DESCRIBE THE TWO TYPES OF LOW BIRTHWEIGHT BABIES AND EXPLAIN THE CONSEQUENCES

Hello runner58,

Low birthweight(LBW)  has a link to almost 2/3 of the infant deaths in
the United States and affects 1 in every 13 births. Newborn babies
with LBW face much greater risks in the short term, but also have a
much greater incidence of disibilities as they get older.
.

Babies are considered low birthweight if they weigh less that 5 1/2
pounds when they are born.

TWO TYPES

This excerpt from the March of Dimes site listed below explains the
two basic types of low birthweight babies:

"There are two categories of low birthweight(LBW) babies:

        PRETERM BIRTHS (also called premature births) occur before the
37th week of pregnancy. More than 60 percent of low-birthweight babies
are               preterm. The earlier a baby is born, the less it is
likely to weigh, and the greater its risk for many problems.
        
        SMALL-FOR-DATE babies (“small for gestational age” or
“growth-retarded”) may be full-term but are underweight. Their low
birthweight results, at            least partly, from slowing or
temporary halting of growth in the womb.

        Some babies are both premature and growth-retarded." 

http://www.noah-health.org/english/pregnancy/march_of_dimes/pre_preg.plan/lbwinfo.html#what
is low birthweight

THE CONSEQUENCES OF LOW BIRTHWEIGHT

There are numerous consequences as a result of LBW.  I will list
several of the general effects of LBW with supporting excerpts from
helpful sites and their links that you can follow if you are
interested in more specifics..

INFANT MORBIDITY:
 
"Premature, low birthweight pregnancies continue to be the leading
cause of infant and child mortality and morbidity in the United
States."

http://epm.ucdavis.edu/www/share/welcome.htmlx 


NEUROLOGICAL & RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS: 

"A low-birthweight, premature baby is at greater risk of developing
breathing problems. According to the American Lung Association, about
25,000 babies a year — most of whom were born before the 34th week of
pregnancy — suffer from respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).
Babies with RDS lack a substance called surfactant that keeps small
air sacs in the lungs from collapsing. Treatment with surfactant helps
babies breathe more easily and, since it was widely introduced in
1990, infant deaths due to RDS have been reduced by nearly 60
percent."

http://www.modimes.org/HealthLibrary/334_565.htm

"LBW puts infants at an increased risk of neurological problems,
mental retardation..."

http://www.gha.org/pha_reports/lbw_02-15-01_fb.pdf

"Premature babies sometimes stop breathing for 20 seconds or more.
This interruption in breathing is called apnea,
and it may be accompanied by a slow heart rate. Premature babies are
constantly monitored for apnea. If the baby stops
breathing, a nurse will stimulate the baby to start breathing by
patting him or touching the soles of his feet."
http://www.modimes.org/HealthLibrary/334_567.htm 

BRAIN DAMAGE

"Some low-birthweight babies have salt or water imbalances or low
blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which can cause brain damage. Premature
babies are more likely to develop jaundice and turn yellow because
their liver may be slow to start functioning on its own. A severe
problem can lead to brain damage.

Bleeding in the brain happens in about one-third of
very-low-birthweight infants. It may result in brain damage or death.
Newborns who survive may have learning and behavioral problems later
on."
http://www.noah-health.org/english/pregnancy/march_of_dimes/pre_preg.plan/lbwinfo.html#what
is low birthweight

"Bleeding in the brain (called periventricular and/or intraventricular
hemorrhage) occurs in 10 to 50 percent of very-low-birthweight
infants,
usually in the first four days of life. The bleeds are generally
diagnosed with an ultrasound examination. Most are mild and resolve
themselves
with no or few lasting problems. More severe bleeds can cause the
fluid-filled spaces (ventricles) in the brain to expand rapidly,
creating
pressure on the brain that can lead to brain damage. In such cases,
surgeons may insert a tube into the brain to drain the fluid and
reduce the
risk of brain damage. In milder cases, drugs may reduce fluid
buildup."
http://www.modimes.org/HealthLibrary/334_565.htm

HEART DISEASE

"Babies with a low birthweight may have a higher than average risk of
heart disease and stroke later in adult life."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_134000/134584.stm 

"Premature babies may have a dangerous heart problem. Before birth, a
large artery called the ductus arteriosus lets blood bypass the baby’s
nonfunctioning lungs. In premature babies, the artery may not close
properly after birth, which can result in heart failure."

http://www.noah-health.org/english/pregnancy/march_of_dimes/pre_preg.plan/lbwinfo.html#what
is low birthweight

EDUCATIONAL DIFFICULTIES 

"The differences in educational outcomes were dramatic. Compared with
the general population, babies who weighed less than average at birth
were 34 percent less likely to graduate from high school by age 19.
And compared with their normal-birthweight siblings, the lighter
infants'
chances of graduating on time were much less: The low-birthweight
children were 74 percent less likely than their brothers or sisters to
graduate on time."

http://www.edweek.org/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=42birth.h19

POOR VISION OR BLINDNESS

"Retinopathy of prematurity, an abnormal growth of blood vessels in
the eye, can result in poor vision or blindness."

http://www.noah-health.org/english/pregnancy/march_of_dimes/pre_preg.plan/lbwinfo.html#what
is low birthweight

DIGESTIVE TRACT CONDITIONS

"Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) affects mainly premature babies. It
is the most common surgical emergency in newborns (of LBW).
The premature intestine reacts abnormally and develops an acute
inflammatory response to feedings leading to intestinal necrosis
(death). Some
postnatal issues including heart abnormalities, obstruction of
circulation in the bowel, infection or gastroschisis are also
associated with NEC."

http://www.pedisurg.com/PtEduc/NEC.htm

I noticed that you didn't ask about the causes and many ways that LBW
can be prevented. If you are interested in learning more about these
aspects of LBW, the following links would be beneficial.

http://www.modimes.org/HealthLibrary/334_567.htm

http://www.modimes.org/HealthLibrary/334_565.htm


Search terms used:

Google: Low Birth Weight  Types
            Low Birth Weight  Effects

I hope the information I have provided answers your question
sufficiently.

Thanks,

Pinky-ga

Excellant- just what I needed.  Thanks