How Much Weight Should a Baby Gain Per Month

What is normal for breastfed babies?

The World Health Organization growth standards ¹ are the best reference for growth in the outset 2 years as they reflect the growth of good for you breastfed babies.

The general guidelines for weight and growth measurements are:

• a baby loses 5-ten% of birth weight in the first week and regains this by 2 weeks^two

• birth weight is doubled by four months and tripled past 13 months in boys and 15 months in girls¹

• birth length increases 1.v times in 12 months¹

• nascency head circumference increases past nearly xi cm in 12 months¹

However, all babies grow differently and these are merely full general guidelines. If you are concerned well-nigh your baby's growth, contact your medical adviser for a thorough cess of your infant's general health and wellbeing.

Infant weight losses – the early days

Normal weight loss

It is normal for babies to lose weight afterwards they are built-in, no matter what or how they are fed. It is normal for breastfed babies to lose weight for the first 3 days after birth. Weight loss in newborns is expressed as a percentage of the birthweight. A maximum weight loss of 7-10% in the offset calendar week is considered normal.ⁱⁱ

Exclusively breastfed babies are perfectly adapted to survive on the small volumes of colostrum they receive in the starting time few days. After this, their mothers begin to brand large volumes of breastmilk which then provides all the fluids, free energy and nutrients they demand and they will regain their birthweight past 2 weeks after nativity.³

Regardless of the percentage of weight loss, what'south nearly important is for wellness intendance providers to decide what the overall clinical motion picture of the breastfeeding mother and baby pair is. For example, at that place is a significant difference between a 2 day quondam baby who has lost 10% of his birthweight and who is sleepy and not latching well may need more back up simply a ii mean solar day old babe who has lost 10% and is feeding frequently and well is more reassuring.

Epidurals and intravenous fluids

Fluids given to a female parent intravenously (in a "drip") during the birthing process (eg with induction of labour or an epidural) can be passed onto her foetus via the placenta. This may result in a baby being born with extra fluids on lath which will go removed when he/she urinates. This may arrive appear equally though the infant has lost an excessive amount of weight.^four,five More recent bear witness indicates that when a typical corporeality of intravenous (IV) fluids are administered, at that place is negligible effect on the foetus weight and subsequent postnatal weight loss.⁶

Further enquiry is needed to plant if higher amounts ofIV fluids given to the mother in labour/birth are associated with excessive weight loss in good for you, term, exclusively-breastfed, newborn babies and if so under what circumstances.

What is a Growth Chart or a Percentile Chart?

Growth charts are used to assistance follow and assess a infant's growth. Your baby's weight can be plotted against a weight-for-age growth chart. Historically, these charts take been compiled by measuring the weights of hundreds of dissimilar children at each age. The most common type of growth nautical chart is a percentile chart where these hundreds of weights are then divided into 100 equal groups. These groups are then plotted on a graph or listed in a tabular array.

If your infant record book does not contain the Earth Wellness Organization growth standards, you lot may like to print out and put them in your book. Importantly, the Earth Wellness Arrangement growth standards are based on healthy, exclusively breastfed babies from 6 countries across five continents. These more accurately show how a normal baby should abound. Yous tin find the World Health Organization child growth standards percentile charts and tables here:

The simplified World Health Organization child growth percentile field tables, which are very easy to read, can be found at: Girls , Boys

How do I read a Growth/Percentile Chart?

It is the design of growth over time, rather than a single measurement or percentile, that is important.

The following instance explains how yous should read a percentile chart:

• three% of children will be below the 3rd percentile and iii% of children volition be higher up the 97th percentile
• xv% of children will be below the 15th percentile and 15% of children will exist above the 85th percentile

• 50% of children will be below the 50th percentile and fifty% of children will be above the 50th percentile

The 50th percentile is an 'average, 'not a laissez passer. That is, l% of the healthy population is below this line and 50% is in a higher place it.

If a baby's top or weight is 'off the chart' (above the 97th percentile or below the tertiary), in that location is a higher chance of something being wrong and information technology is wise to check with your medical adviser. In many cases though, all is well. 3 in every 100 normal babies will weigh less than the 3rd percentile, frequently because both parents are pocket-size.

Does it affair if my babe doesn't 'stick' to a percentile line?

Usually, no. Percentile charts are derived from the averaged measurements of hundreds of babies and and so they prove "smoothed" growth curves, which individual children shouldn't be expected to follow exactly. They tin and exercise grow faster or slower at times.

It is not uncommon for a babe's weight-for-age to cross percentile lines over the grade of the first 6 months. A large written report in the US establish that most babies (77%) crossed weight-for-age percentile lines in the showtime 6 months, with 39% of babies either moving upward or moving down ii percentile lines. From birth to half dozen months, larger babies tended to put on weight more than slowly (on average) and smaller babies put on weight more rapidly. This may be because nascence size relates more to nutritional conditions in the womb than to genetic potential for growth. Every bit this group of children got older, they were much less likely to cross ii weight-for-age percentile lines, but it did still happen.⁷ See Table 1 for more particular.

However, if a babe has persistent low weight gains with a design of weight gain indicating dropping percentiles at a faster rate than expected, information technology'due south important to seek medical advise.

Tabular array i.

Age	Percentage of infants and children crossing 2 percentile lines – weight-for-age	Percentage of infants and children crossing ii percentile lines – weight-for-height
Birth to half-dozen months	39%	62%
6 to 24 months	6–15%	xx–27%
24 to 60 months	one–5%	six–15

My baby has had persistently low weight gains. Is my baby getting plenty breastmilk?

Many mums who are worried that their baby is not gaining enough weight are too worried that their baby is non getting plenty breastmilk.

These are some reliable signs of adequate milk intake.

Call up - what goes in must come out!:

• Later on 5 days of age a minimum of five heavily wet disposable, or 6-8 very wet cloth nappies, in 24 hours.

• Pale urine (wee). If your infant's urine is dark and evil-smelling, this is a sign that your baby is not taking in plenty milk.

• Good-sized, soft poos. Nether the age of six-8 weeks, your babe should have three or more runny poos a day, about the size of the palm of your baby's hand. After this age, it tin be quite normal for a infant to poo less ofttimes, even once every 7-10 days, every bit long as when your baby does a poo, in that location is a large amount of soft or runny poo coming out!

In addition to the 'what goes in must come out' signs above, other reliable signs that upshot from an acceptable milk intake in a healthy baby are:

• Baby has some weight gain after the initial weight loss soon afterward birth, and some growth in length and caput circumference. (Are your baby's clothes getting snugger?)
• Baby looks like she fits in her skin - with practiced peel colour and muscle tone.

• Baby is coming together developmental milestones.

For more data about how to tell if your babe is getting enough milk, refer to the article Low Supply  on this website.

My baby is getting plenty breastmilk. What's causing the depression weight gains?

If your infant appears to be underweight, with wrinkly, loose skin and notwithstanding has a good nappy count indicating plenty milk intake, it may be that your baby has an underlying medical condition which is causing a slow weight gain. There are many atmospheric condition which could affect weight proceeds. Some of the mutual ones include:

• infection (anything from a cold to a urinary infection)
• airsickness or frequent posseting (eg pyloric stenosis or severe reflux) - can mean a babe does not retain enough milk to grow

• a severe allergy to foods in the female parent'southward diet could be a cause of depression weight gain.

Your medical counselor will be able to help you investigate these and other areas.

My baby is getting enough breastmilk. Is my baby just meant to be small?

Some adults are naturally petite and and so are some babies. If your infant appears to be happy and healthy, is meeting developmental milestones, does not appear underweight (does non take loose wrinkly peel) and has a good wet/pooy nappy count, so your babe'south low weight gains may exist due to family unit factors (genetics).

I recall my baby is NOT getting plenty breastmilk. What can I do?

• Is your baby feeding often plenty? The simplest and most effective way to increment your baby's milk intake is to breastfeed more than often. Babies demand at least vi feeds in 24 hours in the first few months. For most babies, 6 will not exist enough; they need viii-12 feeds in 24 hours (or more) to have in enough milk.
• More than frequent feeding also means your breasts are relatively 'emptier' (they are never completely empty), which means that your breasts will speed up milk product, increasing your milk supply. For more information on how to increment your milk supply refer to the article Depression Supply on this website, or refer to the Australian Breastfeeding Association booklet, Increasing Your Supply, available for purchase from the Australian Breastfeeding Association.
• Is your baby feeding co-ordinate to his or her individual need? This helps ensure your baby receives the breastmilk he or she needs.
• Take you only been offering one chest per feed? Some babies just need one breast per feed, other babies need both. Some babies start off just needing 1 and change as they grow older. Yous could endeavour offer your baby the second chest.
• Endeavor offering height-upwardly breastfeeds afterward your infant'southward normal breastfeeds.
• Is your baby sleeping longer at night? Long night sleeps (and therefore missed feeds) tin can also decrease your baby's milk intake and weight gain. You might consider waking your baby during the night to feed or fit in extra daytime feeds.
• Is your baby attaching and suckling effectively? Babies who are failing to thrive may have a poor sucking action, then they don't empty and stimulate your breasts enough. Face-to-face assessment of this by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) or Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor tin can be very useful. You tin find an IBCLC near you at this website: Find a Lactation Consultant .
• Does your baby have a tongue-tie? Some babies with an anterior tongue tie may not be able to remove milk as well from the breast. ^viii Seeing an IBCLC tin can aid work out what might be going on and refer onto an appropriate health professional person (eg medical professional, paediatric dentist) who tin can make the diagnosis and release the natural language-tie, if necessary.
• Have you been using a nipple shield? Provided a nipple shield is used properly, it should not crusade supply problems. However, if your infant's weight gains continue to be low, information technology could be that your baby is not transferring milk well through the shield. Consult a lactation consultant or an Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor to cheque that your babe is attached properly on the shield and the correct size nipple shield is being used.

What are developmental milestones?

Developmental milestones are normal skills and abilities that babies and children acquire as they grow. These include events such every bit grin for the first time, turning their caput towards a sound, bringing their hand to their mouth, holding their head steadily without support, rolling from stomach to back and taking a first step.

Developmental milestones tend to announced in a predictable gild and the this link takes you to information about what kind of milestones to expect at each age.

My infant was gaining weight well and now all of a sudden things have slowed down. What'due south going on?

• Have there been any changes in your baby's behaviour? For example has your babe been taking fewer feeds as a consequence of sleeping longer at dark?
• Have you lot been trying to feed at gear up times instead of when the infant indicates?
• Have you (the mother) been stressed or unwell? For some women this can crusade a temporary dip in supply.
• Have you just started a new medication such as the contraceptive pill? Could you be pregnant? These factors tin can cause a dip in your supply.
• Has your baby been ill? Fifty-fifty a small cold tin can disrupt feeding and weight proceeds for a week or 2.
• Has your baby previously gained well and is now slowing down usually? Information technology is very normal for an exclusively breastfed infant's weight gain to dull down at 3-4 months. The World Health Organization child growth standards, based on healthy breastfed babies, help demonstrate this.

In well-nigh cases of sudden weight change, a 'look-and-see' arroyo is justified if your baby seems happy and the other indicators of growth and health are fine. If there seems to be a temporary low supply trouble, offering a couple of extra breastfeeds a solar day can help avoid a more serious situation. If y'all are concerned, encounter a medical advisor.

References

1. WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group. (2006). WHO Child Growth Standards based on length/height, weight and age. Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway: 1992). Supplement, 450, 76-85.

2. Noel-Weiss, J., Courant, G., Woodend, A.Thousand. (2008). Physiological weight loss in the breastfed neonate: a systematic review. Open Med two(4), e99–e110.

Bertini, Yard., Breschi, R., Dani, C. (2015).Physiological weight loss nautical chart helps to identify high-adventure infants who need breastfeeding support. Acta Paediatr 104(10), 1024-1027

Grossman, X ., Chaudhuri, J.H ., Feldman-Winter, L ., Merewood, A .(2012).Neonatal weight loss at a US Baby-Friendly Hospital. J Acad Nutr Diet 112(3), 410-413.

three. Macdonald, P. D., Ross, S. R. Thousand., Grant, L., & Immature, D. (2003). Neonatal weight loss in breast and formula fed infants. Athenaeum of Illness in Childhood-Fetal and Neonatal Edition, 88(half dozen), F472-F476.Noel-Weiss, J., Courant, M., Woodend, A.K. (2008). Physiological weight loss in the breastfed neonate: a systematic review. Open up Med, two(4), e99-e110.

Bertini, 1000., Breschi, R., Dani, C. (2015).Physiological weight loss chart helps to place high-risk infants who need breastfeeding support. Acta Paediatr 104(10), 1024-1027

Grossman, X ., Chaudhuri, J.H ., Feldman-Winter, 50 ., Merewood, A .(2012).Neonatal weight loss at a US Infant-Friendly Hospital.J Acad Nutr Diet 112(3), 410-413.

iv. Noel-Weiss, J., Woodend, A.One thousand., Peterson, W.E., Gibb, W., & Groll, D.L. (2011). An observational study of associations among maternal fluids during parturition, neonatal output, and breastfed newborn weight loss. International Breastfeeding Journal 6: 9.

v. Watson, J., Hodnett, Due east., Armson, B.A., Davies, B., Watt-Watson, J. (2012). A randomized controlled trial of the effect of intrapartum intravenous fluid direction on breastfed newborn weight loss. JOGNN 41: 24–32.

Hirth, R., Weitkamp, T., Dwivedi, A. (2012). Maternal intravenous fluids and infant weight. Clinical Lactation three: 59–93.

6. Eltonsy, S ., Blinn, A ., Sonier, B ., DeRoche, Due south ., Mulaja, A ., Hynes, W ., Barrieau, A ., Belanger, M . (2017). Intrapartum intravenous fluids for caesarean delivery and newborn weight loss: a retrospective cohort study.BMJ Paediatr Open ane(1), e000070

vii. Mei, Z., Grummer-Strawn, 50. Yard., Thompson, D., & Dietz, Westward. H. (2004). Shifts in percentiles of growth during early childhood: analysis of longitudinal information from the California Child Health and Development Study. Pediatrics, 113(6), e617-e627.

8. Geddes, D.T ., Langton, D.B ., Gollow, I ., Jacobs, Fifty.A ., Hartmann, P.Due east ., Simmer, K . (2008). Frenulotomy for breastfeeding infants with ankyloglossia: effect on milk removal and sucking mechanism as imaged past ultrasound. Pediatrics 122(i), e188-94.

© Australian Breastfeeding Association January 2019

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Source: https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/common-concerns%E2%80%93baby/baby-weight-gains

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