While the baby is still in the womb, the ultrasound scan is waited for several days just to determine its condition. But after birth, full attention is on his weight and what percentile he belongs to, as a sign of his health and condition. How can you tell if your baby is at the right weight? Find out here!
What can you read in this article?
- How much weight should baby gain per month
- Is it normal for baby to lose weight
- Baby weight chart Philippines
Hopefully, by becoming familiar with the information in this article about newborn baby weight gain and loss, you won’t have to worry — and you’ll know whether THERE IS something to worry about.
How much weight should a baby gain per month
Photo by The Craft Wonder from Pexels
The weight of your baby at birth
Genetics as well as your health and nutrition in pregnancy can tell the weight of your baby at birth.
According to the National Nutrition Council, the average baby (at 40 weeks) weighs 3.2kg. Where most healthy newborns weigh between 2.5 to 4.5kg. However, her birth weight did not matter — what mattered was the speed of her weight gain and growth pattern over the next few months.
Is it normal for baby to lose weight
All babies will lose a few ounces from birth weight in their early days.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 5% weight loss is considered normal for the newborn who is formulating and 7-10% weight loss is considered normal in breastfeeding mothers.
This is reiterated by the Australian Breastfeeding Association which states that the maximum weight loss of 7-10% is recognized as normal in those who breastfeed.
In fact, according to the study published in Pediatrics, exclusively breastfed newborns will be reduced by 10% or more of their birth weight in the first days after birth.
This study also found a difference in weight loss in vaginally and c-section births-in 5% of the former was reduced in 10% of birth weight. And 10% of those who followed lost the same weight.
This rapid weight loss should not be a concern. Because babies are born overweight to support them until breastfeeding begins.
Baby weight chart Philippines
Dr. Jennifer Shu, a pediatrician and co-author of Heading Home With Your Newborn, reassures new mothers by pointing out that the colostrum released by the breasts after giving birth, contains everything a baby needs at this point.
Two to five days after giving birth, breastmilk will flow. Following this, the baby will gradually gain weight — he will be able to regain his birth weight when he is 14 days old.
During these times, neonatal experts say that the baby’s weight gain should be documented at least half an ounce per day.
Baby weight chart Philippines for boys
Baby weight chart Philippines for girls
From the day of birth, her weight will be evaluated and recorded on the weight-for-age growth chart. The most common chart is the percentile chart, which is based on Workd Health Organization growth standards.
Importantly, World Health Organization growth standards are based on healthy breastfed babies from 6 countries on different continents, and can be used even if your child is breastfed or formula-fed.
They can show the proper growth of a healthy baby compared to older versions based on information obtained from formula-fed babies.
Children will grow on their own ‘curve’, and as long as his curve is followed continuously, there is nothing to worry about.
For example, a baby who is in the fifth percentile and always in the fifth percentile is less likely to worry than a baby in the 50th percentile who suddenly drops.
If you see a baby with a large amount of chard, have the baby go back and forth to check the weight and try to feed him more, according to Dr. Shu.
If she is eating right but not gaining weight, tests will be done to find the real cause, such as a food allergy.
READ MORE:
Why is my newborn not gaining enough weight?
This one reason is contributing to your child’s rapid weight gain
7 Healthy foods to help your child gain weight
Newborn weight chart
Breastfed baby vs. formula-fed baby
Babies who use formula have less difficulty gaining weight than breastfed babies. In reality, formula users may be overweight because the formula is more concentrated compared to breastmilk and often, parents prefer to drain the entire bottle.
According to Dr. Jack Newman, a known worldwide breastfeeding expert, and pediatrician, overweight is less of a problem in breastfed babies.
This is because breastfeeding stops when the baby is full (rather than when it is depleted) so, they can control the amount of milk they drink.
There is no need to worry about the rapid growth of a breastfed baby who is content and energetic, according to Dr. Newman.
Observe your child’s bowel movements
In the first three days after birth, she will have black stools or meconium. In the third or fourth, her stool will be soft and sticky (if breastfeeding) or dark and hard (if formulating).
If her stool does not change like this, experts recommend that she is not getting enough milk.
Another indication that she is not eating enough is not having enough wet diapers in a day. In total, two-day-olds will have two to three wet diapers a day. But, it should have increased by six to eight when he was a week old.
If you think she is not getting enough wet diapers, or you notice something strange in her stool, talk to her pediatrician right away.
Average weight gain in the first year
What most people know is that the baby should weigh an average of 140 to 201 grams (5 to 7 1/2 ounces) per week, for the first three years, Dr. Newman recommends not to watch these averages too much.
Instead, Dr. suggests. Newman should note that:
“The baby that follows the 95th percentile on the growth chart will get higher.
The baby who follows the third percentile will get less. This is one reason why growth curves are a good basis for a baby’s growth. “
Note that between the third and sixth months of age, his average growth will slow to between 105 and 147 grams per week. And between six and 12 months, it slows even further to 70 to 91 grams per week.
In total, they will double their birth weight by five months, and triple it in a year.
Is it normal for baby to lose weight
Baby weight chart in the Philippines. | Photo by Isaac Taylor from Pexels
There are several reasons for insufficient weight gain** in newborns, including the following:
1. Your baby does not latch properly
It just seems easy, but helping the baby latch on properly requires practice with both mother and baby. If she thinks she is not getting enough breast milk, her latch should be adjusted according to Dr. Newman.
Dr. Newman suggests,
“It’s important for the mother to know if the baby is getting milk instead of just biting. If the baby isn’t getting enough, compression can help.”
Breast compression is the squeezing of the breast while the baby is nursing, but not drinking. It is a slab that sucks milk into the baby’s mouth.
If you have difficulty latching the baby, consult a pediatrician immediately, or a lactation consultant/nurse, who will guide you through the correct techniques here.
2. Your baby may have a tongue-tie
Some babies may have a tongue-tie, meaning that the lingual frenulum — the part of the skin that connects the tongue and the lower part of the mouth — is too thick or short. This interferes with the movement of the tongue, making it difficult for her to breastfeed.
One of the signs that can be seen if the baby has this condition is when the tip of his tongue is broken down when crying with the mouth open.
If you suspect that your baby has a tongue-tie, let the pediatrician or lactation consultant know. The remedy for this condition is for the doctor to cut the frenulum.
Tongue-tie is more of a problem for breastfed babies compared to bottle users. Because the ones that bottle-feed are less likely to use their tongues to get milk.
3. Your baby is not eating very well
Newborns should eat every two and a half hours, or, eight to 12 times per 24 hours, according to La Leche League International (LLLI)
According to Dr. Shu, some babies become very drowsy, so they skip some food. But at this point, the need to eat at regular intervals will prevail for a good night’s sleep. And at least until the pediatrician says that the frequency of meals can be reduced.
If your baby does not eat often, especially in the early stages, your body is not encouraged to make enough milk. This also means your child is not getting enough nutrition. This makes her too drowsy to eat.
If your baby is already closing his eyes while breastfeeding, do your best to wake him up by rubbing his foot or cheek. If it doesn’t work, move her away from the breast to wake her up, then latch on.
4. You have a breastmilk supply problem
One of the possible reasons why your baby is not at the right weight may be because of your milk supply.
Although it’s hard to tell if she’s getting enough breastmilk until she’s getting the recommended amount of wet diapers and frequent bowel movements.
However, to sustain supply not only frequent latching is needed — but a lot of support. Often, the supply problem begins with the lack of maternal support in the beginning. This can have a negative impact on promoting full supply.
Talk to a lactation consultant, your doctor, or another lactating mother for help and support.
5. The formula is not mixed properly
Dr. Shu explained that some parents add extra water to the formula to save money or because it is thought to be the cause of the baby’s constipation.
Follow the right measurements — too much water and not enough nutrition is dangerous for newborns. If, for whatever reason, she is given formula and not breast milk***.
We hope this information is helpful to you. Remember not to compare your baby and his or her size or weight with other babies. Each is unique and weighs at different speeds.
Please note that this is a general guide. Everything related to your baby’s health should be told to a specialist. Consult immediately if your child’s weight has slowed or stopped.
Medical professionals around the world say breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for the newborn baby. They suggest having at six months only breastfeeding.
If you want to read the Filipino version of this article, click here.
Here at theAsianparent Philippines, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advise or medical treatment. TheAsianparent Philippines is not responsible to those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend to consult your doctor for clearer information.
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