Book
High-Risk Newborns
- High-Risk Neonates
A high-risk neonate is an infant who has a greater chance of illness or death due to life-threatening conditions before, during, or after birth, regardless of gestational age or birth weight.
Examples of High-Risk Neonates:
- Preterm infant
- Postterm infant
- Infant with high bilirubin levels
- Infant with respiratory distress
- Infant with sepsis
- Infant with necrotizing enterocolitis
- Infant born to a diabetic mother
Preterm and Low Birth Weight Infants:
- Preterm (Premature) Infant: A baby born before completing 37 weeks of gestation, regardless of birth weight. These infants make up the majority of high-risk neonates in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
- Low Birth Weight Infant (LBW): An infant weighing less than 2500 grams at birth due to prematurity or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
- Very Low Birth Weight Infant (VLBW): An infant weighing between 1000 to 1500 grams.
- Extremely Low Birth Weight Infant (ELBW): An infant weighing less than 1000 grams at birth.
Causes of Preterm Birth:
The primary cause in most cases is unknown, but several factors contribute to preterm birth, including:
- Maternal age below 17 or above 35
- Low socioeconomic status, leading to inadequate prenatal care
- Chronic maternal diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and kidney disease
- Maternal malnutrition and anemia
- Maternal infections, such as urinary tract infections
- Multiple pregnancies (more than five) or closely spaced pregnancies
- Uterine abnormalities, such as cervical insufficiency or congenital anomalies (e.g., bicornuate uterus)
- Preeclampsia
- Antepartum hemorrhage
- Premature rupture of membranes
- Polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid)
- Placental abruption
- Family history of preterm birth
- Multiple gestation (twins, triplets, etc.)
- Severe cases of blood incompatibility, such as Rh incompatibility
Causes of Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR):
Maternal Causes:
- Chronic maternal diseases (hypertension, heart diseases, renal failure)
- Malnutrition and anemia
- Preeclampsia
- Maternal smoking during pregnancy
