title: Understanding the Implications of Birth Weight.
abstract: Neonatal growth parameters include birth weight, length, and head circumference. Weight, as it relates to gestational age, is monitored closely during pregnancy to assess the appropriate growth of the fetus. At birth, it becomes an important parameter to assess the health and well-being of the newborn. Birth weight carries implications for nursing care and monitoring of the newborn's transition to extrauterine life. The importance of birth weight assessment and its interpretation will be reviewed, along with the implications for immediate neonatal care and potential long-term effects on an infant's health outcomes.
authors.forename: Stephanie F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: McGuire
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development*; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: birth weight; gestational age; neonatal outcomes; transition to extrauterine life