User:Ravent4/sandbox

Overview of what is currently on our page:

I. Overview of what birth weight is

II. Determinants (Emma will elaborate on maternal stressful events, environment, genetics, multiple births, etc.)

III. Abnormalities (Emma will add about effects on the child immediately after and within the first few years of life)

IV. Influence on Adult Life ( Raven will address Obesity, Diabetes, Intelligence)

V. Prevention (new section Ravel will add)

Ecostello1213 (talk) 01:40, 30 October 2018 (UTC)

Prevention The start of prenatal care is very important to help prevent low birth weight and early medical problems. Going to regular doctor’s visits is very important for the health of the mother and the baby. At the visits the OB/GYN will be checking maternal nutrition and weight gain because that is linked with the baby’s weight gain. The mother having a healthy diet is essential for the baby. Maintaining good nutrition by taking folic acid which is found in fruits and vegetables is linked to premature births and low birth weight. Alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs should also be avoided during pregnancy because they can also lead to poor growth and other complications. By seeing the doctor they are also able to monitor pre-existing medical illnesses to make sure they are under control during pregnancy. Mothers with high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes are more likely to have infants with low birth weights.

Obesity and Diabetes Middle aged adults with low birth weight present with a higher chance of obesity and diabetes. Children that are born under six pounds were 1.27 times more likely to develop diabetes compared to babies born at a healthy weight over six pounds. Low birth weight is linked with increase rates of obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes and it is shown that children with the low birth weights have increased leptin levels after they catch up growth during childhood. Adiponection levels are positively related with birth weight and BMI in babies with an increase of risk of type 2 diabetes. The leptin and adiponection mechanisms are still being studied when involving low birth weight.

Neonatal Care

Neonatal units are units that specialize is babies born early whether they are born with a condition or babies with low weight. There are four levels of care in the neonatal care units. Intensive Care, High Dependency Care, Low Dependency, and Transitional Care are the four levels.

Intensive Care: For babies with serious problems. This includes babies born three months early and have extremely low birth weight.

High Dependency Care: For babies with less serious problem, but who still may not to be looked after or babies that are recovering from a critical illness.

Low Dependency Care: For babies that do not need a continuous supervision.

Transitional Care: For babies that still need medical treatment, but are well enough to be called for at their mother’s bedside.