Low Birth Weight (LBW) Babies
The normal weight of a newborn baby is 2500 grams-4000 grams. Meanwhile, low birth weight (LBW) is a condition where a newborn baby weighs less than 2500 grams. Babies born with LBW will look smaller and thinner, and have a head that looks larger. Conditions like this can be caused by various things. Newborn babies who have a low body weight are very susceptible to health problems and require extra care.
LBW often occurs in babies born prematurely (before 37 weeks of gestation). Physically, babies who have low birth weight look thin, have little body fat tissue, and their heads look larger or disproportionate. Most babies with low birth weight who are born at term do not experience health problems later in life. But if LBW occurs in a premature baby, several complications can arise.
The following are some complications of LBW in premature babies, namely:
- Difficulty gaining weight.
- Respiratory disorders.
- Barriers to growth and development.
- Infection.
- Eating disorders or difficulty breastfeeding.
- Low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia).
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Yellow baby.
- Cold or hypothermia.
If you do not immediately receive appropriate treatment, babies with low birth weight who experience the various complications above will be at high risk of experiencing disability, even death.
Causes of Low Birth Weight Babies
There are several factors that can cause or increase the risk of a baby being born underweight, namely
- The presence of genetic abnormalities or birth defects in the baby.
- Babies born to mothers who have health problems during pregnancy, for example preeclampsia, high blood pressure, or malnutrition.
- Born to a mother who was underweight during pregnancy.
- Infection during pregnancy.
- Twin pregnancy.
- The mother’s age at pregnancy is less than 17 years or more than 35 years.
Apart from the factors above, smoking, consuming alcohol and using drugs when a mother is pregnant also has a greater risk of giving birth to a baby with a low birth weight. Therefore, pregnant women need to avoid the various risk factors above, and regularly undergo pregnancy checks from an obstetrician or midwife to prevent and anticipate the possibility of a baby being born with LBW.
How to Care for Low Birth Weight Babies
Babies with low birth weight generally require treatment in an intensive care unit (NICU). Treatment will be adjusted to the baby’s condition, birth weight and how serious the health problems are. In this room, the baby will receive special care, such as being warmed in an incubator, given fluids and medicines through an IV drip, and given nutrition according to his needs.
This treatment will continue until the baby’s condition improves and stabilizes, his weight increases, and the doctor states that the baby can be cared for at home. After the baby is allowed to go home, there are several things that need attention in caring for babies with low birth weight. These things include cleanliness, breast milk and nutritional intake, as well as a comfortable environment for the baby.
The following are several things that need to be done when caring for a baby with a low birth weight:
- Give breast milk according to schedule.
Breast milk is the best nutrition for babies during the first six months of life. So, it is highly recommended to provide sufficient breast milk to babies with LBW. Please remember, do not give other intake other than breast milk or formula milk to babies under 6 months of age. Babies with low birth weight should drink breast milk every three hours or even every two hours. If necessary, wake the baby to breastfeed if he is asleep. - Direct contact with the baby (skin to skin).
Babies born prematurely have thin fat tissue, so they will have difficulty keeping their body temperature warm. Direct contact and holding the baby using the kangaroo method can help keep the baby’s body warm.
Some other benefits of the kangaroo method are:- Regulates the baby’s heart rate and breathing.
- Helps babies sleep better.
- Makes the baby calmer and more comfortable.
- Increase baby’s weight.
- Accompany when the baby sleeps.
Sleeping with the baby makes it easier for mothers to breastfeed at night. But remember, sleeping with your baby doesn’t mean you have to be in the same bed, you can move your baby’s bed closer to your bed. Apart from that, make sure to always put the baby to sleep in a supine position. - Pay attention to the growth and development of the baby.
Growth and development disorders are one of the complications that often occur in babies with low birth weight. Therefore, make sure that you regularly take your baby to see a doctor, so that the doctor can monitor his condition and detect possible growth and development problems early on. - Complete baby immunization.
Premature babies with low birth weight have a weak immune system, making them susceptible to infectious diseases. To prevent this from happening, make sure the baby’s immunization schedule is complete and that it is given according to the time recommended by the doctor. - Spend more time with your baby.
Babies with low birth weight need to always be in optimal conditions and a conducive environment, so they can grow and develop well. Mothers can support their growth and development by taking the time to hold them or invite them to play. Choose games that are appropriate for the baby’s age. - Don’t hesitate to seek help.
Caring for babies with LBW requires extra effort. This is certainly not easy, especially with the condition of the mother’s body which still needs recovery after giving birth. To avoid being overwhelmed, you can ask your mother or in-laws for help for at least the first 40 days after giving birth. That way, the mother can rest to speed up recovery and the baby remains well looked after.
Apart from the steps above, taking time to do activities that you like is also very important, and implementing a healthy lifestyle such as exercising according to your ability and consuming healthy food with balanced nutrition. These things will keep the mother enthusiastic during the recovery period and can reduce stress. Don’t forget that mothers and babies must always have regular check-ups with a doctor or midwife, so that their health is always maintained.
