What newborns weigh
Babies should be weighed by day 5 and again at day 10 to assess their weight gain. It is considered normal for a healthy full term baby to lose up to 10% of its birth weight in the first few days but they should be back up to their birth weight within 7-10 days. Weighing a baby can be one of a few important indicators of how well milk is being transferred and absorbed by a baby.
The range or weight and size of newborns will vary considerably but most healthy full term babies weigh between 2.7 and 4kg (6-9lbs) and their length from 48 to 53cm. A number of factors will affect a baby's size including: gender, birth order, genetics, maternal health, nutrition status, gestational age at birth and baby's health. During the first month most newborns will gain on average 140-170 grams per week and grow around 2.5 - 4 cm. Babies are measured along a growth chart where it is expected they will follow their growth "curve" to ensure they are meeting all their energy requirements for growth and development in the first year of life.
While weight can be an important tool to assess whether a baby is getting enough nutrition from breast milk, there are other factors to consider and here are some common signs that a baby is well fed:
- After most feeds they appear to be content
- After the first one to two weeks they begin to gain weight
- Your nipples and breasts don't feel too uncomfortable
- You begin to feel your milk "come in" and it changes in colour from golden to white between days 2 - 5 (for some women this process may take a bit longer)
- After feeding your breasts feel softer and emptier
- Your baby is a healthy colour, their skin is firm and bounces back when gently pinched
- After the first few days your baby should have around six wet nappies every day
- Typically a new baby will first pass meconium (the very first bowel motion) in the first couple of days which will change by around day four to looking like yellow, soft to runny bowel motions. It may also appear seedy at times. Many breast fed babies will pass a stool after each feed or have 3-4 bowel motions a day. The range of normal bowel motions varies considerably with some infants not passing a motion every day. Generally speaking however, if it is going in, then it must also come out.
Signs that your baby may need more milk
If your newborn baby isn't getting enough milk you may notice:
- They are tired or sleep more
- They are unsettled all the time and fuss after feeding
- They do not seem happy and contented
- During feeding your baby makes clicking sounds, which could mean they're not latched on properly.
- After the first week their skin is still wrinkled
- They don't have a rounded face after three weeks
- Your baby's skin becomes more yellow in colour
If you are worried your baby is not getting enough milk, try feeding them more regularly and holding them close to you at times other than feeding time; this will give them the chance to move towards your breasts as and when they feel hungry.
Talk with your health care professional straight away about your concerns and have your baby properly assessed by a medical practitioner.
If your baby is still hungry after regular feeding
Some mums find that their baby is still hungry even when they're being fed more regularly. If this happens speak to your midwife. You can also call our feeding advisors on 1800 438 500, Monday to Friday, who will try to help you work out the reason why.
If your baby is approaching six months, they may be ready to start complementary feeding. Most babies are not ready until around six months and mums are advised not to introduce solids any earlier than four months.
Our advisors have a wealth of knowledge to share about all aspects of breast feeding. So if there's something on your mind call them on 1800 438 500 or email them.
