Review of Hypothermia with Low Birth Weight

Sarani Saha, Prof. Dr. R. Babu

Abstract: The first 28 days of life - the neonatal period ? are the most vulnerable time for a child?s survival. Neonatal mortality is directly related to birth weight and gestational age. One of the complications related to intrapartum is low birth weight and preterm birth. At birth, the neonate rapidly cools in response to the relatively cold extrauterine environment. In order to survive, the neonate must accelerate heat production via non-shivering thermogenesis (NST), which is coupled to lipolysis in brown adipose tissue. Brown adipose tissue helps maintain thermoregulation and warm the neonate, but this tissue is either less developed or present in smaller amounts in low birth weight or premature babies. Therefore, hypothermia is one of the main causes of neonatal mortality. After delivery, skin-to-skin contact is very important for preventing hypothermia in the relatively cold extrauterine environment. Thus, the objective of this review is to explore methods to prevent hypothermia in low birth weight babies. Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is one way to maintain warm chain and protect infants from the extrauterine environment. Proper nutrition, hygiene, and KMC can prevent hypothermia and sepsis in babies, improve weight gain, and develop adipose tissue, which maintains thermoregulation.

Keywords: LBW, Thermoregulation. Hypothermia, KMC, STS (skin-to-skin), Non-shivering thermogenesis (NST), Brown fat

How to Cite?: Sarani Saha, Prof. Dr. R. Babu, "Review of Hypothermia with Low Birth Weight", Volume 14 Issue 12, December 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 17-19, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR251130183731, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR251130183731