ABSTRACT
This chapter identifies the causes, clinical presentation and key physiological aspects of prematurity and low birth weight. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) infants are subcategorised into symmetrical and asymmetrical IUGR. Symmetrical IUGR means weight, length and head circumference are all below the 10th percentile, and this accounts for approximately 30% of all infants with IUGR. Attempts to optimise maternal and foetal health should start before conception and continue throughout a woman’s pregnancy. Respiratory morbidity including respiratory distress syndrome is a serious and often fatal complication of preterm birth, being the primary cause of early neonatal mortality and disability. Premature and some low birth weight infants are at risk of conditions which can affect long-term health or be life-limiting. The more preterm the infant, the more likely there is a lasting impact; each physiological system will be affected by the interruption of normal embryological development.
