Pregnancy and Low Birthweight Infant

Abstract

This document describes situation and identifies problems associated with low birthweight (LBW) in newborns with an aim to provide guidance on the prevention and management. Fetal birthweight not only reflectes maternal health and nutrition during pregnancy but also indicates survival, fetal health as well as behavioral and social development of the newborne. The cut-off value of 2,500 grams issued by World Health Organization (WHO) as a worldwide standard might not be suitable for all settings but it is well accepted as a standard definition for Thailand, i.e. a baby born with the weight of lower than 2,500 grams would be considered as having LBW. Fetal low birthweight is a result of preterm birth (before 37 weeks of gestation) and/or of restricted fetal (intrauterine) growth; which are closely associated with morbidity, inhibited growth and cognitive development, chronic disease later in life, impairment of motor system development, increase risk of many medical diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, infective disease and low IQ when compared with normal weight infants. Many of low birthweight infants grew up and had problems that created burden to the family and the society. Many factors were found to be associated with low birthweight; and such factors varied depending on underlying situations and different groups of the population. The author recommended measures to prevent, diagnose and manage low birthweight that should be suitabe for the situation, problems and the health system in Thailand.