Is physiological weight loss normal?

The physical development of children is a matter of great concern to many parents, but most babies will also experience certain changes in their body weight when they are just born, such as weight loss. Clinically, this situation is called physiological weight loss. Physiological weight loss is very normal, which is also related to the child's physical constitution. If the weight loss continues for a long time, attention should be paid to conditioning.

1. Weight loss

Newborns will lose weight within the first week after birth, and the baby's weight will reach its lowest point 3-4 days after birth. This weight loss will not exceed 8% of the newborn's weight. As the amount of milk intake increases, the weight will gradually return to normal. We call this weight loss physiological weight loss. The physiological weight loss in premature infants lasts longer, and it takes a longer time to return to the original weight, even as long as 2-3 weeks. However, after the baby's weight returns to its birth weight, it will gain weight rapidly as the amount of milk increases, generally 25-30 grams per day. If you do not gain weight or lose weight again, this is not corrective and you should see a doctor to find out the reason.

2. Scope

By the 3rd to 4th day after birth, weight loss can reach 6 to 9% of birth weight. For example, a baby weighs 3,700 grams at birth and can lose 222 to 333 grams on the 3rd to 4th day. After that, as the baby's milk intake increases, the body's adaptability to the external environment gradually adjusts and the weight gradually increases, returning to the birth weight. If the weight drops by more than 10% of the birth weight, or has not returned to the birth level on the 10th day after birth, it is not normal "physiological weight loss" and the cause should be found out, whether it is improper feeding, insufficient milk, or the child is sick.

3. Note

Generally, the weight of a newborn baby will increase significantly 7 to 10 days after birth, at a rate of about 30 grams per day, which indicates that the baby's internal development is on normal track. However, there are also individual children whose weight gain is less than 100 grams in the second week. If there are no other diseases, we should first think that it may be insufficient breast milk, and then actively find ways to help the mother continue breastfeeding. For example, increase the number of times the child sucks, correct incorrect sucking postures, let the mother eat well, sleep well, and not be anxious, etc. If these methods are still ineffective, you can try adding some formula milk to prevent the baby from crying and lack of sleep, which further affects weight gain. This method of adding a little formula milk for a short period of time does not mean giving up breastfeeding, it is just a temporary expedient. It is estimated that after the second week, when the new mother has adapted to the family environment and life order, breast milk secretion will increase, and at this time she should return to full breastfeeding.