Growth standards and birth weight of children

Growth standards and birth weight of children is average established by the world health organization (who), on the basis of the estimated physical development of infants. Until discharge from the hospital height, weight and other parameters of child development are monitored by the paediatrician.

Growth standards and birth weight of children

Growth standards and birth weight, set by who, take into account the sex of the baby: for boys and girls they are different. For baby girls average weight is 3.2 kg and the lower limit of the weight for girls is 2.8 kg and the upper boundary of the normal range is considered to be weight 3,7 kg.

For male newborns, the mean value of norms of weight equal 3.3 kg. weight in the range of 2.9–3.9 kg is considered normal.
If the deviation of weights from these thresholds reaches 400-500 g, the pediatrician may suspect the presence of developmental disorders and to appoint additional examination of the newborn.

The rate of growth of baby girls, according to who, amount to 47.3–51 cm, and the average value of 49.1 cm For boys is considered normal growth from 48 to 51.8 cm the Average rate of growth for newborn boys is a 49.9 cm

It is important to note that all the rules are averaged. It is impossible to obtain an adequate assessment of the physical development of the child simply by comparing the height and weight of the newborn with the who indicators. As each child has individual characteristics of development, a deviation of the weight or growth of the newborn from the rules who is not always a sign any violations.

According to Russian pediatricians, the rate of growth for the full-term newborn child is considered to be an indicator in the range from 46 to 56 cm, and normal weight ranges from 2.6 to 4 kg. As you can see, these numbers differ slightly from data from the who. Therefore, to analyze the growth and weight of the baby should experienced pediatrician: only he will be able to consider all possible factors in the development of the child, to adequately assess its condition and make correct conclusions about the absence or the presence of any violations.

Rules increase growth and birth weight

A child is considered a newborn in the first four weeks of life. How to change his weight and height in this period?

In the first 3-5 days after birth, the infant loses about 6-8% of body weight. This is a natural process which is caused by physiological factors: the allocation of meconium, umbilical cord drying residue and some loss of liquid. In addition, in the very first days of life the baby receives from the mother of a very small amount of milk.

Already for 4-6 days, the body weight of the newborn starts to increase, and in 7-10 day child's weight is restored. Weight loss, component of more than 5-10%, and a slow recovery of body mass may indicate any congenital disorders or be a sign of a developing infection. By the end of the first month of life the weight gain in the newborn normally is 400 to 800 g.

As for the rule of increase of growth, after the first month of life the baby should grow at least 3-3. 5 cm. But often the growth of the newborn in the first month and sometimes more intense – the baby can grow up to 5-6 cm.