Babies come in all shapes and sizes 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.
A baby's birth weight is an important indicator of health. The average weight for full-term babies (born between 37 and 41 weeks gestation) is about 7 pounds (3.2 kg).
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.
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.
Generally a baby with fetal growth restriction can still be born via normal vaginal delivery, but you and your baby may need extra care both during labour and after the birth. This means it's best to give birth where you can access specialist medical services.
Babies come in all shapes and sizes
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.
Low birthweight is when a baby is born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces. Some babies with low birthweight are healthy, even though they're small. But having a low weight at birth can cause serious health problems for some babies.
A baby with low birthweight may be at increased risk for complications. The baby's tiny body is not as strong and he or she may have a harder time eating, gaining weight, and fighting infection. Because they have so little body fat, low birthweight babies often have difficulty staying warm in normal temperatures.
If your baby weighs less than 2,500 grams (5 pounds, 8 ounces), he or she has a low birth weight. Babies weighing less than 1,500 grams (3 pounds, 5 ounces) at birth are considered very low birth weight.
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.
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.
Babies usually weigh an average of 3 to 4 kg by this late stage of pregnancy.
A father's genetic code influences the weight of a baby at birth, according to a new study led by the UCL Institute of Child Health (ICH).
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).
Babies born too early may have more health problems at birth and later in life than babies born later. Being pregnant 39 weeks gives your baby's body all the time it needs to develop.
What causes babies to be small for gestational age? 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. Many of these babies have a condition called fetal growth restriction (FGR).
Furthermore, babies delivered electively at 37 weeks are four times more likely to end up in the neonatal intensive care unit or have serious respiratory troubles than babies born at 39 weeks or later; babies who arrive at 38 weeks are twice as likely to have complications.
What does low birth weight mean? You'll hear this term if your baby weighs less than 2.5kg (5.5lb) when they're born. About seven in 100 babies born in the UK have a low birth weight. Stat 2022).
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].
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.
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.