According to the WHO, the average birth weight of a full-term male baby is 7 pounds (lb) 6 ounces (oz) , or 3.3 kilograms (kg). The average birth weight of a full-term female is 7 lb 2 oz , or 3.2 kg. The average weight of a baby born at 37–40 weeks ranges from 5 lb 8 oz to 8 lb 13 oz. This is 2.5 to 4 kg.
In India, the normal weight of a newborn male baby is up to 2.8 to 3.2 kgs at the time of birth. Whereas, in the case of a newborn female baby it is up to 2.7 to 3.1 kgs at the time of birth. Most of the time it is seen that the mother's weight is very important in improving the weight of their newborn baby.
Facts about baby weight gain
Almost all babies born in Australia (94%) weigh between 2.5-4.5 kgs at birth. Girls tend to weigh less than boys at birth. First babies and babies who were one of a multiple birth generally weigh less. A weight loss of around 10% in the first week of life is normal.
The average birth weight for babies is around 3.5 kg (7.5 lb), although between 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) and 4.5 kg (10 lb) is considered normal. In general: Boys are usually a little heavier than girls. First babies are usually lighter than later siblings.
Historically, babies with macrosomia weigh more than 4,000 grams (8 pounds, 13 ounces) or more than 4,500 grams (9 pounds, 15 ounces) at birth. Macrosomic babies are more likely to have a difficult delivery. But the risk of complications is significantly greater when a baby is born weighing more 4,500 grams.
Average baby weights
The average weight of a baby born at 37–40 weeks ranges from 5 lb 8 oz to 8 lb 13 oz. This is 2.5 to 4 kg. At delivery, experts consider a low birth weight to be less than 5 lb 8 oz, or 2.5 kg. It is common for babies to lose around 10% of their weight shortly after birth.
Vaginal birth is still recommended is your baby is estimated to weigh less than 5,000 g (10 lbs) if you don't have diabetes. If your baby is estimated to weigh more than 4,500 g (8.4 lbs), and your labor stalls in the active stage or the baby doesn't descend, this is an indication for cesarean delivery.
Most babies born between 37 and 40 weeks weigh somewhere between 5 pounds, 8 ounces (2,500 grams) and 8 pounds, 13 ounces (4,000 grams). Newborns who are lighter or heavier than the average baby are usually fine.
A birthweight less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces, is diagnosed as low birthweight. Babies weighing less than 3 pounds, 5 ounces, at birth are considered very low birthweight. The average newborn weighs about 7.6 pounds, and about 7.6 percent of all newborns in the U.S. have low birthweight.
The primary cause of low birthweight is premature birth (being born before 37 weeks gestation). Being born early means a baby has less time in the mother's uterus to grow and gain weight. Much of a baby's weight is gained during the latter part of pregnancy.
This risk becomes significant for those babies born weighing less than 1500 g. For this reason, low-birth-weight infants can be further classified into 'very low birth weight' (VLBW) if they weigh 1000–1500 g and 'extremely low birth weight' (ELBW) if they weigh less than 1000 g.
The definition of low birthweight as weighing less than 2,500 grams at birth is the Australian standard and the World Health Organization standard. Babies with low birthweight may be small due to being born early (pre-term), or may be small for their gestational age (including intrauterine growth restriction).
What does low birth weight mean? You'll hear this term if your baby weighs less than 2.5kg when they're born. About one in 15 babies who are born in Australia have a low birth weight .
Yes. There's no way to predict exactly how big this enormous infant will become, but studies have shown a linear correlation between birth weight and adult size (as measured by the body mass index). We also know that the length of a baby is associated with its eventual height and weight.
A baby generally inherits half its genes from its mother and half from its father, so it makes sense that both have an impact on the genetics of the final baby. The mother's height and weight impact the weight of the baby at birth - and the father's height and weight have an impact too.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
“It's already well established that preterm birth and low birth weight of the child are risk factors for autism,” he said. “But this is the first study to show that parental preterm birth and low birth weight might carry some risk for their future offspring as well.”
A mother's diet certainly has the potential to affect her baby's size. However, there are many other factors, including: Genetics: the genes coming from both mother and father can determine a baby's size. Pre-existing medical conditions, such as anaemia, diabetes, cardiac disease, etc.
Babies with low birth weight may be more at risk of certain health problems. They include immediate problems, such as: Breathing problems.
A child's normal weight is somewhere between 2.5 and 3.5 kg. If the weight is slightly more than 3.5 kg it is also considered to be normal. If your baby weighs less than 2.5 kg, he or she is said to have a low birth weight. This is something that can happen to premature babies.
Avoid foods that can give you heartburn and eating too close to bedtime. Get a little safe exercise in during the day. If you nap, do it early in the day. Make your room a comfortable temperature; many experts recommend turning the temperature down for sleep.
Women who gain a lot of weight during pregnancy often give birth to babies who are large for gestational age. Gene problems may also make a baby more likely to be LGA. Diabetes in the mother is the most common cause of babies who are large for gestational age.
A larger than expected fundal height could be a sign of fetal macrosomia. Excessive amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios). Having too much amniotic fluid — the fluid that surrounds and protects a baby during pregnancy — might be a sign that your baby is larger than average.
“The trend is, the larger the baby, the harder it is to deliver,” she says, “but that's actually just one factor in many that affect how the birth goes.”