NRS-434VN Topic 1 DQ 1 – Effect of extremely low birth weight babies on the family and community
Discussing the impact of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) babies on families and communities involves understanding the short-term and long-term effects, socioeconomic challenges, the necessity for ongoing care, and the additional health issues associated with premature birth. Also, explore how disparities among different ethnic and cultural groups contribute to the occurrence of low-birth-weight babies. Lastly, identify a support service in your community that aids preterm infants and their families, explaining how it meets the needs of the community.
ELBW babies, often born prematurely, face various risks early in life. Factors contributing to low birth weight range from preventable issues like substance abuse and poor prenatal care to uncontrollable factors such as intrauterine growth restriction or premature birth. These babies can significantly impact their families and communities.
Mothers who engaged in substance abuse or smoking during pregnancy may experience guilt upon realizing their baby’s ELBW. The infant’s condition can also lead to familial stress, emotional strain, and financial burdens. Communities may need to allocate resources to address healthcare and educational needs related to ELBW babies, impacting budgets.
ELBW infants often struggle with regulating body temperature due to low body fat and may have underdeveloped lungs and weak immune systems, making them susceptible to infections. Challenges with feeding and potential neurological impairments further complicate their care, potentially burdening families and increasing the need for support services.
Continuous care is essential for these babies, including close monitoring of diet, regular check-ups, and immunizations. Addressing lifelong health impacts involves promoting screenings, immunizations, and wellness visits. Disparities among ethnic and cultural groups can influence the occurrence of low birth weight, stemming from differences in dietary habits, environmental factors, educational opportunities, and healthcare access.
In Chillicothe, Ohio, the Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative (OPQC) addresses these challenges. OPQC is a statewide coalition focused on reducing ELBW babies and preterm births while improving maternal and birth outcomes. They provide educational resources to support healthy pregnancies and families.
(Resource link: Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative [OPQC])
References
Green, S. Z. (2022). Health Assessment Foundations for Effective Practice. Second Edition. Chapter 1. Health Assessment of the Infant, p. 31. GCU, Copyright ©️ 2022.
HealthyPeople.gov. (n.d.). Maternal, infant, and child health. https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/leading-health-indicators/2020-lhi-topics/Maternal-Infant-and-Child-Health.
Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative (OPQC) (2023). Key Issues in Maternal & Infant Health in Ohio https://www.opqc.net/our-network.
Sims, M., Sims, T., & Bruce, M. (2016). ). Community income, smoking, and birth weight disparities in Wisconsin. J Natl Black Nurses Association. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5014333/.
Hello xx, I agree with you on your post, extremely Low birth weight babies are usually born premature and faced with different health challenges from birth and might linger until later in life. The need for continuous care will bring long hospital stay, frequent visits to hospital and financial burden to families. Disparities in ethnic and cultural groups has contributed in preterm birth resulting in extremely low birth weight babies. Due to limited or poor access to health care women are not able to start prenatal care visit. Early prenatal visit will help to reduce the incidence of extremely low birth weight. Newborn wellness check, immunization will help in the promotion of the new born health(Green,S. 2022) Family support. program at the NICU unit helps families with their emotional and psychological needs .
Reference
Green, S. Z. (2022). Health Assessment Foundations for Effective Practice. Second Edition. Chapter 1. Health Assessment of the Infant, p. 31. GCU, Copyright ©️ 2022.
Good evening ,
Your post on extremely low birth weight babies (ELBW) provides very useful information for parents that could use education on the topic. You mentioned that ELBW babies will often need continuing care after they are born due to some of the associated health effects of an infant being ELBW. This is an important consideration when dealing with disparity bearing populations that may have trouble managing the financial and mental tolls that a ELBW baby can have on a family (Mowitz, 2022).
References :
Mowitz, M. E. (2022, December 23). Burden of comorbidities and healthcare resource utilization among Medicaid-enrolled extremely premature infants. Journal of health economics and outcomes research. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9790150/#:~:text=Extremely%20premature%20infants%20are%20at,mortality%20or%20long%2Dterm%20disabilities.
Hi !
I agree with your point of view!
Short-term and long-term complications associated with ELBW infants strain healthcare resources, contributing to increased healthcare costs for society. Promoting accessible prenatal care, as emphasized by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2020), can play a vital role in reducing the incidence of ELBW births. Nurses can provide cultural competency and resources, reducing disparities among ethnic and cultural groups.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2020). Preterm Birth. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/preterm-birth NRS-434VN Topic 1 DQ 1 – Effect of extremely low birth weight babies on the family and community
This is a great overview, . ELBW babies can have significant impacts on their families and communities. The guilt experienced by mothers who abused drugs or smoked during pregnancy can be overwhelming, as they may feel responsible for their baby’s low birth weight. This guilt can lead to emotional stress and strain within the family unit. The financial burden of caring for an ELBW baby can also cause stress and strain on the family, as they may struggle to afford the necessary medical care and resources for their child. The community may be affected as well, as they may need to allocate resources to support the healthcare needs of ELBW babies (Green, 2022). This can strain the community’s budget and potentially limit resources available for other community members. Additionally, the community may need to provide educational services to families of ELBW babies to support their ongoing care needs. The health challenges faced by ELBW babies can further impact their families and communities. Difficulty regulating body temperature, respiratory issues, feeding difficulties, and potential neurological impairments can all require ongoing medical care and support. This can place a significant burden on the family and community, as they may need to provide extra care and resources to address these challenges.
Reference
Green, S. Z. (2022). Health Assessment Foundations for Effective Practice. Second Edition. Chapter 1. Health Assessment of the Infant, p. 31. GCU, Copyright ©️ 2022.
Hello
Researching this topic has shown the improvement that has been made in ELBW babies. The gains that were made from working with these babies has been monumental in increasing their life expectancy. However there is still a large gap between low birth weight and babies who are in the targeted weight.”The often complicated medical outcomes in extremely premature infants have generated discussion of the ethics of investing medical and financial resources in those infants who are on the border of viability.”( Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 2007). This puts an emphasis on teaching and educating expecting mothers of their roles in the health of their babies.
Eichenwald, E. C., & Stark, A. R. (2008). Management and outcomes of very low birth weight. New England Journal of Medicine, 358(16), 1700-1711. NRS-434VN Topic 1 DQ 1 – Effect of extremely low birth weight babies on the family and community
How to write an essay on community Health and Population-Focused Nursing
NRS-434VN Topic 1 DQ 1 – Effect of extremely low birth weight babies on the family and community Read
Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) is defined as a birth weight of <1000g (PubMed,2017). ELBW can be caused by intrauterine growth restriction and prematurity (WHO, 2023). Low birth weight can indicate maternal health, nutrition, healthcare delivery, and poverty. Families who have children with ELBW experience more stress due to medical risks and mortality. Neonatal complication and long hospitalizations can negatively impact families. Some long-term impacts include the following: (PubMed,2017)
- Neurologic disability
- Impaired language development
- Impaired academic achievement
- Increased risk for chronic diseases
- Cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes (PubMed,2017)
Preterm infants have additional risk factor that include the following:
- Immaturity of multiple organs
- Intracranial hemorrhage
- Respiratory distress
- Sepsis
- Blindness
- Gastrointestinal disorders (PubMed,2017)
Various factors in society can affect how babies are born and grow. Things like the health of the mother, her behaviors, the stress she faces, and the resources she has access to can all impact a baby’s birth and health. Nurses work to help mothers and families understand these factors and provide care to keep them safe. By offering help early in pregnancy, we can lower the chances of babies being born too small. It’s also important to share information about community services with families. Different cultural groups may have different rates of small babies, often because of things like not having enough money or not getting enough medical care.
In Texas, there’s an organization called Hand to Hold. They give special help to families with babies who need intensive care right after birth. Their goal is to make sure families do well even in tough times. They offer lots of things like articles, counseling, support for loss, podcasts, programs where people can help each other, and groups where families can support each other (Hand to Hold, 2023).
https://www.who.int/data/nutrition/nlis/info/low-birth-weight
Cutland CL;Lackritz EM;Malolett-Moore T;Bardají A;Chandrasekaran R;Lahariya C;Nisar MI;Tapia MD;Pathirana J;Kochhar S;Muñoz FM; ; (n.d.). Low birth weight: Case definition & guidelines for data collection, analysis, and presentation of Maternal Immunization Safety Data. Vaccine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29150054/
JB;, R. A. R. (n.d.). Racial and ethnic patterning of low birth weight, normal birth weight, and Macrosomia. Preventive medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30342108/
Support for NICU parents: Hand to hold: Free emotional support. Hand to Hold. (2023, September 19). https://handtohold.org/
Hello
Your post underscores the critical implications of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) on both neonatal health and long-term outcomes. Building upon this, it’s noteworthy to mention that early detection and management of maternal risk factors during prenatal care significantly contribute to minimizing the incidence of ELBW. Pérez-Jorge et al. (2021) explain that educational programs targeting at-risk populations can enhance awareness and encourage proactive health measures. Additionally, collaborative efforts with community organizations, like Hand to Hold in Texas, exemplify the significance of providing comprehensive support systems for families navigating the challenges associated with ELBW. It’s imperative to emphasize the role of cultural competence in healthcare delivery, recognizing the influence of ethnic and cultural factors on birth outcomes. By tailoring interventions to the specific needs of diverse communities, healthcare professionals can enhance the efficacy of their support. Overall, a holistic approach that addresses both medical and social determinants of health is crucial in mitigating the impact of ELBW and fostering healthier outcomes for both newborns and their families NRS-434VN Topic 1 DQ 1 – Effect of extremely low birth weight babies on the family and community.
References
Pérez-Jorge, D., González-Luis, M. A., Rodríguez-Jiménez, M. del C., & Ariño-Mateo, E. (2021). Educational programs for the promotion of health at school: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(20), 10818. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010818
Good evening
Your post on extremely low birth weight infants (ELBW) provides great insight on the effects of ELBW in infants and I found it to be very informative. It is important to educate family members about the effects of ELBW in infants and its associated complications and potential lifelong effects. Certain things put infants at higher risk for extremely low birth weight such as economic disparity, ethnicity and some genetic factors that may complicate birth weight (Mowitz, 2022).
References :
Mowitz, M. E. (2022, December 23). Burden of comorbidities and healthcare resource utilization among Medicaid-enrolled extremely premature infants. Journal of health economics and outcomes research. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9790150/#:~:text=Extremely%20premature%20infants%20are%20at,mortality%20or%20long%2Dterm%20disabilities.
NRS-434VN Topic 1 DQ 1 – Effect of extremely low birth weight babies on the family and community Read
Babies who are born with an extremely low birth weight (ELBW), usually less than 2.2 pounds (1,000 grams), can have big effects on their family and the whole community. Right after birth, families with ELBW babies often feel very stressed, worried, and upset because their baby is very sick. They don’t know if their baby will survive or what problems might come up. Anil and others (2020) say that taking care of an ELBW baby right away can cost a lot of money. Families might have to pay more for medical care, and they might not be able to work as much because they need to take care of their baby. Hospitals also have to spend a lot of money and resources taking care of ELBW babies in special units, which means they have less to help other sick people.
As ELBW babies grow up, they might have trouble learning, health problems, and other issues like trouble breathing, cerebral palsy, or problems with their vision or hearing. This can make it hard for their families to keep paying for medical care. It’s also tough emotionally for families to care for a child who needs a lot of medical help, and it can change how the family gets along and interacts with each other.
Families might find it hard to keep working while taking care of their ELBW child, and this can cause problems with money and balancing work and taking care of the child. Friends and family might try to help, but it’s not always easy for them, and it can make the community feel stressed too. Taking care of ELBW babies means going to many doctor visits and getting special help for many years. This can change how families get along with each other and how they interact with their community. It’s important for communities to have enough resources like early help for babies, good school help, and hospitals that can take care of ELBW babies and their families.
Differences between ethnic and cultural groups can also lead to more low-weight babies being born. People who don’t have a lot of money might not be able to see a doctor as much during pregnancy, and this can cause problems with the baby being born too small. People from different ethnic or cultural groups might have different ideas about health and not know as much about how to take care of themselves when they’re pregnant. Some groups might live in places where there’s more pollution or not enough good housing, which can also cause problems for babies before they’re born. Feeling stressed or treated badly because of who you are can also make it more likely for babies to be born too small. People who don’t have a lot of support from friends or family might have more trouble with pregnancy, and this can affect the baby too. Some groups of people might also have genes that make it more likely for babies to be born too small.
In my community, one way we help families with premature babies is through the “NICU Family Support Program” from March of Dimes. This program helps families with babies who are born too soon by giving them lots of different kinds of support. They have people who can talk to families and help them feel better, and they give them information to understand what’s going on with their baby. They also help families with things like money and talking to their bosses so they can take care of their baby better. This program works well because it’s made to fit the needs of the families in our community. Every family is different, so they get help that’s just right for them. This support program helps families and babies be healthier and stronger, even after they leave the hospital.
https://www.marchofdimes.org/our-work/nicu-family-support
References
Anil, K. C., Basel, P. L., & Singh, S. (2020). Low birth weight and its associated risk factors: Health facility-based case-control study. PLOS ONE, 15(6), e0234907. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234907
March of Dimes. (n.d.). NICU Family Support. Www.marchofdimes.org. https://www.marchofdimes.org/our-work/nicu-family-support
Ratnasiri, A. W. G., Parry, S. S., Arief, V. N., DeLacy, I. H., Halliday, L. A., DiLibero, R. J., & Basford, K. E. (2018). Recent trends, risk factors, and disparities in low birth weight in California, 2005-2014: A retrospective study. Maternal Health, Neonatology and Perinatology, 4, 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40748-018-0084-2
Reference
Schieve, L. A., Tian, L. H., Rankin, K., Kogan, M. D., Yeargin-Allsopp, M., Visser, S., & Rosenberg, D. (2019). Population impact of preterm birth and low birth weight on developmental disabilities in US children. Annals of epidemiology, 26(4), 267-274. NRS-434VN Topic 1 DQ 1 – Effect of extremely low birth weight babies on the family and community
