Comparison of liveborn and stillborn low birthweight babies and analysis of aetiological factors

A retrospective study was performed at a tertiary maternity hospital, to define the incidence of low birthweight (LBW) and its associated risk factors in term liveborn infants and in term stillbirths, to ascertain the antenatal detection rate in each and to assess the role of ultrasound in antenatal detection. One hundred and ninety-four term liveborn LBW infants and twenty stillborn LBW infants were studied. Fifty-six percent of the liveborn infants were detected antenatally compared to 5% of the stillborn LBW infants. Previous LBW, the extremes of maternal age, cigarette smoking and pre-eclampsia were the main risk factors for the development of LBW, not all of which were present to the same extent in each group. Ultrasound scanning antenatally increases the detection rate. Knowledge of abnormal growth antenatally significantly increases obstetric intervention. Detection of LBW antenatally remains difficult. The main risk factors for LBW were similar in both groups.