarily an indicator of the ultimate size of the child when he / she reaches maturity. Many babies are born with very low birth weight or very high weight grow perfectly healthy, and become adults of normal size.
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