SupplementNutritional Management of the Low Birth Weight/Preterm Infant in Community Settings: A Perspective from the Developing World
Section snippets
Etiology of LBW
The causes of fetal growth restriction and prematurity in developing countries are well known.16, 19. Some of the most important maternal risk factors include: low prepregnancy weight or body mass index (BMI); inadequate energy intake and gestational weight gain; cigarette smoking; and specific complications of pregnancy, such as genital tract infections, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and incompetent cervix.3, 16, 19. Fetuses with certain genetic or chromosomal disorders are also at greater
Interventions to Prevent LBW
Prevention and management of LBW in the community requires a continuum of care and coordination among reproductive health services that provide family planning support, such as antenatal care for pregnant women, skilled attendance and emergency obstetric care during birth, and postnatal care services.6, 16 Figure 3 summarizes evidence-based interventions that can help prevent and manage morbidity and mortality in LBW infants. We focus on nutrition interventions that can help to prevent or
Discussion
Despite a number of limitations and gaps in evidence, there is sufficient knowledge to recommend strategies to prevent and mitigate morbidity and mortality of the LBW and/or preterm infant in the developing world. Addressing maternal undernutrition and risk factors for IUGR through evidence-based interventions such as balanced energy protein supplements and strategies to address food insecurity can be fruitful. In addition, addressing maternal micronutrient deficiencies and reducing the burden
Author Disclosures
Both authors received an honorarium from Mead Johnson Nutrition for attendance, presentation, and manuscript preparation. Both authors contributed the first draft of this manuscript.
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Exposure to metal mixtures and adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes: A systematic review
2024, Science of the Total EnvironmentCare of the growth-restricted newborn
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Neurotrophic Factors and Maternal Nutrition During Pregnancy
2017, Vitamins and HormonesCitation Excerpt :Current recommendations suggest an allowance for pregnancy of 6–10 g protein per day (Duggleby & Jackson, 2002). A balanced protein–energy supplementation to pregnant women is known to reduce the risk for preterm birth, small for gestational age (SGA) babies, and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (Imdad & Bhutta, 2011; 2013; Ota, Tobe-Gai, Mori, & Farrar, 2012). Proteins are transported to the fetus as amino acids by specific amino acid transporter proteins.
Please see the Author Disclosures at the end of this article.