Everyone is talking about low birth weight babies

and with good reason…

It’s not a good thing.

First of all, Low Birth Weight means that when a baby is born, he or she weighs

 less than 5 lbs, 8 ounces

Babies that are born weighing less than 5 lbs and 8 ounces have a higher chance of:

• Spending time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ( and not in your arms )
• Developing infections
• Having difficulty breathing
• Having trouble with feeding
• Vision and hearing problems
• Developmental delays where they don’t reach physical and mental milestones
• Having medical problems later on in life

No one wants that!

So, how can you have a 6 lb plus baby?

• Take a prenatal vitamin every day
• Stop smoking and this includes vaping and juuling and any drug use
• Eat all your meals and an extra 300 calories a day (300 calories is a typical sandwich)
• Go to all your doctor appointments
• No drinking alcohol
• If you have any medical issues, talk to your doctor about keeping your condition under control during your pregnancy
• Surround yourself with people excited and supportive about your pregnancy
• Get regular exercise- Walking  20 – 30 min every day
• Talk to your doctor about your risk of Pre term birth ( a premie birth is between 20 – 37 weeks ) 

I followed those instructions and I am happy to say that I now have two boys who are smart, athletic and stay healthy!

So if you want the recipe to making a basketball player and cross country runner…

         Start with a good sized baby!

Trisha has been a Registered Nurse for twenty-five years. She connects with pregnant women in a personal, cheerful and caring way. At Mary’s House, she is the Clinic Director who can answer questions as a nurse and encourage you as a good friend would.