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BASIC INFORMATION
BACKGROUND NEEDED
THE BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK
NORMAL GROWTH PATTERNS
Weight loss is considered normal
during the first three to four days
after birth.
Whether breastfed or artificially fed, newborns tend to lose weight during the first 3 to 4 days
after birth. This is due to the shedding of excess fluids in the baby's tissues and the passage
of meconium (baby's first stool.)
Giving extra fluids during these early days may not offset this weight loss or benefit baby.
In a study conducted at the University of Rochester, breastfed babies given extra water or formula
during the first few days lost more weight and were less likely to start gaining by the fourth
day than babies exclusively breastfed or exclusively artificially fed (Lawrence and Lawrence,
p. 398).
A weight loss of about 5 to 7 percent is considered normal. One study found that when
mothers received regular breastfeeding guidance very few babies lost more than 7 percent of
their birth weight (DeMarzo 1991). While a weight loss of 10 percent is considered acceptable to some medical professionals, it is usually a sign that the mother needs additional help
with breastfeeding management. If feeding problems are not corrected soon enough or if the
baby shows signs of dehydration, supplements may be needed.
In one recent prospective study of 686 full-term babies born in a six-month period at a
hospital in Italy, researchers found that 7.7 percent of the exclusively breastfed babies lost 10
percent or more (Manganaro 2001). In 74 percent of these cases, poor breastfeeding technique was the cause. In 26 percent of the cases, delayed milk production was the cause. The
researchers recommended that a routine weight check be scheduled for all babies at five days
of age to prevent dehydration and other health problems.
When breastfeeding is going normally,
babies tend to regain their birth weight
within 10 days to two weeks.
Most babies regain their birth weight within 10 days to two weeks. Weight gain should
always be determined from the lowest weight on the third or fourth day after birth. The more
weight the baby loses, the longer it may take for him to regain it. Babies who are ill or premature may take longer to regain their birth weight than healthy, full-term babies.
If a baby has not regained birth weight by 10 days to two weeks, this is a red flag to take
a closer look at how the baby is breastfeeding and make any necessary adjustments. The mother
may need to breastfeed the baby longer, more often, or to stimulate him to feed more effectively. In most cases, this is a good time to correct a breastfeeding problem. If a mother waits,
it may be more difficult to fix the problem.
For the first three to four months,
average weight gain for a breastfeeding
baby is six ounces (170 grams) per
week.
Average weight gain for the first three to four months is about six ounces (170 grams) per
week, though it is considered acceptable for some babies to gain four or five ounces (113 to
142 gr) per week. Weight gain should always be figured from the lowest point rather than from
birth weight.
During the baby’s first year, increases
in length and head circumference are
also important measures of growth.
Growth in length averages one inch (2.5 centimeters) per month and growth in head circumference is about one-half inch (1.27 centimeters) per month during the first 6 months, and
about half that during the second 6 months.
From four to six months, weight gain
typically slows to 4 to 5 ounces (113142 grams) per week. From 6 to 12
months, weight gain slows to 2 to 4
ounces (57-113 grams) per week.
The very rapid growth a baby experiences during the first three months typically slows down
during months four to twelve. According to recent research (Butte 2000; Haschke 2000; Cohen
1995; Dewey 1992a), an average weight gain for a breastfeeding baby four to six months is
about four to five ounces (113 to 142 grams) per week. An average weight gain for the
breastfeeding baby six to twelve months is two to four ounces (57 to 113 grams) per week.
Growth in length averages about 1/2 inch (1.27 cm) per month and growth in head circumference is about 1/4 inch (64 mm) per month. The average breastfed baby doubles his birth