1. low birth weight babies

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

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

4. PRETERM BABY

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. COMPLICATIONS Oedema Infection Jaundice Dehydration and acidaemia
Anaemia
Retrolental fibroplasia

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

12. 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

13. 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

14. RESPIRATORY SUPPORT
Clear air passage
Administer oxygen

15. TO PREVENT INFECTION Prophylactic antibiotic
Maintain aseptic technique

16. MAINTAIN NUTRITION
Baby weighting