What is the normal weight of a baby at birth?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The weight of a newly born baby is the main indicator of his overall he alth. That is why doctors pay special attention to this factor, fixing it as one of the first in the newborn's medical book. And it is no coincidence that the question of what weight is considered normal at the birth of a child is so much of interest to young mothers. In addition, women in labor should also know what this indicator depends on, what a shortage or excess weight may threaten, and how to avoid weight problems in the baby in the future. Many also ask the question: what is the normal weight of a child at birth, depending on the sex of the baby? The answers to all these questions can be found here.

All you need to know about newborn weight

The normal weight of a baby at birth ranges from 2.5-4.5 kg. It should be borne in mind that newborn boys usually have a slightly larger body weight. Yes, norm althe weight of a child at birth of a girl can be a maximum of 4 kg.

If the body weight is less than 2.5 kilograms, then in this case the baby has a deficit. From here, difficulties may arise with nursing the child, it may even require special nutrition and appropriate conditions for the normalization of weight. Such babies are not considered premature, but their stay in the hospital, however, may be somewhat delayed. Now young mothers most often give birth to children with normal and even excess weight. But babies who are underweight usually catch up with their peers in this regard by six months.

What determines the weight of the baby after birth?

The weight of a newborn is influenced by many factors. Reasons why babies are born overweight can be as follows:

• Heredity. So, parents who are overweight are more likely to have large-sized children. The situation is reversed for slender parents.
• Second, third and subsequent births.
• Delayed delivery (extended term).
• Improper diet, high-calorie and heavy food consumption during pregnancy.



• Diabetes mellitus (acquired and hereditary).
• Different Rh factor. If the mother is Rh positive and the baby is Rh negative, then Rh conflict can occur, which often leads to weight gain in the womb.

Underweight babies: causes

• Carrying two, three or more fetuses at the same time.
• Diseases of the cardiovascular and urinary systems (including infectious ones), chronic lung diseases in a woman in labor.
• Diseases of the uterus, placental defects, poor blood clotting in the mother.
• Poor nutrition of the expectant mother during pregnancy, unfavorable climate and ecology.
• Smoking and drinking in excess of legal limits (in most cases, alcoholic beverages should be completely excluded).
• Consumption of caffeine in high doses.

Nutrition and its effect on the weight of the newborn in the early days

A baby's normal birth weight in the first 24 hours of his life can decrease by about 150-200 grams. This indicator is appropriate if the baby appeared with a weight of 2.5-4.5 kg. This is the normal weight of a baby at birth. It is considered acceptable and absolutely natural to reduce it by a maximum of 300 grams. This is due to the fact that the edema gradually disappears in the newborn, and the intestines are freed from what has accumulated in it. After birth, the baby has not yet established a diet, and this also affects body weight.

Normalization of the baby's weight occurs already on the fifth day. On the tenth day, body weight begins to increase regularly, depending on nutrition. New mothers who are breastfeeding should not panic if the baby is recovering too slowly. The fact,that formula-fed babies gain weight many times faster than mothers. This is due to the presence in purchased mixtures of various nutrients and components that allow the newborn to develop more quickly.

Normal birth weight is not uncommon these days, but modern medical centers allow newborns weighing as little as one kilogram to be cared for. Such babies are born with a weakened immune system, they are completely inactive and lethargic, so in the first days of life they need more attention and care. As statistics show, in a year, thanks to the help of doctors, babies become stronger, their weight returns to normal, and in their development they do not lag behind their peers.

Overweight and underweight: a danger

Insufficient body weight of the fetus, however, as well as its excess, can be observed even in the womb. If weight deficiency is diagnosed in late pregnancy, then the young mother is prescribed a special diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals. Nutritional calorie intake is also determined by the attending physician.

If the fetus is overweight, this is also not a good indicator and is considered a deviation. Doctors are wary of this, since the extra weight of the baby may indicate violations in its development, and in most cases give the woman in labor some recommendations. Most often, she is prescribed a balanced diet, which is dominated by low-fat dairy products,vegetables and fruits. Fatty delicacies, sweet pastries and other flour products should be completely excluded from the menu; smoked meats and high-calorie dishes are also taboo.

In addition to malnutrition, often overweight in a baby already at birth may indicate that the mother has diseases of the endocrine system.

What is the danger of overweight baby for the he alth of the expectant mother

An important point: overweight baby can harm not only the newborn, but also his mother. Before birth, this can threaten the occurrence of complications in a woman already in the process of childbirth. The most common of these is a perineal tear. To avoid such injuries, women in labor are prescribed a caesarean section. After birth, such a baby may need increased attention.

During the first year, parents should constantly monitor the development of their child. By the way, the normal weight and height of the child at birth partially guarantee that his well-being at that time will be positive. In addition, when overweight or underweight, babies can develop completely different complications.

What is dangerous underweight newborn

Let's imagine that the child has already been born, and consider the problem of weight normalization in the process of the baby's life. In children born with low birth weight, there is a violation of thermoregulation. As a result, babies freeze faster, and it takes them much longer to warm up and restore the temperature balance. Such children are more susceptible to various diseases and colds, since in most cases they have reduced immunity. Hypovitaminosis and anemia are another frequent companions of underweight children.

What can be caused by overweight newborns

It has always been believed that the greater the weight of the born child, the he althier he will be. Especially often they say this about boys - they say, a real hero will grow up! This assumption is fundamentally wrong, because the normal weight of a child at the birth of a boy should be up to 5 kg.

Perhaps in the first years of life, a baby born with a larger mass will be less likely to get sick than his peers. However, in the future, he may have serious problems. These include allergies, physical retardation (because the child will have difficulty in controlling his body), as well as misunderstanding from friends (which can later lead to the development of mental disorders).

Regular weight control is the key to proper development

The normal weight of a child at birth is, of course, excellent, but in the future, parents can, without noticing it, fatten the baby (or vice versa). It is not only possible to avoid problems in this regard, but it is even necessary at the initial stage of the child's growth. First of all, it is necessary to carefully develop a diet, discussing and clarifying all the nuances with a specialist. In the future, you need to constantly monitor the growth and weight of the baby.

However, there is one “but” here: if the child’s he alth is stable even if he is overweight (within acceptable limits), then parents should not worry about it. The main thing is that the child feels good and is comfortable at this weight. In this case, young parents can simply consider their child moderately well-fed and not take any action on the way to weight loss.