Why Do Babies Lose Weight When They Are Born?

Newborn babies usually lose about 5 to 7 percent of their birth weight in the first week after birth, according to the American Pregnancy Association. This is generally a normal occurrence and not a cause for any concern. If a loss of 10 percent or more is observed, a physician should be consulted.

  1. A Little Extra

    • It is thought that one reason babies lose weight after birth is because they are packing a little extra on to begin with. Since a mother's milk often takes between three and five days to come in, giving the baby a little extra weight is nature's way of ensuring the infant's survival.

    Meconium

    • Babies have meconium (their first stool) inside upon birth and take a couple of days to pass all of it. Some of their weight loss is often attributed to the passage of this tarry, sticky, thick stool.

    IVFluids

    • If a mother received intravenous fluids during labor and delivery, it is possible that some of the baby's weight loss is due to losing the extra fluid he also received.

    Signs of Weight Gain

    • If your baby is peeing and pooping often (changing 12+ diapers a day); has clear or very pale yellow urine; looks bright-eyed; is moving around vigorously; and has nails that are growing well (baby nails grow fast), then you probably have nothing to worry about.

    When to Worry

    • If your baby is always sleepy, has a sunken soft spot, a dry mouth, a fever, dark-yellow pee and isn't pooping a lot, particularly after the first few days, then you should see a doctor right away.

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