Understanding Your Baby's Early Weight Fluctuations

Why do newborns lose weight in their first few days, and when should you start to worry? Join me, Carey, on Parenting Powerhouse by Parenting Genie as we uncover the truth about newborn weight, dispelling common myths and providing essential insights for new parents. Discover why it's perfectly normal for your newborn to shed up to 10% of their birth weight initially, and how to distinguish between healthy weight variations and potential red flags. We'll also decode the differences in weight gain between breastfed and formula-fed babies, offering peace of mind and practical advice.

You'll learn how to use crucial indicators such as wet and dirty nappies to ensure your baby is getting enough nourishment and why regular health check-ups are essential for tracking your child's growth. We delve into the nuances of steady weight gain throughout the first month, addressing concerns about both slow weight gain and the rare issue of overfeeding. With our expert guidance, you'll understand why every baby is unique and the importance of not comparing your baby's weight to others. This episode is packed with valuable information to help you feel more confident about your newborn's growth and overall well-being. Don’t miss it!

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Episode Transcript

(00:07):
Hello and welcome back I'm yourhost, Carey, and this episode
is about newborn weight.
If you're wondering what'snormal and what to expect
regarding your baby's weight inthose early days, this episode

(00:28):
is for you.
Let's start by addressing thefact that newborn weight can
vary greatly.
It's normal for babies to beborn with a wide range of weight
.
A typical full-term baby weighs2.5 to 4 kilos, but remember
that every baby is unique.
Some babies are smaller, someare larger, and many factors can

(00:51):
influence your baby's birthweight, such as genetics, your
health during pregnancy andwhether your baby was born early
or late.
One of the most surprisingthings for new parents is that
babies lose weight after birth.
In the first few days of life,it's normal for newborns to lose
up to 10% of their birth weight.

(01:12):
This is usually because babiesare shedding extra fluids they
were born with and their feedingroutines are just getting
established.
For example, if your baby wasborn at 7 pounds, it might drop
to around 6.3 pounds in thefirst few days.
While this can be concerningfor some parents, this early

(01:35):
weight loss is normal.
Most babies regain their birthweight by two weeks of age and
from there they start to gainweight steadily.
For breastfed babies, theprocess can sometimes take a
little longer than for formulafed babies, but both are
perfectly healthy.
By around five to seven daysyou should start seeing that

(01:57):
your baby's weight is inchingback up as they settle into a
regular feeding routine.
Let's discuss what to expectregarding weight gain in the
following weeks.
On average, newborns gainaround 150 to 200 grams per week
during the first month.
This means that after theinitial weight loss, you'll

(02:21):
likely see a steady increase asyour baby begins to thrive.
However, remember that babiesgrow at different rates and a
slight variation in weight gainfrom week to week is expected.
For many parents, the biggestquestion is is my baby getting
enough to eat?

(02:41):
This is especially true forbreastfeeding parents, as it can
be hard to know exactly howmuch your baby is consuming.
One of the best indicators thatyour baby is feeding well is
their weight gain.
Regular weight checks duringyour baby's child health nurse
or doctor visits will help tracktheir progress and give you

(03:03):
peace of mind.
Wet and dirty nappies indicatethat your baby is getting enough
to eat In the first few days,your baby might have only a few
wet nappies, but by day five youshould expect at least six wet
nappies and a few dirty onesdaily.
This is a reassuring sign thatyour baby is getting enough

(03:25):
nourishment.
It's also important to rememberthat not all babies follow the
same growth curve.
Some babies gain weight morequickly, while others gain
weight slowly.
This is why your healthcareprovider will track your baby's
growth over time using a growthchart.
Rather than focusing on anynumber, they'll look at your

(03:48):
baby's growth trend to ensurethey stay on track.
Now what happens if your babyisn't gaining weight as expected
?
First of all, don't panic.
There are many reasons why ababy might experience slow
weight gain, and often thesolution is simple.
For breastfed babies, it mightbe a matter of adjusting the

(04:10):
latch or feeding more frequently.
If you're concerned about yourbaby's weight, it's essential to
contact your healthcareprovider or lactation consultant
for support.
They can help assess thesituation and guide you in
getting your baby back on track.
On the flip side, some parentsworry about overfeeding,

(04:31):
particularly with formula-fedbabies.
While it's rare for a newbornto overfeed, you'll want to
watch for signs of overfeeding,such as excessive spit-up or
fussiness after feeds.
If unsure, your healthcareprovider can help you determine
the right amount of feed foryour baby, based on their needs.

(04:53):
Weight gain will continue to bean essential marker of their
health and development as yourbaby grows.
However, it's crucial toremember that weight is just one
aspect of your baby's overallwell-being.
Your baby's behavior, feedingpatterns and overall development
are equally important factorsto consider.

(05:14):
I want to stress the importanceof not comparing your baby's
weight with other babies.
It's easy to fall into thecomparison trap, especially when
you see other babies who mightbe bigger or smaller than yours,
who might be bigger or smallerthan yours.
Remember every baby is uniqueand what matters most is that

(05:34):
your baby is growing at ahealthy rate for them.
Focus on your baby's growthpattern and trust they're
developing at their own pace.
As we wrap up, I want toemphasize that understanding
newborn weight can take theguesswork out of those early
parenting days.
Whether your baby is gainingweight quickly or slowly, the

(05:58):
key is to work closely with yourhealthcare provider to monitor
their progress.
Regular check-ups, trackingtheir weight and monitoring
their wet nappy output are allgreat ways to ensure your baby
thrives.
That concludes today's episodeon understanding newborn weight.
I hope this information helpsease some of the worries of

(06:22):
being a new parent.
Our next episode we will discussbest tips for bottle feeding.
As always, if you have anyconcerns or need real-time
support, parenting Genie is herefor you.
We offer parenting live expert,24-7 support where you can

(06:44):
connect instantly with amaternal child health nurse for
professional advice.
We're just a click away.
If you have any questions aboutfeeding, sleep or other
parenting challenges, please letus know.
For more tips and resources,visit our website at
parentinggeniecomau.

(07:04):
Don't forget about Genie Chat,which offers instant answers to
all your parenting questions,from pregnancy to raising a
five-year-old.
Until next time, take care andenjoy this incredible journey of
parenthood.
Thank you.