When is tiny baby due

Gestational age Gestational age is the length of time your baby has been developing in your uterus. For example, most babies who are born earlier than 32 weeks of pregnancy will need help with breathing. Low birth weight is when babies weigh less than 2. Low birth weight can happen because premature babies are born before they get the chance to put on weight in the last weeks or months of pregnancy.

These babies have low birth weight, but their development is appropriate for their gestational age. Extremely premature babies — for example, those born at 24 weeks of gestation — will be quite small and might fit snugly into your hand. They might look exhausted and have fragile, translucent skin. Their eyes might still be fused shut.

There are also some other factors that are associated with a premature birth. These include poor or not enough nutrition, too much physical activity, smoking, alcohol and other drug use, too much stress, anxiety, depression, obesity, underweight and lack of prenatal care. Small for gestational age babies may look mature, but they are smaller than other babies of the same gestational age.

They may be small all over. Or they may be of normal length and size but have lower weight and body mass. These babies may be born:. Between 37 and 38 weeks early term through 41 weeks. Many small for gestational age babies have low birth weight. But not all are premature. They may not have the same problems as premature babies. Other babies, especially those with intrauterine growth restriction, may look thin and pale, and have loose, dry skin.

The umbilical cord is often thin and dull-looking rather than shiny and fat. Babies with this problem are often diagnosed with IUGR before birth. This measurement in centimeters often links with the number of weeks of pregnancy after the 20th week. If the measurement is low for the number of weeks, then the baby may be smaller than expected.

It will also depend on how severe the condition is. Babies with this problem may be physically more mature than their small size would suggest.

But they may be weak and less able to take large feedings or stay warm. Treatment may include:. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional. For more information, please visit the links below:. You are welcome to continue browsing this site with this browser. Some features, tools or interaction may not work correctly.

There is a total of 5 error s on this form, details are below. Please enter your name Please enter your email Your email is invalid. Please check and try again Please enter recipient's email Recipient's email is invalid. Please check and try again Agree to Terms required.

Thank you for sharing our content. A message has been sent to your recipient's email address with a link to the content webpage. Your name: is required Error: This is required. Your email: is required Error: This is required Error: Not a valid value. Send to: is required Error: This is required Error: Not a valid value.

Why is my baby small? Risk factors include: having a multiple pregnancy twins, triplets or more a problem with the placenta an infection in the womb the mother having a chronic health condition, such as high blood pressure or kidney disease the mother taking certain medicines to treat conditions such as epilepsy and blood clots the mother not gaining enough weight or not maintaining her weight throughout the pregnancy a previous pregnancy that resulted in the baby having a low birth weight smoking , drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs exposure to air pollution or lead the baby having a congenital disorder Sometimes a baby is born weighing less than 2.

How is a baby's size measured? There's no way of accurately measuring your baby's weight until after they are born. Should I be concerned if my baby is low weight? Can I prevent low birth weight? Depending on their health, they may need care from specialists, such as doctors who treat problems with the brain and nervous system neurologists , eyes ophthalmologists , and lungs pulmonologists.

Preemies must go to all doctor visits including well-child checkups , get the vaccines that all babies need to stay healthy, and have routine hearing and eye exams. As your little one grows, doctors will check your baby's:. Take care of yourself by eating well, resting when you can, and getting exercise.

Spend one-on-one time with your other children when you can, and get help from others. Look for support from friends, family, and support groups. You also can get support online from groups such as:. Reviewed by: Lynn M. Fuchs, MD. Neonatology at Nemours Children's Health. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size.