low birth weight babies

DEFINITION WHO defined LBW as one whose birth weight is less than 2500 gm irrespective of the gestational age

CLASSIFICATION Correlating both the birth weight and gestational age LBW babies are classified into two PRETERM SMALL FOR GESTATIONAL AGE

PRETERM BABY

DEFINITION A baby born before 37 completed weeks of gestation calculating from the first day of last menstrual period is arbitrarily defined as preterm baby

ETIOLOGY COMPLICATING HISTORY COMPLICATIONS IN PRESENT PREGNANCY Maternal Pregnancy complications Uterine anomalies Medical and surgical illness Genital tract infection Fetal Placental IATROGENIC IDIOPATHIC

MANIFESTATIONS OF PREMATURITY…Contd Weight is 2500 gm or less Length less than 44 cm Head and abdomen are relatively large Skull bones soft Wide suture or posterior fontanelle HC disproportionately exceeds that of chest Pinnae of ears are soft and flat Eyes are kept closed Skin is red, thin and shiny

MANIFESTATIONS OF PREMATURITY Plentiful lanugo and vernix caseosa Muscle tone poor Plantar creases are not visible before 34 weeks Testicle undescended Labia minora exposed Tendency of herniation Nails are not grown upto the finger tips

COMPLICATIONS…Contd Asphyxia Hypothermia Pulmonary syndrome Cerebral haemorrhage Fetal shock Heart failure

COMPLICATIONS Oedema Infection Jaundice Dehydration and acidaemia Anaemia Retrolental fibroplasia

MANAGEMENT PREVENTION OF PREMATURITY MANAGEMENT OF PRETERM LABOUR CARE OF PRETERM BABY AFTER BIRTH

CARE OF PRETERM BABY AFTER BIRTH IMMEDIATE MANAGEMENT FOLLOWING BIRTH Cord is to be clamped quickly The cord length should be kept long The air passage should be cleared of mucus Adequate oxygenation The baby should be wrapped including head in a sterile warm towel Vitamin K 1 mg Handle with extreme gentleness

TO MAINTAIN THE BODY TEMPERATURE Extremely thermolabile Smaller babies are placed in the incubator or radiant warmer Maintain temperature 36 – 37 C and humidity 50% Babies are to be placed naked Baby’s cot should be kept warm

RESPIRATORY SUPPORT Clear air passage Administer oxygen

TO PREVENT INFECTION Prophylactic antibiotic Maintain aseptic technique

MAINTAIN NUTRITION Baby weighting