Weight loss in the first few days of life is completely normal and expected. Newborns lose fluid after birth and also receive small volumes of colostrum, the first milk, before the mature milk comes in on day two to five - this combination produces an average weight loss of 5 to 7 percent of birth weight, with up to 10 percent considered within normal range. Most babies begin regaining weight once feeding is well established and reach their birth weight by 10 to 14 days. The points at which weight loss requires medical assessment are: loss greater than 10 percent of birth weight, failure to stop losing weight by day five to seven, failure to regain birth weight by two weeks, or any weight loss accompanied by signs of dehydration such as very dry mouth, reduced urine output, or a baby who is unusually difficult to rouse. If in doubt, a weight check and feeding assessment at 48 to 72 hours after discharge gives early reassurance or flags a problem before it becomes significant.
Written by Dr. Madhusudan B S, MBBS, DCH, AASC (Allergy Asthma Specialist Course), Consultant Pediatrician and Pediatric Allergy Specialist, Tumkur. Phone: +91 96771 80651.
