VLBW
Medical abbreviation · Pediatric & Neonatal
| Stands for | Very low birth weight |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
VLBW stands for Very low birth weight, a pediatric & neonatal abbreviation.
Birth weight under 1,500 g (about 3 lb 5 oz), affecting about 1 percent of US births but accounting for a large share of infant deaths. These babies typically need level III or IV neonatal intensive care.
Example: VLBW 1,180 g at 29 weeks; on CPAP, trophic feeds of donor milk.
Usage notes
VLBW infants are at risk of respiratory distress syndrome, brain bleeding, necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity and infection. Outcomes are tracked in large research networks such as Vermont Oxford. Delivery in a hospital with a high-level NICU improves survival.
Related abbreviations
More pediatric & neonatal abbreviations
- AGE – Acute gastroenteritis
- AHT – Abusive head trauma
- ALTE – Apparent life-threatening event
- APGAR – Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration (Apgar score)
- BRUE – Brief resolved unexplained event
- CCHD – Critical congenital heart disease
- DD – Developmental delay
- DOL – Day of life
- DTaP – Diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine
- EI – Early intervention
- ELBW – Extremely low birth weight
- FASD – Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
See all 51 pediatric & neonatal abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.