Approaches to promoting optimal birthweight

Part 3 builds on the previous two parts, particularly Chapter 6, to explore approaches to promoting optimal birthweight. Consistent with the evidence presented in Part 1, the focus is on the optimal birthweight range rather than the more common focus on preventing low birthweight ( < 2500g ) or preterm delivery ( < 37 weeks’ gestation). Promoting birthweight within the optimal range entails similar challenges of preventing infants being born too early and too small but goes beyond the lower extremes to address ways of shifting the birthweight distribution to the right taking more infants into the optimal range.