Birth Weight Associated with Maternal Mortality
For many years moms have tried their best to have smaller babies, often resorting to dangerous practices like smoking cigarettes and taking diet pills during pregnancy. However, new findings show that this may be very dangerous for more reasons than previously thought.
According to a new study published in the March 25th edition of the British Medical Journal, mothers who have infants of higher birth weights are less likely to die from cardiovascular disease.
The current study replicates data from a previous, smaller study that showed that for each kilogram (2.2 pounds) decrease in birth weight, there was a doubling of the risk of maternal mortality from heart disease.
There are three main beliefs for why this is true.
- Lower birth weight may be related to lower socioeconomics.
- The health of the mother, including behavioral and nutritional matters, will influence the weight of the baby.
- Intergenerational factors, like epigenetic processes could lead to birth weights that increase the risks of cardiovascular disease.
So, what can you do about your babies birth weight? The biggest thing that you can do is to maintain a healthy diet and ensure that you are getting the protein that you need.
Protein is the building block of every cell in your body and the baby's. Studies on protein in the diet during pregnancy have shown a decrease in maternal complications during pregnancy like pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and ecclampsia, in mothers who consumed 75 grams or more daily.
You should also avoid medications or diet pills unless specifically prescribed by your midwife or doctor.
Smoking has also been shown to reduce birth weight and create a host of other problems for baby and the pregnancy.
Low birth weight has also been known for years to be one of the biggest complications facing premature and sickly infants. Birth weight is very important.
Related Links
- Complications - Low Birth Weight
- Heart Health in Pregnancy
- Heart Disease from About.com
- Relation between infants' birth weight and mothers' mortality: prospective observational study from the BMJ
- Interview with Dr. Tom Brewer
