Low birth weight: nutrition, development and care

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The World He alth Organization has adopted average weight norms for newborns. But not all kids want to fit into them: some are born heroes, while others are just crumbs. And despite the fact that today there is a trend towards the birth of babies with a body weight of about 5 kg, small children in our time are also not uncommon. As a rule, such crumbs are born on time or a little earlier than the due time, and due to underweight and weakness, they do not eat well and may lag behind their peers in their development. We will talk about the features of nutrition, development and care for such babies in our article.

Small babies - who are they?

In the mother's womb, all children develop according to the same laws of nature, of course, if nothing prevents them from doing so. That's just some kids are born big, andothers are too small. It is they who are called low-weight, since their body weight at birth does not fit into generally accepted norms. Such babies, who were born at term but with low birth weight, are often diagnosed with intrauterine growth retardation.

Separately, one should consider such a thing as a premature, low birth weight baby. These babies are usually born weighing less than 2.5 kg and require special attention and care. Premature babies gain weight and develop in general according to separate, specially developed norms. Later than their peers, they begin to hold their heads, sit down, crawl and walk.

As a rule, babies who were born small are reluctant to gain weight further. This problem is of great concern to their parents, as it may indicate deviations in their physical development.

Baby weight norms at birth and deviations

Normal body weight of a newborn at birth is 2800-4000 g. Children who do not fit into this framework require close attention from neonatologists and pediatricians.

But it is also important to consider at what stage of pregnancy the baby appeared. It is one thing if a small child, full-term up to 40 weeks, was born with a weight of 2 kg, and another if a baby was born with the same weight for a period of 32 weeks. In the maternity hospital, neonatologists use specially designed tables to match the baby's weight and height to gestational age.

By the way, the height of the child must also be taken into account when determining deviations from the norm. To do thisYou can use the Quetelet index. To determine its size, the child's weight in grams must be divided by his height in centimeters. The resulting value should normally be in the range of 60-70 units. But before making unfounded diagnoses, it is important to take into account the height and weight of the child's parents, as well as with what body weight they were born.

Reasons for low birth weight babies

There are a lot of factors that contribute to the fact that a child is not gaining enough weight. In medical practice, the following main reasons for the birth of small children are distinguished:

• mother's age is under 20 or over 40;
• diseases of the expectant mother during pregnancy: chronic pyelonephritis, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, anemia and others;
• preeclampsia (late toxicosis) of pregnant women;
• malnutrition, bad habits, poor social conditions;
• harmful working conditions.

All of these factors contribute to a baby gaining too little in the womb.

But the reasons for a small weight gain after birth are slightly different:

• baby's refusal to breastfeed due to physical weakness;
• non-compliance with breastfeeding tactics, as a result of which the newborn receives only foremilk, which is less caloric and nutritious;
• previous infectious disease.

Peculiarities of feeding newborns

The problem of feeding small children remains one of the most serious today. Many babies, premature or born with a critically low birth weight, cannot suckle for a long time at the mother's breast or they do not have this reflex at all. In this case, it is recommended to feed the child with expressed milk, and until lactation is established, with colostrum. The choice of how to feed a child depends on his age. In general, a baby who has reached 36 weeks of age or weighs over 2500 g may well breastfeed on their own.

The calculation of the milk needed by the baby is done as follows:

• If the weight of the crumbs exceeds 2500 g, the total amount of milk he needs per day is calculated by multiplying 150 ml by 1 kg of his body weight. The resulting value should be divided by 8 feedings. Give your baby the calculated amount of milk every 3 hours.
• If a baby weighs less than 2500 g at birth, in the first 24 hours after birth, he should be given 60 ml of milk. Further, this amount is increased daily by 20 ml, until the total daily volume reaches 400 ml. This amount should be divided into 8-12 feedings every 2-3 hours.

If the baby is not full and does not stand 3 hours between feedings, it is recommended that he additionally breastfeed on demand.

Indications for tube feeding small babies

If breastfeeding or bottle feeding an underweight or premature babybecomes impossible, then the baby is fed through a tube. Usually, such a decision is made by doctors due to the lack of a sucking or swallowing reflex in the crumbs. The amount of milk a baby needs is calculated based on the date of birth, body weight and general condition.

Tube feeding is indicated in the following cases:

• with a deep immaturity of the body of a newborn, when his sucking and swallowing reflexes are not developed;
• in critical conditions of the newborn after childbirth;
• with low Apgar scores.

It is worth noting that underweight and premature babies are especially in dire need of mother's milk. It is natural nutrition, laid down by nature itself, that will allow the baby to quickly catch up with his peers. If breastfeeding is not possible, then the baby needs to choose a special mixture for small children. It has a higher calorie content and contains more protein and other nutrients that your baby needs so much for an accelerated set of muscle mass.

Development of underweight children

Low-weight babies are at high risk for abnormalities in the nervous and cardiovascular systems. And since such babies, due to their weakness, continue to gain weight poorly, their physical and mental development, the formation of immunity is also at risk.

Pediatricians and neonatologists draw a parallel between the weight and height parameters of small children and their development:

1. Children born with normal height but low weight usually haverestless disposition, low and uneven weight gain, but generally developing normally. By the year they practically do not differ from their peers.
2. Children who are low birth weight but only slightly short of normal height may lag behind their peers in psychomotor development. They are dominated by inhibitory reactions of the body.
3. Children with proportionately low weight and height also develop more slowly. They also get sick for a long time and often due to reduced immunity.
4. Children with profound growth and weight retardation as a result of intrauterine development disorders. They have a delay in the development of bone tissue, the psyche and other body systems.

Caring for a premature newborn at home

Children weighing less than 2500 g at birth are admitted to the hospital. In a hospital setting, the baby, along with his mother, is under the constant supervision of doctors until he begins to eat well and absorb food. Then the baby is discharged home, where for the first time he will need special care and a specially designed feeding regimen so that he can quickly catch up with his peers in weight.

Doctors recommend breastfeeding small babies. But in some cases it may be necessary to supplement with a special formula, which will allow you to quickly fill the nutritional deficiency.

Since small children have weak immunity, hardening is recommended for them. But they should be carried out in strictly individualOK, because such babies are easily overheated and supercooled. You should start with air baths for 3-5 minutes, gradually increasing this time. It is equally important to ensure close bodily contact with the baby.

How can I help my child gain weight and catch up with their peers?

If the baby is breastfed, mom needs to pay special attention to her diet. It is recommended to increase the consumption of liquids: low-fat milk, compotes, fruit drinks. Boiled or baked meat must be present in the diet. Vitamins should be taken on the advice of a doctor. Breastfeeding should be done on demand when the baby is in a good mood and does not want to sleep.

How quickly a baby will put on weight is influenced by both internal and external factors. In order for the baby to get stronger faster and get enough oxygen, it is recommended to walk with him longer in the fresh air. In addition, small children need constant monitoring by specialists.

General advice for parents

Small children are often only outwardly different from their peers. But due to their weakness, they need even more care and maternal warmth. They are recommended to apply skin to skin as often as possible, providing the necessary bodily contact. It is equally important to provide adequate nutrition and conditions for normal mental development. Only in this case, small babies will be able to outgrow all their problems and grow up full-fledged, in every sense of this.words, people.