Does birth weight have an impact on Baby's future health?

Pregnancy is a marathon! And just as every athlete has a team behind him or her, a mother-to-be's journey is littered with check-ups. It's a time for parents to ask questions, and for midwives to make sure the fetus is developing properly including its weight! Indeed, research shows that babies with low or high birth weights are more likely to develop certain health problems. And these can affect our children years after birth (even into adulthood!).

Small baby, big baby what's all this about birth weight?

A baby's ideal birth weight is between 2,500 and 4,000 grams. Below that, a baby is considered low birthweight. Above that, a baby is considered overweight (also known as a macrosomic baby). What the researchers show is that these babies above and below this range have a greater likelihood of developing chronic diseases. The most common ones? Obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

What are the risks of low birthweight?

Small babies are most likely to suffer health and developmental consequences at an early age:

1. if they are born prematurely. There is a greater chance of morbidity or disability (motor, intellectual, behavioral), as the brain is still developing
2. if they have had intra-uterine growth retardation. These possible repercussions may appear years later, particularly when the child
   starts school. But the most important thing to remember is that every baby grows in his or her own way and at his or her own pace. We advise step by step.

One kilo more, better health?

According to Swedish research on twins, babies born one kilo heavier than the average weight of participating babies were more protected from psychiatric disorders (attention deficit disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, hyperactivity disorder...). But this influence remains weak: only a 5% lower probability in the case of depression, for example.

What about my macrosomic baby?

The risks of becoming obese are not so much due to weight as to the origin of those few extra grams. In fact, researchers have observed that children of diabetic mothers are more likely to develop obesity or diabetes in adolescence. All the more so if the mothers had developed gestational diabetes, i.e. directly related to the pregnancy. But don't panic, because...

Monitoring is the best way to limit risks

The most high-risk pregnancies are also the most closely monitored. They concern mothers over 35, overweight, diabetic or with a history of diabetes... If this applies to you, your midwife will accompany you throughout the pregnancy. This will ensure your baby's healthy development. For mothers-to-be with gestational diabetes, for example, you'll benefit from more regular monitoring (ultrasounds, health check-ups). You'll also be entitled to special support to limit fetal weight gain (diet, adapted physical activities). And it works! In this case, the risk of obesity is the same as for the general population if the glycemic targets set during pregnancy are met.

And after birth, pediatricians take over to monitor the baby's weight and height curves.