At birth, the average newborn weighs approximately seven pounds; meanwhile, a low birth weight baby weighs less than five and a half pounds (March of Dimes Foundation, 2011). Today, low birthweight typically occurs in newborns born before thirty-seven weeks gestation or in full-term deliveries where the baby is underweight, also known as intrauterine growth restriction (March of Dimes Foundation, 2011). Complications associated with a low birthweight may include vision, hearing, and learning disabilities. Poor health, drug and alcohol use, and tobacco exposure will increase the probability that a woman will give birth to an underweight baby (Discovery Fit & Health, 2011).
A woman’s overall health and wellness, during pregnancy, is important to the development of her growing fetus. Chronic health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, increased stress levels, and insufficient rest can significantly reduce the baby’s weight (Discovery Fit & Health, 2011, p.3). In addition, a balanced diet rich in nutrients is essential to a healthy weight gain in the mother and baby. According to the March of Dimes (2011), pregnant women should receive prenatal care and work closely with a health care provider to manage chronic health conditions.
The use of illicit and prescription drugs has been associated with growth restriction, premature delivery, and multiple congenital anomalies (as cited in Berger, 2010, p.74). A pregnant woman should seek medical consent, before taking any medication, to assess the potential risks and benefits (as cited in Berger, 2010, p.74). Furthermore, healthcare professionals warn that all women should avoid alcohol during pregnancy. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy limits fetal growth and may cause a cluster of birth defects known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) (Berger, 2010, p.73). Infants born with FAS may suffer from slow physical growth, delayed mental and behavioral development, and abnormal facial features (Berger, 2010, p.73).
Women are encouraged to quit smoking cigarettes before and during pregnancy. The toxic substances found in tobacco may affect normal placental function in addition to exposing the fetus to harmful chemicals (Discovery Fit & Health, 2011, p.4). By smoking, a woman increases her baby’s chance of developing a congenital heart defect as well as a low birthweight (Neighborhood Link, 2011). Smoking cessation, at any point, during pregnancy increases the probability of a normal birth weight (Discovery Communications, 2011, p.4).
In 2011, The March of Dimes reported, “about 1 in every 12 babies in the United States is born with a low birth weight and is at an increased risk for serious health problems.
care for women who are unable to financially afford it, or don’t see the need of it, is mainly to blame for the thousands of low birthweight babies born in the U.S. every year. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [Office on Women’s Health] (2009), “Babies of mothers who do not get prenatal care are three times more likely to have a low birthweight and five times more likely to die than those born to mothers who do get care” (p. 1). Prenatal care in the U.S. began as a
intervention programs [REFERENCE]. By gaining awareness of the determinants of an adverse fetal environment, suitable intervention programs can be established to aid in reducing the health and economic burden currently seen within society. 1.1 Birthweight and Gestational Age One concept that holds great significance when examining outcomes... ... middle of paper ... ...ole? Developmental medicine and child neurology. 2014. 58. Treyvaud K, Doyle LW, Lee KJ, Roberts G, Lim J, Inder TE, et al. Social-emotional
Rawlings, James S.; Rawlings, Virginia B.; Read, John A. "Prevalence of Low Birthweight and Preterm Delivery in Relation to the Interval between Pregnancies among White and Black Women." The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol 332, No 2, 1995, p 69-75. Scott, J. "Black Infant Death Rate 2 ½ Times That of Whites." Los Angeles Times, 1991 Nov 15, 110 (347), A35. Steinbrook, R. "Black Infant Deaths Tied to Birthweight." Los Angeles Times, 111 (184), 4 Jun 1992, A26. "Ten Leading Causes
Abstract There exist some evidence that poverty can result in low birth weight in newborn infants. On Prince Edward Island, low birth weights are currently the lowest as compared to the national average according to Statistics Canada. However, the link that exist between poverty and low birth weights leaves unanswered questions as to what can be done to reduce these low birth weights in newborn infants. The effect of Poverty on Low Birth Weight in Newborns Receiving good prenatal care
grammes. Low birth weight (<2500g) is usually associated with significant infant mortality. 1, 11 Fetal macrosomia (birth weight >4000g)12 has however been shown to have significantly less association with infant mortality in recent years, probably due to medical advances in management of the condition.13 Smoking has been documented to reduce birth weight. It is postulated that the mechanism for this is via tobacco induced loss of appetite, resulting in reduced maternal nutrition and resultant low birth
The Effects of Smoking during Pregnancy Most women have heard that smoking is very deadly to the human body and can cause cancer, heart disease, and other major health problems, yet it is still an ongoing problem. Around the world, about 250 million women use tobacco every day and this number is increasing rapidly, according to data presented at the 2009 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Mumbai (March of Dimes , 2011). Not only do women smoke, some choose to continue to smoke while pregnant
and benefits of 2D ultrasounds versus 3D/4D ultrasounds. While the equipment used for 3D/4D is different from that of 2D, the ill effects of the ultrasound remain the same. Because ultrasound is a form of energy with effects in the tissue it traverses, its use should be restricted to medical indications by trained professionals for as short a period of time and at as low an intensity as compatible with accurate diagnosis.₁ Obstetric ultrasound may produce biologic changes though thermal mechanisms
per year or an average of $5,500 for each teen parent. “Adverse Effects” states, “The majority of this cost is associated with teens who give birth before age 18.” Taxpayers are paying loads of money each year for improved health/ foster care, public assistance payments, increased restraint rates among children of teen parents and lost tax revenue because of lower educational attainment and income among teen mothers (Adverse Effect
Effects of the Kangaroo Mother Care Method in Low Birth Weight Newborns Significance A preterm infant is defined as a baby born alive before 37 weeks of the pregnancy is completed. Low birth weight is defined as an infant weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces at birth. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 15 million babies are born too early every year. That is more than 1 in 10 babies. Almost 1 million children die each year due to complications of preterm birth. Globally, prematurity
The main social issue that is affecting America harshly is Poverty! Poverty is crushing the social classes of an ample amount. Dividing the successful class from the impoverished class. Poverty also economically affects America in multiple ways too. It causes a storage in productivity, which slows down the income amount that America makes and circulates, crime has been raised a great amount due to poverty, having to fiend for ways to eat and feed siblings or offsprings so they wouldn 't
Both articles appear to state that being very preterm and/or with a very low birth is negative on the personalities of individuals affected at birth. The study by researchers Eryigit-Madzwamuse et al. (2015) has discovered that those individuals born either prematurely or with a very low birth weight were more likely to score higher on tests evaluating the personality characteristics, such as being easily worried, less socially
smoking can also cause other types of serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses such as Oesophageal cancer, Parkinson’s disease, heart diseases, and peripheral vascular disease. Tobacco in Australia has also stated that smoking can lead to low birthweight in newborns with 12 newborns dying of this in 2005. Most of these conditions have a very high death rate, take for example, around 30% of all known cases of heart disease in citizens under 60 are due to smoking states the Victorian Quit-Line.
Poverty is one of the main causes of child hunger. Most people that live in poverty can't afford to buy food. All the money they have goes to housing bills. The effects are Families are homeless, parents don't have an education, health care is too expensive, violence is common, and children don't get a good education. Homelessness an effect on poverty. There is a lack of housing in the United States that people can afford. Even a minimum wage job isn't enough money to supply housing and food for a
Why is America the only industrialized country in the world that does not offer paid maternity and paternity leave? Are family values not important to American society anymore? Studies prove positive outcomes for companies, families, and babies when paid leave is available for the mother and father after the birth of a child. Not having paid maternity leave is also a huge drag on the United States economy. “The rules of the workplace are really stuck in the 1950’s and 60’s where there is this assumption
The Dangers of Smoking Smoking has a very negative impact on the health of people and causes serious long-term and short-term health problems for both the smoker and non-smoker. The act of smoking began since centuries ago. Today, many people still smoke knowing the fact that it can lead to seious heatlh problems and also possibly death. Smoking has been around since the beginning of time. It is uncertain on how the practice of smoking first came about, but it is certain that the ancient Maya and