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 . If your baby weighs less than 1.5kg, midwives, doctors and nurses may describe your baby as having a very, or extremely, low birth weight (AIHW 2020, Hicks 2016).
Babies are considered of low birth weight if they weigh less than 2500 g at birth. Low birth weight is associated with an increased risk of physical and mental disabilities. This risk becomes significant for those babies born weighing less than 1500 g.
Low birthweight (% newborns who weigh <2.5kg)
Definition: Low birthweight is defined as less than 2,500 grams (up to and including 2,499 grams). Birthweight is the first weight of the newborn obtained after birth.
Low birth weight (LBW) is a term used when the newborn baby weighs less than 2.5 Kg, regardless of the gestational age of the baby. The average Indian newborn usually weighs between 2.5 to 2.9 Kgs.
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.
More than 9 out of 10 babies born at term (37 to 40 weeks) weigh between 2.5kg and 4.5kg. If your baby weighs 4.5kg or more at birth, they are considered larger than normal.
If your baby weighs less than 2.5kg at birth, their head may appear to be a lot bigger than the rest of their body. They may look thin with little body fat. Babies of low birth weight or those who are born prematurely, may need to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or special care nursery (SCN).
The term low birth weight. 'Low birth weight' (LBW) has been defined as first weight recorded within hours of birth of <2500 g. Very low birth weight (VLBW) is accepted as <1500 g and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) is <1000 g [1].
If your baby weighs less than 2,500 grams (5 pounds, 8 ounces), they have a low birth weight. Babies weighing less than 1,500 grams (3 pounds, 5 ounces) at birth are considered very low birth weight. Babies who weigh less than 1,000 grams (2 pounds, 3 ounces) are extremely low birth weight.
Anything under 2.5kg (5.5 lbs.) is considered low birth weight, while a newborn weighing less than 1.5kg (3.3 lbs.) is classed as very low birth weight.
The weight is compared with the baby's gestational age and recorded in the medical record. A birthweight less than 2,500 grams (5 pounds, 8 ounces) is diagnosed as low birthweight. Babies weighing less than 1,500 grams (3 pounds, 4 ounces) at birth are considered very low birthweight.
An extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infant is defined as one with a birth weight of less than 1000 g (2 lb, 3 oz). Most extremely low birth weight infants are also the youngest of premature newborns, usually born at 27 weeks' gestational age or younger.
Measuring at approximately 46.2cm (around 18 inches), your baby is now about the size of a pineapple. At 35 weeks, the fetus will usually weigh between 2.3 and 2.5kg (5.25lbs), however every baby is different. Some babies grow faster than others and their size and weight at full term can greatly vary.
Birthweight is an important indicator of an infant's health. Nine in ten babies (92%) were born with a normal birthweight (birthweight between 2,500 and 4,499 grams). Around 1% of babies are high birthweight (birthweight of 4,500 grams or more).
While preterm and low birth weight babies may have slower developmental progress for a while at first, it's usually not cause for concern.
Your body goes through exactly the same process of labour regardless of your baby's size. In fact, the size of your baby has no influence whatsoever on the first stage of labour.
It is very essential to track the baby's weight and height from the very first day to avoid any kind of complications in the future. The ideal weight of a newborn baby, who is born between 36-40 weeks, should be between 2.5 – 4.5 kg.
Most babies admitted to the NICU are preterm (born before 37 weeks of pregnancy), have low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds), or have a health condition that needs special care.
The primary cause is premature birth, being born before 37 weeks gestation; a baby born early has less time in the mother's uterus to grow and gain weight, and much of a fetus' weight is gained during the latter part of the mother's pregnancy. Another cause of low birthweight is intrauterine growth restriction.
Some babies are small because their parents are small. But most babies who are small for gestational age have growth problems that happen during pregnancy. When the unborn baby has trouble getting oxygen or nutrients during pregnancy, they don't grow as much as expected. The condition is often suspected before birth.
Some hospitals have a rule on how much the baby must weigh before going home, but this is becoming less common. In general, babies are at least 4 pounds (2 kilograms) before they are ready to come out of the incubator.
Ultrasound exams are notoriously inaccurate for predicting the weight of your baby. 1 An ultrasound can give an estimate of the weight of your baby, but this estimate can be off a pound or more in either direction. There are multiple ways to predict a baby's weight via ultrasound, and the results can vary widely.
The smallest on the market, size 00000 is designed to fit babies who are born prematurely or are particularly small. As a general rule, they weigh less than 2kg and are under 55cm in length.
Many babies are otherwise healthy except for being small, so it is likely safe to try vaginal delivery. Babies that are severely growth restricted or that have abnormal Doppler patterns may not do well with labor, so C-section may be indicated. A discussion with your doctor is always recommended.