Normal weight for a newborn girl. What is the normal weight of a baby at birth? Video on the topic

The weight of a newly born baby is the main indicator of its overall health. That is why doctors pay attention to this factor Special attention, recording it as one of the first in the newborn’s medical record. And it is no coincidence that the question of what weight is considered normal at the birth of a child is of such great interest to young mothers. In addition, women in labor should also know what this indicator depends on, what the risk of underweight or excess weight can be, and how to avoid problems with the baby’s weight in the future. Many also wonder: which normal weight child at birth depending on the sex of the baby? You will find answers to all these questions here.

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Everything you need to know about newborn weight

The normal weight of a child 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. Thus, the normal weight of a child at the birth of a girl can be a maximum of 4 kg.

Heredity. Thus, parents who are overweight are more likely to give birth to large children. For slim parents, the situation is the opposite.
Second, third and subsequent births.
Delayed labor (prolonged term).

Poor nutrition, consumption of too high-calorie and heavy foods during pregnancy.

If the body weight is less than 2.5 kilograms, then in this case the baby has a deficiency. This may lead to difficulties in caring for the child, and may even require special nutrition and appropriate conditions to normalize weight. Such babies are not considered premature, but their stay in the hospital may nevertheless be somewhat prolonged. Nowadays, young mothers most often give birth to children with normal or even excess weight. But babies who are underweight usually catch up with their peers in this regard by the age of six months.

What determines a baby’s weight after birth?

The weight of a newborn is influenced by many factors. The reasons why children are born with too much body weight may be the following:

Low body weight in children: causes

Bearing two, three or more fruits at the same time.
Diseases of the cardiovascular and urinary systems (including infectious), chronic lung diseases in women 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 alcohol in excess of acceptable standards(in most cases, alcoholic beverages should be completely avoided).
Consumption of caffeine in large doses.

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

A baby's normal birth weight may decrease by about 150-200 grams in the first 24 hours of life. This indicator is appropriate if the baby was born weighing 2.5-4.5 kg. This is the baby's normal birth weight. It is considered acceptable and absolutely natural to reduce it by a maximum of 300 grams. This occurs due to the fact that the newborn’s swelling gradually goes away, 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 is that bottle-fed babies gain weight many times faster than mother-fed babies. This is explained by the presence in purchased mixtures of various nutrients and components that allow the newborn to develop more quickly.

A normal birth weight of a child is not uncommon these days, but modern medical centers make it possible to care for newborns weighing only one kilogram. Such babies are born with a weakened immune system, they are completely inactive and lethargic, so in the first days of life they require more attention and care. As statistics show, within a year, thanks to the help of doctors, children become stronger, their weight returns to normal, and their development is in no way behind their peers.

Excess and underweight: danger

Insufficient fetal body weight, however, as well as its excess, can be observed in the womb. If underweight is diagnosed at later pregnancy, then in this case the young mother is prescribed a special diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals. The caloric 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 excess weight of the baby may indicate disturbances in its development, and in most cases they give the mother in labor some recommendations. Most often, she is prescribed a balanced diet, which is dominated by low-fat dairy products, vegetables and fruits. It is advisable to completely exclude fatty delicacies, sweet pastries and other flour products from the menu; smoked meats and too high-calorie dishes are also taboo.

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

What are the dangers of excess baby weight for the health of the expectant mother?

An important point: excess body weight in a baby can harm not only the newborn itself, but also its mother. Before birth, this can threaten the occurrence of complications in a woman during childbirth. The most common of them is perineal rupture. To avoid such injuries, women in labor are prescribed a cesarean section. After birth, such a baby may require increased attention.
During the first year, parents should constantly monitor the development of their child. By the way, the normal weight and height of a child at birth partially guarantees that his health at that time will be positive. In addition, with excess or deficient body weight, babies can develop completely different complications.

It has always been believed that the more weight born child, the healthier he will be. This is especially often said about boys - they say, they will grow up to be a real hero! This assumption is fundamentally incorrect, because the normal weight of a child at the birth of a boy should be up to 5 kg.
During the first year, parents should constantly monitor the development of their child. By the way, the normal weight and height of a child at birth partially guarantees that his health at that time will be positive. In addition, with excess or deficient body weight, babies can develop completely different complications.

What are the dangers of underweight newborns?

Let’s imagine that the child has already been born, and consider the problem of normalizing weight during the baby’s life. In children born with low birth weight, thermoregulation is impaired. As a result, babies freeze faster and take much longer to warm up and restore their temperature balance. Such children are more susceptible to various diseases and colds, since in most cases they have reduced immunity. Hypovitaminosis and anemia are other frequent companions of children with insufficient body weight.

What can cause excess body weight in a newborn?

It has always been believed that the greater the weight of a born child, the healthier it will be. This is especially often said about boys - they say, they will grow up to be a real hero! This assumption is fundamentally incorrect, 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 weight will get sick less often than his peers. However, in the future he may have serious problems. These include allergies, delays in physical development(since the child will experience difficulties in controlling his body), as well as misunderstanding on the part of friends (which in the future can cause the development of mental disorders).

Regular weight control is the key to proper development

A child’s normal weight 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, but even necessary, to avoid problems in this regard at the initial stage of a 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 baby’s growth and weight.

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Factors affecting weight

Lack of weight

Excess weight

Newborn	50-52	3,2-3,5
1 month	54-56	4,0-4,3
2 months	58-60	4,9-5,3
3 months	60-62	5,8-6,3
4 months	64-66	6,4-6,8
5 months	65-68	7,2-7,6
6 months	67-70	7,7-8,5
7 months	69-72	8,2-8,7
8 months	70-73	8,6-9,4
9 months	71-74	9,0-9,8
10 months	72-75	9,4-10,4
11 months	73-76	9,7-10,6
12 months	74-77	10,0-10,8

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However, there is one “but” here: if the child’s health 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 in this case young parents can simply consider their child to be moderately well-fed and strong and not take any action towards weight loss.

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The normal weight of a baby is from 2500 to 4000 grams with a height of 46-56 cm; these figures were determined based on a large sample of healthy children. To control, the weight of the newborn is measured daily during the first six months of life, especially in artificial babies, in order to avoid overfeeding.

The ratio of weight and height is important; for children, the Quetelet height-weight index is used (norm 60-70): weight in kilograms divided by height in centimeters. A value of less than 60 is a deficiency, more than 70 is an excess of mass.

Factors affecting weight

A baby’s body weight is determined by many factors, primarily heredity. Fragile, thin-boned parents are unlikely to give birth to a five-kilogram baby, and vice versa. The following affects the weight of a newborn:

genetic factors: the constitution of the parents and their weight at birth play a primary role in the baby’s body weight;
whether the baby was born on time or not: premature babies are usually lighter than those born by term birth;
balanced nutrition of the mother during pregnancy;
type of nutrition: artificial feeding stimulates rapid weight gain; a child will never gain excess weight on breast milk;
maternal health: toxicosis, infections, smoking and alcohol lead to the birth of a low-birth-weight baby, diabetes, overeating, vitamin abuse, Rh conflict - to the birth of a baby heavier than 4.5 kg;
baby’s health: intrauterine infections and defects lead to malnutrition or low weight; Down syndrome and immune pathology, on the contrary, lead to greater weight;
boys are heavier than girls by an average of 200-250 grams;
Each subsequent baby from the same mother is larger than the previous ones.

The weight of a child at birth does not predetermine his further weight and constitution by 100% - by the age of one year, babies who started with 2500 and 4000 grams can weigh almost the same. But a significant deviation from the norm may indicate a possible pathology in the present or future.

Lack of weight

Low birth weight babies - a group of babies weighing less than 2500 grams due to multiple pregnancy, malnutrition or prematurity. Children freeze faster, often get sick, suffer from anemia and hypovitaminosis, and develop more slowly.

A full-term baby of twins, triplets or quadruplets is usually smaller than 2.5 kilograms, but is fully developed and ready for life outside the mother's body. Only observation by a pediatrician is required, without therapeutic interventions.

In premature infants (born before 37 weeks), in addition to insufficient weight, the immaturity of the respiratory, thermoregulatory and other systems comes to the fore. Such babies need proper nutrition and a sterile incubator, plus the supervision of qualified personnel.

Hypotrophic children or children with impaired nutritional status (INS) are born to mothers with a history of pathology. Also cardiovascular, endocrine, gynecological, renal, occupational hazards, infections, stress and placental insufficiency. They are divided into four groups:

Normal height and low weight when exposed to a provoking factor after 16 weeks of pregnancy. The child eats poorly and gains weight.
Low weight and slightly delayed growth, physical and psycho-emotional development.
Weight and height are proportionally reduced, development is delayed, and immunity is reduced. By the age of 18, development is normalized.
Height and weight are significantly reduced, mental and mental development, disabled children.

How to help a low birth weight baby

Low birth weight children should be fed little by little, given sweetened water between feedings, hardened (douches, air and sunbathing). Massage, gymnastics, swimming improve blood flow to the muscles and activate growth and mass gain. Among the drugs, adaptogens (ginseng, lemongrass, echinacea, eleutherococcus) and mineral-vitamin complexes have a good effect. Complementary foods and supplementary feeding should be added to breast milk and formulas in a timely manner; mixtures should be enriched with proteins and fats. It is necessary to properly attach the baby to the breast (frequent, long-term feedings from each mammary gland), do not use a pacifier and do not supplement with water.

Excess weight

Large children, over 4500 grams, are prone to diabetes and obesity in the future; during childbirth, such a baby and his mother are highly likely to be injured. In childhood, children have difficulty adapting to stress, and the risk of allergies is high.

Excess weight of a newborn baby is corrected (only if the baby is on formula milk) with the correct dose and frequency of feedings, introducing complementary foods a little later and according to the schedule. A baby with a large mass breastfeeding by one year it usually reaches the age norm. Swimming, massage and gymnastics help harmonious development and reduction of fat mass.

Weight dynamics in the first days of life

In the first week, the baby loses up to 150 grams or five to seven percent of its weight: the stress of birth and a radical change in diet make themselves felt. Children heavier than four kilograms do not get enough colostrum; “small” babies find it difficult to breastfeed at full strength. After a week, the baby begins to gain weight; the norm is found according to weight-height tables. Up to six months, the monthly increase is about 500 grams, then – 400 grams, by the year the child’s weight is 9-14 kilograms, height increases by one and a half times.

Newborn	50-52	3,2-3,5
1 month	54-56	4,0-4,3
2 months	58-60	4,9-5,3
3 months	60-62	5,8-6,3
4 months	64-66	6,4-6,8
5 months	65-68	7,2-7,6
6 months	67-70	7,7-8,5
7 months	69-72	8,2-8,7
8 months	70-73	8,6-9,4
9 months	71-74	9,0-9,8
10 months	72-75	9,4-10,4
11 months	73-76	9,7-10,6
12 months	74-77	10,0-10,8

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A child’s weight at birth is one of the most important indicators of the baby’s health. Along with height, chest and head circumference parameters, skin condition and color, weight play a very important role in the further speed of adaptation and development of the newborn.

Physiological weight loss in newborns

The fact remains unchanged that a child’s height is one of the most stable indicators and, as the child grows up, it certainly maintains an upward trend. The same cannot be said about the weight of a newborn. In the first days after birth, babies tend to lose weight and by the third day of life the baby’s weight can decrease by as much as 10%. This feature should not unnecessarily worry a young mother, because weight loss after childbirth is a natural reaction of the baby’s body to the stress experienced and to the changed conditions of the surrounding reality. After birth, the processes of nutrition, blood circulation and breathing of the baby are transformed. In addition, the act of sucking the mother's breast requires constant physical effort from the baby. It is these features that are associated with the fact that the weight of a newborn may be somewhat lost in the first days of life.

Children also lose weight when fed artificial formula from birth. In this case, the child loses less weight and gains it faster. This is due to the stable composition of fats and carbohydrates in artificial nutrition. In the first days, a breastfed baby receives extremely healthy colostrum, rich in proteins and vitamins. At the same time, the fat content in it is slightly less than in mature milk, and the calorie content of colostrum is correspondingly lower.

Premature babies and low-weight babies also invariably lose weight. At the same time, these groups of children can lose more than ten percent in the first days after birth, gradually making up for the lost values during the first month.

After leaving the maternity hospital, the baby’s weight indicators remain quite stable and begin to grow at a normal rate of 20–40 grams per day, gradually approaching the initial indicators. From the tenth day of life, the baby gains 150–300 grams per week and by the end of the first month can weigh a whole kilogram more than after birth. This trend of rapid weight gain will continue throughout the first three months.

Normal weight indicators in full-term infants at birth.

At birth, the average weight of full-term newborns is 2.5–4 kg. At the same time, these indicators, depending on many patterns, are quite difficult to predict. The ultrasound diagnostic method allows you to calculate the baby’s weight only approximately. Doctors note that firstborns, as a rule, weigh less than their brothers and sisters by an average of 500 grams, and the weight of boys exceeds the weight of girls by 100–300 grams. Recently, the trend of the birth of “hero boys” has continued, when the weight and height of the child is fixed at fairly high levels. Often the weight of a newborn baby may depend on the following factors::

on heredity indicators;
from the duration of pregnancy ( premature baby has a lower weight, just as a newborn born later than expected has a greater likelihood of exceeding the normal weight);
on the lifestyle, dietary habits of the mother during pregnancy and her psychological comfort (stress and heavy physical activity increase the likelihood of giving birth to a low-weight newborn);
on the gender of the child;
from chronic maternal diseases (large children are often born to women with diabetes or obesity);
from multiple pregnancy, etc.

What is the normal weight of a newborn? Immediately after birth, doctors check the obtained values for the parameters of children with the approved values. At the same time, the table of the Research Institute of Pediatrics of the Russian Federation and the table of normal weight of newborns according to the WHO version differ slightly.

Newborn weight chart (WHO)

Weight indicators in grams	Very low	Short	Below the average	Average	Above average	High	Very tall
Girls	2000	2400	2800	3200	3700	4200	4800
Boys	2100	2500	2900	3300	3900	4400	5000

Quetelet index

One of the most popular methods for assessing a child’s birth weight is the Quetelet index. This value is determined by dividing the height of the newborn by its weight. At the same time, the resulting value, which is included in the range of values from 60 to 70, is evidence of a normal indicator of the child’s weight at birth and one of the factors of its full development.

Table of approximate calculation of the Quetelet index for a newborn

Example: Height - 51 cm, Weight - 3100 g.

At the same time, indicators less than 60 indicate a lack of body weight, if more than 70 indicate its excess.

Weight loss in newborns

Newborns weighing less than 2500 g are assigned the status of low birth weight. At the same time, it is not so much the baby’s weight deficit that is very important, but rather the condition and formation of his internal organs and vital systems. Newborns who were born at 28–37 weeks are considered to be premature babies. The weight of a premature seven-month-old baby is only 1500 grams with a height of 41 cm. Such babies are often not ready for independent breathing and feeding and need special care and close monitoring.

In some cases, with chronic diseases in a young mother (heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, etc.), a baby born at term is underweight. In such cases, the child is diagnosed with malnutrition. Treatment of such babies consists of individual selection of a special highly nutritious diet. Newborns diagnosed with melon have a slightly greater tendency, compared to other children, to be thin.

Multiple pregnancies can also cause underweight babies. If babies are born at term and their organ systems are sufficiently developed, then medical intervention is often limited to observation only.

Excess weight in newborns

If a baby is born weighing more than 4000 grams, the doctor classifies him as a large child. Babies - “heroes” are often born to tall and full parents. Recently, the number of newborn babies with high birth weight has increased slightly. Why is there still an increase in the birth rate of large children? There are several versions. The reasons for the birth of large babies include: diabetes and obesity in expectant mother, improper nutrition of a pregnant woman, hemolytic disease, etc. Often, children with high weight are born to mothers who took certain vitamin complexes, certain hormonal medications, drugs with high glucose content, etc. during pregnancy.

Correction of excess weight in a bottle-fed baby involves individual dosages of the formula. When breastfed, children with this problem develop quite harmoniously by the age of one year and the problem disappears on its own. Sometimes a pediatrician may prescribe massage, swimming and other physical activities for children.

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At what height and weight was the newborn born? It is this question that worries almost everyone - doctors who, based on these indicators, determine whether everything is normal in the little one, the mother herself, who dreams of giving birth to a strong and healthy baby, and numerous relatives, for whom these numbers can even become a reason for pride. But does everyone know what the normal weight of a child at birth should be?

There is no doubt about doctors :) for them, the normal weight of a child at birth is a very important indicator. As for parents and grandparents, they often rely on their own experience or numbers heard from friends and acquaintances.

In fact, everything is much simpler - a normal weight at the birth of a child is considered to be in the range from 2600 to 4000 g and a height of 46-56 cm. Now pay attention. It turns out that not only these indicators themselves are important, which you will subsequently monitor using the height and weight table, but also their ratio, which allows you to determine the so-called Quetelet index.

To make it clearer, let's look at a specific example. Let's say that the baby was born with a weight of 3350 and a height of 52 cm. If you divide his birth weight by his height, you get a number, in this case, 64. A ratio (this is the Quetelet index) is considered normal in the range of 60-70. That is, everything is fine with the baby.

Thus, knowing the boundaries within which a child’s normal weight at birth fits and what the height-to-weight ratio should be, you can always understand how much these data should please or alarm you.

For example, if a newborn has a Quetelet index of less than 60, this indicates a deficiency in body weight in relation to height. This is often a consequence of intrauterine malnutrition. In simple terms, malnutrition, the causes of which should be determined by a doctor.

And one last thing. Everything that is written above will be correct only for babies born on time. In premature babies, these indicators will be different, and further development has its own characteristics.

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Surprisingly, we forget a lot in life, but we remember the height and weight of a born child all our lives. Probably, it is nature’s nature for a woman-mother to know and remember these numbers, because by them, by their changes, we judge the state of the baby’s health.

The weight of a newborn baby is an important indicator of its development. Therefore, the first measurement and weighing is carried out immediately or a couple of hours after birth. These indicators are carefully recorded in maternity hospital registers and written on a tag on the baby’s arm.

There is a practice of weighing infants daily while they are in the hospital. Medical staff carefully monitors the dynamics of increase or decrease in size and takes measures to regulate the data. Then, after being discharged from the maternity hospital, the parents go to the clinic for control weighings and monitor the increase in grams and centimeters month by month.

Sizes at birth

According to the standards established by the World Health Organization, the average weight of a boy at birth is 3400-3500 g. And girls are born smaller - 3200-3400 g. These are average figures; in fact, the weight of children at birth can be much higher or lower than WHO data.

It is considered normal for a baby to be born between two and a half and four and a half kilograms. Babies born below or above these weights are considered premature or overweight. If the parents of underweight children are not very short, and the parents of overweight children are not giants, then the children are at risk. They may experience psychomotor and other disorders; a neonatologist and pediatrician constantly monitor them.

The normal weight at birth of a child is 2500-4500 g. If the baby weighs less or more than these values, he is at risk for health

In fact, the weight of a newborn depends on many factors.

If parents are people of average build and height, then their children are born weighing about 3 kg, that is, within the average weight, according to WHO.
The second and third babies of the same mother have a higher weight than first-born babies. Parents over 35 years old have larger children than younger ones (although there are exceptions).
A child whose mother did not eat well during pregnancy, did not adhere to the diet, or had bad habits, will be born thin.
A pregnant woman who eats fatty, sweet, high-calorie foods will give birth to a larger baby.

Weight gain up to one year

In the first days of life, the baby physiologically loses up to 250 grams. This is normal, since the baby is not eating enough yet, and quite a lot of fluids are coming out. After a few days, weight gain begins.

A special weight and height calculator will help you calculate the correct weight of your child by month. You can do this using formulas yourself. Calculation up to six months.

For example, this option. The baby was born with a body weight of 3100 g, the weight at two months should be as follows: 3100 + 800 x 2 (age in months) = 4700 g.

Another variant. It is accepted that at six months a child weighs 8200 g; in 2 months the baby will grow to the following sizes: 8200 - 800 x 4 (not enough to reach six months) = 5000 g.

From six months to one year, a child’s weight is calculated using a different formula.

First option: 3100 + 800 x 6 + 400 x 7 (number of months) = 10700 g.
Second option: 8200 + 400 x 7 (number of months) = 11000 g.

From the examples it is clear that the calculations are approximate, each formula gives its own result. At the same time, the formulas show what weight parents should target. Nature develops a child according to its own laws, and its mass may well not correspond to the calculated data.

Medical scientists have developed a special calculator with which you can easily, quickly and accurately calculate the weight and height of your baby for each month and week. For convenience, it is posted on our website. You can use it to calculate your baby's body weight.

Deviations from the norm

Characteristic marks in the development of a baby are based on weight and height. When asked how much a child should weigh at a certain age, your pediatrician or centile tables developed based on research by WHO doctors will answer you. Centile tables present indicators of weight norms and deviations in the direction of increase or decrease.

To estimate your child's weight or height, measure his height and weigh him. Find the baby's age in the tables and compare it with the number you estimated. In the colored “frame” of the table are the normal indicators. Everything to the left and right are deviations.

For example, yours. Height is 68 cm, and body weight is 8 kg. These numbers fall into the purple “frame” of the table, and this is the norm.

Infants up to six months gain 600-800 g each month and grow by 2-3 cm. After six months to a year, the increase decreases slightly and ranges from 600 to 350 g and from 2 to 1.5 cm in height. These are average standards that correspond to the development of a healthy child. Changes in the baby, which differ in the direction of increase or decrease, indicate errors in nutrition and health problems. To solve problems in a timely manner, consultation with a pediatrician, neurologist or endocrinologist is necessary. Therefore, it is so important to monitor the child’s anthropometry.

Table of monthly changes in child weight and height

The weight and height calculator, based on anthropometric data, will calculate the appropriate dimensions at a given age, calculate the body mass index, assess deviations and display indicators of the correspondence of the height and weight of the newborn. Based on these data, the pediatrician will identify possible inconsistencies and give recommendations on the nutrition, development or treatment of the baby.

Infant body mass index is an important indicator of development. With the help of ITM, it is possible to accurately assess whether the baby’s height, weight and age correspond to the monthly norms. The formula for calculating BMI is simple, every parent can do it:

I (index) = M (weight in kg) : H2 (height in m2)

The generated conclusions show how the baby grows and gains weight, and also gives an estimate of weight by month. If your score is average, it means your baby is developing normally and has enough nutrition. If your weight is less or more than average, but corresponds to your family constitution, this is also normal. And underweight or even severe underweight, as well as very high weight, indicates pathology; consultation with a specialist is necessary.

Centile table of changes in weight and height of girls

It should be noted once again that all indicators are averaged and calculated for the average child. If you get deviations from the norm, do not rush to panic; first show the baby and the calculations to your pediatrician. The doctor will evaluate the dynamics of indicators, study the condition of the baby, draw the right conclusions and make the necessary prescriptions.

Causes of underweight

Using tables, formulas or using a calculator, you discovered that your baby is under or overweight. This is a signal to parents about nutritional problems. Until the doctor diagnoses malnutrition, watch your baby. If the baby is inactive, sleepy, lethargic, then it is quite possible that he does not have enough mother’s milk, which means activity, strength for growth, and harmonious development.

Pediatricians distinguish between two causes of weight loss: internal and external. In a normally born child, without anomalies or injuries, internal causes are not considered. And external causes are associated with lack of nutrition. Weight loss with a lack of nutrients will be reflected in the newborn's body by the development of anemia, immune problems and other disorders.

The main cause of underweight is most often nutritional problems. This is what you should focus on

Analyze the reasons why your baby may be underweight for his age, as well as weight loss. Or, conversely, too much weight. Perhaps you have insufficient lactation, the baby does not have enough milk, and he is hungry. Perhaps the baby only sucks out thin, front milk. Or maybe you live in constant stress. This feeling is passed on to the child, and he fights stress with you, wasting all his energy on the fight.

Is there enough food for the child?

To understand why Small child not gaining as much as he needs, is he getting enough food, check his diapers. Well-fed infant soils diapers at least three times a day, and urinates at least 8-12 times.

You can monitor your baby’s nutrition for a maximum of a month. Compare the graph of the dynamics of weight and height, which normally change proportionally. Check to see if your baby has learned age-appropriate activities and skills.

If, apart from weight indicators, nothing in the baby worries you, if the baby is cheerful and active, sleeps peacefully, sucks well and poops on time, then underweight may not play a decisive role - you have absolutely normal child.

If you notice a developmental delay, this is important. For example, at 3 months a baby cannot hold his head for more than 4 minutes or open his mouth when approaching the nipple. Draw conclusions, consult a doctor to take action.

Remember, boys usually gain weight faster than girls, so you shouldn’t compare your first-born son with your second child, a daughter, and run to the pediatrician in a panic that the baby at the same age weighs a couple of kilos less.

Deviation from the norm (mainly in the direction of preponderance) may occur in artificially-trained children. Depending on what mixture they eat. As a rule, premium formulas are more balanced than budget lines; they do not make babies fat.

was the baby originally full-term or premature;
constitutional, hereditary characteristics of the parents;
gender of the child;
type of feeding (breastfeeding, artificial);
presence of concomitant diseases.

There are weight and height tables (centile tables), which show the average weight and height norms. You can find them on the Internet. But, as a rule, they are intended more for doctors to objectively assess the child’s development. It will be quite difficult to understand them yourself, and even impractical.

The weight with which the baby was born does not always affect its development during the year, if we are talking about a healthy child born between 38 and 40 weeks of pregnancy. Weight at birth depends on how the expectant mother ate during pregnancy and what kind of lifestyle she led (active or sedentary).

A child’s weight of 4,000 grams, for example, at birth does not always mean that he will gain more than a baby weighing 2,700-2,900 grams. It all depends on the factors described below.

On average, the weight of a full-term baby is within the following limits: for boys at birth 3,500 grams, for girls - 3,350 grams. Deviations from the norm are allowed from 2,700 grams to 4,000 grams. Body length ranges from 46 to 56 cm, with an average of 50 cm.

Let's analyze the norms of weight gain by month for newborns.

Norm of weight gain in newborns by month

In the first 6 months of a newborn’s life, the rate of weight gain per month averages 800 grams. In the second half of the year, the normal weight gain for infants is 400 grams.

In total, the child’s weight increases week by week, respectively, by 200 grams before six months and by 100 grams per week after 6 months.

Child growth by months

The growth of a healthy child during the first 12 months of life increases by a total of 25 cm. More accurate indicators are given in the height and weight tables.

Norms for monthly increase in body length:

1st quarter – 3 cm monthly;
2nd quarter – 2.5 cm monthly;
3rd quarter – 2 cm monthly;
4th quarter – 1-1.5 cm monthly.

More accurate indicators of the normal height and weight of children under one year are given in centile tables of height and weight.

Features of height and weight gain in premature infants

If the baby is premature, then the increase in body weight and length depends on gestational age (meaning the week in which the baby was born). As a rule, the schedule for gaining weight and body length in such children is individual for each specific case. And indicators of weight and height vary in relation to full-term children.

Let's break down the baby's weight by month in case of prematurity:

during the first 6 months, the average monthly weight gain for children born with a body weight of up to 1,000 grams is about 600 g, with a weight of 1,000 - 1,500 - about 740 g, and with a weight of 1,500-2,500 grams - about 870 g ;
in the second half of the year, children born with a body weight of up to 1000 g gain about 800 grams of weight monthly, and for larger babies the gain per month is 600 g.

The growth of premature babies during the first year of life increases by 26.6 - 36 cm. Usually by 2 - 3 years they catch up with their peers.

How do the constitutional characteristics of the body and hereditary factors affect the height and weight of a child under one year old?

Most parents like to compare their child with others. For example: “Here, a friend (neighbor, relative) has a child the same age as mine and weighs much more than mine. Why are we not improving? This means something is wrong."

And it seems that there is something to think about, but there is no need to panic. We are all different in genetic structure, some are thin and tall, others are stocky and short. So, these are the types of constitution described:

normosthenic;
asthenic;
hypersthenic.

The development of a child also depends on factors such as heredity. If mom and dad are short, and there is no one tall in the immediate family tree, then you shouldn’t expect your child to gain 5 cm every month. This principle partly applies to the child’s weight. We cannot change what is inherent in nature.

Gender of the child and rate of weight gain in infants by month

Boys in most cases initially weigh more at birth than girls. Accordingly, the increase in both weight and height will differ. These differences are also included in special centile tables.

The influence of the type of feeding on the weight gain of the newborn

At this point I would like to note such a nuance as overfeeding the child. Previously, it was believed that overfeeding could only be done on artificial nutrition. However, there are cases, quite often, when a mother overfeeds her child.

In both cases, there is an intensive increase not so much in body length as in body weight. That is, if a child gains monthly growth around the average and 1,500 - 2,000 grams in weight, then it’s worth thinking about whether we are feeding the baby too much and too often.

After all, uncontrolled feeding leads to such consequences as delay motor development and skills. The child later turns over, sits down, stands up, it is difficult for him, the excess weight interferes. The development of the musculoskeletal system is disrupted, obesity and many unpleasant consequences are possible.

Concomitant diseases and physical development

Babies with certain diseases gain less in both height and weight. Or, on the contrary, a situation arises when the presence of a certain disease causes a greater increase in comparison with healthy children. There are many diseases, let’s try to figure it out by highlighting the most common groups of diseases:

Diseases of the cardiovascular system. Congenital heart defects, especially complex ones, with circulatory disorders, heart failure. The reason for the weight deficit in this case is the following point. Due to the presence of the defect, the heart does not function fully, blood circulation is insufficient, the exchange of oxygen and nutrients between the organ tissue is reduced, muscles and blood vessels also suffer. This is expressed in delayed development of the child’s body.
Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system. BPD (bronchopulmonary dysplasia), malformations of the trachea, bronchi, lungs, severe intrauterine pneumonia. All these diseases affect circulatory disorders. There is a decrease in the supply of oxygen to tissues and organs, which entails poor growth and weight gain of the child.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Malformations of the intestines, esophagus, liver, bile ducts (intestinal atresia). Such problems are solved promptly in early dates after birth. Gastro-esophageal reflux (pathological reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus), viral hepatitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, in which the absorption of nutrients through the intestinal wall is impaired; suffered acute intestinal infections.
Diseases of the endocrine system. causes excessive weight gain due to the accumulation of excess fluid in the newborn’s body and the formation of edema of the subcutaneous fat. This disease can be excluded by neonatal screening, which is performed on all newborns up to 1 month.

Usually blood is taken from the heel of a newborn in the maternity hospital. Genetic syndromes such as Praderra-Willi, Shereshevsky-Turner, and Itsenko-Cushing can influence large weight gain. These diagnoses can only be made by your attending physician or a specialist (geneticist, endocrinologist).

And in conclusion, I would like to give advice to parents. In order not to wonder whether my child is developing normally, I just need to visit my pediatrician every month, who will examine the child and monitor weight gain and growth. Then he will tell you how the baby is developing. If necessary, prescribe timely examination and treatment, if required.

The first thing doctors do after giving birth is to weigh and measure the baby. These numbers are very important. They show whether the child is normally developed. Any abnormalities in a newborn primarily affect these indicators. At the same time, different standards are provided for premature babies, since they develop a little differently.

Baby's weight at birth

A child’s weight is one of the most important indicators of his health. Now this parameter can be determined even with ultrasound diagnostics on early stages pregnancy. If deviations from the norm are identified in time, it will be possible to adjust the mother’s behavior and nutrition so that these violations do not lead to drastic negative consequences.

It is important to know the size and weight of the unborn child immediately before birth. If the fetus is too large, doctors will recommend a cesarean section and will be able to prepare and take all measures to prevent injury to mother and baby.

It is no coincidence that height and weight are measured immediately after childbirth. This will help predict the further development of the child, prevent possible diseases, etc. These same parameters will affect a person’s health in the future, when he becomes an adult.

The weight of a newborn baby depends on its gender. As a rule, boys are larger than girls. Also, second and subsequent children are heavier than firstborns. There is also such a pattern: larger babies are born in the northern regions than in the southern ones.

What should the weight be?

The ideal weight of a child at birth should be at least 3 kg, but not exceed 4 kg. However, an error of 0.5 kg up or down is allowed. Doctors consider a normal weight to be between 2.5 and 4.5 kg. With these parameters, there is no talk of deviations. These average norms apply to fully term children born at 37-40 weeks of pregnancy.

A child is considered low birth weight if his body weight is less than 2.5 kg. In this case, difficulties arise with nursing him, special nutrition and conditions are required. This newborn will stay in the hospital longer than usual.

The capabilities of modern medical centers allow babies weighing only 1 kg to be delivered. Such children are more lethargic, sicker, and their immunity is weakened. In the first months of life, they require close attention and careful care. Then they gradually catch up with their peers. In the future, no special problems arise with their development.

If in the late stages of pregnancy a low fetal weight is diagnosed, the expectant mother is transferred to a special diet enriched with vitamins and nutrients.

The main reasons why low birth weight babies are born:

prematurity;
malnutrition;
multiple pregnancy.

Excess fetal weight should alert doctors and parents. It indicates developmental disorders. The most common reason for this is obesity. It is caused by the mother's poor diet. It is necessary to add fresh vegetables and fruits to the diet, and completely eliminate flour, fatty, and high-calorie foods. Also, excess weight can indicate the presence of endocrine diseases in both parents and the baby.

First of all, a large fetus is dangerous for the woman herself: complications may arise during childbirth, for example, rupture of the perineum. Most often, doctors advise a cesarean section. Otherwise, there is a high risk of birth injuries.

The connection between weight and height

However, weight or height are important not only in themselves. The ratio of these parameters is of great importance. So, if a baby is born with a body length of 56 cm, and his weight is 2600 g, then this ratio will not be normal. The child weighs too little for his height.

You can calculate the correct relationship between these two most important parameters using special correspondence tables or using the Quetelet index. To do this, you need to divide your body weight (in grams) by your height (in centimeters). The result obtained is the Quetelet index. How many units is normal? This is considered to be a value from 60 to 70. If it is less, then the baby is underweight. If it is more, then it is already considered that there is excess body weight.

Why might weight deviate from normal?

Of course, all normal values are averages. In some cases, the deviation is predictable and quite expected. Many factors influence the weight of a newborn:

Heredity. If at least one of the parents is tall and densely built, then it is very likely that a large baby will be born. If mom or dad, on the contrary, are very fragile and short, then most likely the child will be small. If you know how much the parents weighed at birth, you can roughly calculate the weight of their baby.
Maternal nutrition. Dietary habits greatly influence intrauterine development fetus The mother needs to eat properly and regularly. The diet should be rich in various nutrients, vitamins and minerals. You should definitely include a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits in your daily menu. Cereals and grains are beneficial. It is also necessary to pay attention to the methods of cooking: it is better to exclude fried and smoked foods from the diet.
Bad habits of parents. Women who smoke and drink are much more likely to give birth to weak and low-birth-weight children with various developmental disabilities. Therefore, pregnant women should absolutely not smoke, drink alcohol or take drugs.
The mother's mood also affects the condition of the fetus. Stress, quarrels, even bad mood negatively affect the unborn child, which can also lead to weight loss.
Healthy and strong children are more often born to women who lead a healthy lifestyle, creating an atmosphere of goodwill and good mood around themselves.
Excess weight in the fetus may occur due to problems with the endocrine system in the mother.
In case of multiple pregnancy, the weight of future children may decrease.
Chronic diseases, especially gynecological ones, do not allow the baby to fully develop, so a low birth weight baby may be born.

Excess and underweight: danger

It is necessary to constantly monitor the weight of the newborn and check the relationship between weight and height. The child’s well-being depends on this. When you are underweight, some conditions develop, and when you are overweight, others develop.

Why is underweight dangerous?

violation of thermoregulation, children with low weight quickly freeze;
immunity decreases, the baby becomes sick;
Hypovitaminosis and anemia develop.

Why is excess body weight dangerous?

developmental lag from peers (it is difficult for the child to control his body, it is more difficult to unlearn movements);
obese children are more likely to suffer from various allergic reactions;
The mother of a large baby must undergo examination; his excess weight may indicate the presence of diseases.

To avoid such consequences, every effort must be made to ensure that the child’s weight is normalized in the first months of life. At the same time, you must remember that mass and height are closely related. Of course, you shouldn’t go too far. You should always take into account the general condition of the baby. If he grows, develops normally and has no complaints, then we can only be glad that the baby is strong and healthy!

How much does my child weigh? Every expectant mother often asked a similar question to the midwife.

The weight of the baby is of great importance, because it can be used to understand how healthy the baby is.

It is important to keep this parameter under control throughout pregnancy.

But, if she wants to get the most accurate results, she should definitely seek help from the midwife who is managing her pregnancy.

The normal weight of a child at birth varies between 3200-3500 grams, while the body length is 50-52 cm.

Experts say that deviations from such indicators can indicate the presence of health problems - high weight often hides endocrine disorders and diabetes, and low weight often hides weak immunity.

It is worth noting that the weight of girls and boys is somewhat different - often girls are 300-600 grams less than boys.

How is the weight of an unborn baby measured?

In the second half of pregnancy, the body weight of the expectant mother increases rapidly.

While waiting for the baby to be born, a woman can gain from 10 to 20 kg in weight. There are also situations when weight gain exceeds 20 kg.

At the same time, pregnant women are interested in answers to the following questions: what is the weight of the baby at a certain stage of pregnancy.

Determination of fetal weight using the Jordania formula is used after the 35th week of pregnancy. To do this, you will need to take into account the following values:

Abdominal circumference (measured in centimeters, at the level of the navel).
VSDM (height of the uterine fundus, measured from the fundus point to the pubic symphysis).

The formula looks like this: coolant x VDSM +/- 200 grams.

It allows you to determine the approximate weight of the baby at birth. However, it will be possible to obtain accurate information only before the birth of the baby, since his weight changes in proportion to what foods the mother eats and in what quantity.

Determining the weight of a child using the Yakubova formula is carried out using a similar formula.

The circumference of the fetus (in cm) is added to the VFM and multiplied by 100, and then divided by 4.

The result compared to the previous formula will differ by 30-40 grams.

Many doctors use the calendar method, in which the weight of the child is determined by the stage of pregnancy and the size of the uterus. Here the following parameters are taken into account:

Width of the anterior semicircle of the uterus.
VDSM, measured in cm.

The discrepancies in the calculations will not be too large. It is worth understanding that the data obtained by any of the chosen methods is approximate. Not everyone is able to calculate the exact weight of a child, and even at the time of pregnancy this parameter is not particularly important.

It is important for a pregnant woman to monitor her weight so that the birth goes smoothly and the baby is born healthy.

Low weight baby

Since all people are different, they are born with different indicators.

Some are completely healthy, while others have abnormalities.

If children in your family are born underweight, you should definitely tell your doctor about it.

The specialist should know that there is no reason to worry - the child will be born with a low weight.

Other reasons for having underweight children are:

Problems with the functioning of the placenta (proeclampsia in pregnancy), high blood pressure, lack of nutrients.
Multiple pregnancy. Low weight babies are born when there are several of them. Two or more babies are cramped in one womb. In such a situation, it is very important to eat right and avoid medical examinations.
Poor nutrition during pregnancy. It is important to eat a balanced diet and according to a schedule; you should not abuse diets while pregnant. It is also important to refrain from eating heavy and unhealthy foods that lead to rapid weight gain.
Refusal healthy image life and indulgence in bad habits. This includes smoking and drinking alcohol during pregnancy. If the expectant mother behaves this way, she is unlikely to be able to give birth to a healthy child.
The presence of chronic and advanced diseases in the expectant mother. If the expectant mother has diabetes, problems with the genitourinary system and endocrine disorders, all this can affect both her condition during pregnancy and the health of the fetus.
Nervous disorders. The baby feels everything in the womb - there is no need to be stressed or worry about anything. It's important to just enjoy this moment.
A hereditary factor that manifests itself in the baby’s inheritance of a particular disease that his parents and other close relatives have.

When a baby is born with underweight, parents should not be upset. In order for a child to get stronger faster and grow up healthy, his mother should eat high-calorie foods. Then the baby on mother’s milk will be able to rapidly gain weight.

Large baby

Previously, a child was considered large if he weighed more than 4 kg at the time of birth.

But according to the latest data, those babies whose weight is around 5 kg are considered large.

The reasons for such a large weight may be as follows:

Post-term pregnancy. Despite the fact that the due date has already approached, the baby continues to grow and gain weight.
Diabetes. Sometimes during pregnancy, women's sugar levels increase, which can lead to the development of diabetes in the baby. Such children often have metabolic disorders.
Incorrectly formulated diet. This problem is one of the most common - not all expectant mothers adhere to healthy eating at such a crucial period in their lives.

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Causes of weight deviation

Children can be born with different heights and weights. The initial weight depends on the following factors:

Baby's health. If the child has no diseases, his weight will be within the normal range and will not greatly exceed or underestimate it.
Hereditary factor. If the expectant mother is tall and heavy, she will give birth to a large baby.
Floor. Boys are often larger than girls - doctors note that this has always been the case.
Maternal nutrition. If it is too high in calories, the baby will be big. It completely reflects the mother’s diet, and its health depends on what the mother eats and what regime she follows.
Mental and physical condition. If the mother is not healthy, this can affect the unborn child - his weight will be too little or too much.
Presence of bad habits in a pregnant woman. For a smoker and drinking woman underweight children are born.

Heredity

Hereditary predisposition plays an important role in this matter. If large children were born in your family, then you, most likely, will give birth to a “hero.” In some families, children are born with a small weight, this is especially true for thin parents.

Delayed labor

If labor is delayed, there is a chance of giving birth to a large baby, since it continues to develop while in the womb.

If you are experiencing a delay in your due date, you will most likely have an episiotomy, which will protect you from rupture of the birth canal, as well as from trauma to the rectum.

Question about caesarean section may be raised if:

Oblique or transverse position of the fetus.
If this operation has already been done before.
If a woman's pelvis is too narrow.
If pregnancy occurs with complications.
If the baby suffers during post-term pregnancy.

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Poor nutrition

A child’s weight largely depends on diet. If the expectant mother constantly eats fatty and sweet foods, then the probability of giving birth to a large baby with chubby cheeks is 95%. In addition, if the child is large, the birth process will cause many problems - with a narrow pelvis, it will be impossible to give birth without anesthesia, so you will have to have a caesarean section.

By following fashionable diets and limiting herself too much in food, a young mother risks giving birth to an underweight baby. Also, if weight is not gained as normal, a miscarriage may occur. In any case, there is no need to go to extremes - too much restriction in food will not lead to anything good.

That is why to give birth to a healthy child you need to eat proper and balanced food - more fruits and vegetables, boiled chicken, fish, and seafood. It is very important to watch your food in the second half of pregnancy. You should not gain more than 400 grams per week.

If a woman’s physique is normal, then during pregnancy she will gain 10-12 kg, if she is thin - 14-15 kg, and if she is fat - 7-9 kg.

Conclusion

Summarizing, it is worth noting that the weight of the child at birth directly depends on the nutrition of the expectant mother and her lifestyle.

If a woman always keeps herself in good shape, exercises during pregnancy and eats right, she will definitely give birth to a healthy child.

If she neglected these rules, then the risk of giving birth to a baby with overweight or underweight, as well as with other problems, is very high.