Integrated Maternal and Newborn Care Basic Skills Course ...

Reference Manual
Table 15. Complications in Low Birth Weight and Preterm Babies
Handicap Problems Management
Need referral to higher center
Apnea less with KMC
1. Lung immaturity Respiratory distress
syndrome
Apnea (pauses in
respiration)
2. Difficulty in
maintaining body
temperature
Hypothermia very
common
Hyperthermia in hot
weather
KMC very useful in maintaining body
temperature
Use of appropriate clothing
3. Immature sucking
reflex and gastrointestinal
system
4. Immature immune
systems and
increased exposure,
being dependent for
care on others with
frequent
handling/procedures
Difficulty in sucking,
retaining, and
assimilating feeds
Increased infections
associated with high
mortality
Frequent breast feeds
Expressed breast milk fed with
cup/spoon
Prevention of infection (hygienic
practices such as frequent hand
washing, breastfeeding, use of EBM)
Early identification and treatment of
infections
Avoidance of needless handling and
procedures
5. Bleeding due to
immaturity of the liver
and poor production
of clotting factors
6. Increased risk of
jaundice
High risk for bleeding at
various sites, including
intracranial bleeding
LBW babies can have
more prolonged jaundice
and can have brain
damage at lower levels
of bilirubin
Administration of vitamin K
Prevention and treatment of
problems such as asphyxia,
infections and hypothermia
LBW babies with any jaundice should
be referred early to an appropriate
center for evaluation and treatment
Evaluation of Infants with Low Birth Weight
Since this manual primarily relates to basic care at peripheral health facilities, it will not deal with
how to differentiate between premature and growth-retarded babies. Rather, it will focus on
how to identify babies that need to be transferred to a higher level of care and those that may be
managed locally at the place of birth. It will also focus on a simple low-cost method of
management of these vulnerable babies, namely, “kangaroo mother care”.
In general, babies weighing more than 1800 grams at birth, without problems and danger signs,
can fare well if managed appropriately. They may, thus, be cared for by trained personnel in a
Integrated maternal and newborn care
Basic skills course
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