Title: Low birthweight
Headings: Low birthweight
Low birthweight
KEY POINTS
What is low birthweight?
What causes a baby to be born with low birthweight?
Are you at risk of having a low-birthweight baby?
Medical risk factors for having a low-birthweight baby
Risk factors in your everyday life for having a low-birthweight baby
Age and race as risk factors for having a low-birthweight baby
What health problems are common in low-birthweight babies?
What health conditions may affect a low-birthweight baby later in life?
If your baby has developmental delays, does she need early intervention services?

Content: Because many premature babies are born with low birthweight, many risk factors for preterm labor and premature birth are the same as for having a low-birthweight baby. Talk to your health care provider about what you can do to help reduce your risk. Medical risk factors for having a low-birthweight baby
Preterm labor. This is labor that starts too soon, before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Chronic health conditions. These are health conditions that last for a long time or that happen again and again over a long period of time. Chronic health conditions need treatment from a health care provider. Chronic health conditions that may lead to having a baby with low birthweight include high blood pressure, diabetes and heart, lung and kidney problems. Taking certain medicines to treat health conditions, like high blood pressure, epilepsy and blood clots. Tell your provider about any prescription medicine you take.