Baby Basics: Baby’s Size

I haven’t forgotten about this series. There are still a couple of topics I want to touch on before I close it out, and before my baby isn’t a baby anymore.

I thought I would start by sharing the sizes of all of my babies at birth.

Julia: Born at 38 weeks gestation, 8 pounds 1 ounce, 21 inches (I gained 32 pounds.)
James: Born at 40 weeks gestation, 7 pounds, 20 inches (I gained 40 pounds.)
Joshua: Born at 38 weeks 5 days gestation, 6 pounds 13 ounces, 20 inches (I gained 30 pounds.)
Joseph: Born at 38 weeks 1 day gestation, 7 pounds 13 ounces, 21 inches (I gained 32 pounds.)
Janna: Born at 38 weeks 2 days gestation, 6 pounds 10 ounces, 21 1/4 inches (I gained 35 pounds.)

There are certain factors that can affect the size of a baby at birth. Some of them include nutrition during pregnancy, health of mother during pregnancy, baby’s health, size of parents, multiples (is baby a twin or triplet), gender, and birth order.

I guess I threw the statistics out the window with my babies. My oldest, a girl, was the biggest of all.

The average size of a newborn baby is 7 1/2 pounds. However, babies ranging from 5 1/2 to 10 pounds are all considered to be of “normal” size.

A baby is considered to be “low birth weight” if he or she weighs less than 5 pounds 8 ounces. Babies are considered to be “very low birth weight” if they are born weighing less than 3 pounds.

Very large babies are generally born to mothers who have diabetes or gestational diabetes, but this isn’t always the case.

A typical newborn can lose 7-10% of his or her birth weight, but should gain it back by the time he or she is 2 weeks old. My girls both lost weight after they were born but were back up to birth weight by 2 weeks. My boys never lost any weight after birth and even gained a few ounces before we left the hospital. All of my children were breastfed.

I guess all of this information just proves the point that all babies, and all pregnancies, are different. All of my babies have been perfectly normal and healthy despite the differences in their sizes at birth.

I think it would be fun if you would leave a comment and share how big your babies were at birth.

Previous Baby Basics Topics:

Bethanyhaid

My son Daniel was born at 39 weeks 1 day, and was 7lbs, 3 oz, but under 7 from day 3 to 10. My daughter Elsa was born at 38 weeks, 1 day and was 8 lbs, 1 poz, and lost about a pound but regained it at week 2.

I think its important to note that losing more than 10% weight is a risky thing for infants, and if we were that dehydrated as adults, we could probably not move or function very well, either. I didn’t like it, but I did supplement Elsa with formula for three days when the doctor said PLEASE!
- http://www.blessingsoverflowing.com/ Jackie
  
  Thanks for sharing, Bethany! I have never had a child lose a pound after birth. Julia lost a 1/2 pound and Janna less than that. You are right about losing too much weight. Supplementing with formula is for situations like yours. Thankfully, you must have been able to overcome the issues.
Traci

My oldest boy was born at 40 weeks 3 days and was 7lbs 12.5oz 22 inches long. My second son was born at 40 weeks 5 days and was 7lbs 15oz and 19.5inches. My daughter was born at 38 weeks 3 days and was 6lbs 9oz 19 inches. She lost 5oz before we left the hospital but the doctor felt most of that was just excess fluid. She gained 2 lbs over the next 2 weeks. I did not gain any weight with her and actually struggled to maintain my weight.
- http://www.blessingsoverflowing.com/ Jackie
  
  Thanks for sharing, Traci! Were you sick during your last pregnancy or have some other issue that caused you to not gain weight? Sounds like all of your babies were nice sized, though.
Jasminebutzer

My son Mac was 41 weeks 6 days and 10.4 born in 31 mins Naturally. My second son Micah was 38 weeks 6 days and was 9.7 born by C-section.

Mac lost about 6 oz. Micah dropped to 8.4 and was super tiny for me!
- http://www.blessingsoverflowing.com/ Jackie
  
  Thanks for sharing, Jasmine! I bet 8.4 did seem small compared to 10.4.
Katie

Thank you for doing this series Jackie. I’m due in October so I’ll definately be reviewing all the Baby Basics posts. I think this series will be a great resource for me!
- http://www.blessingsoverflowing.com/ Jackie
  
  Thank you so much, Katie! I hope something I have written may be of help. Is this your first baby? Even if it isn’t, congratulations on your sweet little one.
  - Katie
    
    Thank you! Yes, this is our first baby. We are very excited
    - http://www.blessingsoverflowing.com/ Jackie
      
      That is wonderful! Congratulations!!!
Lisa

My oldest son was born 39 weeks 4 days, 7lbs 4oz and about 21 inches.
My youngest was 38 weeks 4 days at 6lbs 6oz and about 18 inches. He lost a bit at the beginning but was 6oz 2lbs when we left the hospital (48hrs). He was frank breech and found nursing hard at first, but got the hang of it before 2 weeks.
- http://www.blessingsoverflowing.com/ Jackie
  
  Lisa, thank you for sharing. Did you have a cesarean with your breech baby? I delivered my second son naturally who was a complete breech (Although, I don’t recommend it.).
  - Lisa
    
    It was a natural birth. My husband and doctor were very supportive.
    - http://www.blessingsoverflowing.com/ Jackie
      
      Wow! That is great that you were able to deliver naturally. I am so thankful I didn’t have to have a c-section with my breech. Mine was a complete surprise until I was 10 cm, but I know he hadn’t turned in recent weeks.