Most newborns are born with a considerable amount of extra weight. After having their baby, moms will notice that their clothing hardly fits anymore, and that their breasts are slightly deflated. But, how much weight do babies lose in the first 24 hours? Is it just a quick 3-4 pounds, or more like 10 pounds? Let’s examine…
First Things First
Before we get into the numbers, it is important to acknowledge that the condition of your newborn has a lot to do with how much weight they will lose within the first 24 hours. For example, if they are born extremely premature, then their organs will not have matured enough to properly function, leading to complications such as failure to thrive and infections. So, whenever possible, expectant mothers should wait until their babies are born and healthy before starting a rigorous workout routine.
On the other hand, healthy babies that are born at full term will usually shed 3 to 4 pounds within the first 24 hours, and will continue to lose a small amount of weight for the first few days before reaching their birth weight. However, this difference can be slightly subjective, and it all depends on your baby’s age – the younger the better!
Baby’s Weight Loss Within the First 24 Hours
Now that we have covered the basics, it is time for some hard numbers! According to the Mayo Clinic, a healthy, born-at-term baby will lose between 3 and 4 pounds in the first 24 hours of their life. Between the hours of 24 and 48, the weights of these babies will fluctuate, but will typically range from 2 to 4 pounds. From the third day onwards, the rate of weight loss will slow down to a gentle 0.5 to 1 pound per day, which will eventually bring them to their birth weight.
Based on this information, it would be safe to assume that a healthy, born-at-term baby will weigh between 12 and 14 pounds at the age of one. However, this number can vary, and it depends on several factors. Some of these factors include the quality and freshness of the milk that they are given, as well as the climate and altitude of where they are born. For example, a baby born and raised in a cold climate may weigh a bit less than a baby born in a warm climate. Finally, the sex of the baby is also a key factor – male babies typically shed more weight than female babies throughout their first year of life.
Average Baby Weight
So, what is the average baby weight? This is a common question, and there are several resources online that provide the answer. One of the best places to find this information is BabyCenter.com. This is an excellent resource for new parents, as they provide tools and information to help make parenting easy and fun. Here is an example of what they have to say about the average baby weight:
- Babies come in all shapes and sizes and most come within a healthy range for their age. However, on average your baby will weigh about 8 pounds at birth, and will gain about an additional 3 pounds every week until they are 1 year old. Between the ages of 1 and 2, infants will usually gain 1 to 2 pounds per week. After the age of 2, kids will usually start losing weight and at the age of 7, most kids will have reached their adult weight. This makes 1 to 7 years old the ideal age for children to start focusing on their diet and getting more active. After 7 years old, the rate of weight loss becomes slower, with most kids maintaining their weight until they reach their teen years. This is when the real battle begins. Between the ages of 14 and 15, most kids will start losing weight and by the age of 18, most will be below their pre-teen weight. This is called the teen fat epidemic! It is no surprise that kids are turning to fast food and digital media to satisfy their cravings, as research shows that these habits affect the brain’s dopaminergic system, which is responsible for controlling appetite and regulating reward behaviors. It is also interesting to note that this system matures during the teen years, so it is no wonder that this is when most kids start losing weight.
- When it comes to your baby’s weight, the main thing to keep in mind is that it is constantly and dynamically changing. This means that the weight that your baby is currently losing may be replaced by an even heavier weight soon. So, try not to worry about what the scale may say at any given moment, but rather look at trends rather than at isolated values.
- Finally, it is important to acknowledge that your baby’s weight is not an accurate representation of their body fat percentage. For instance, a 5-pound baby may have a high body fat percentage, while a 3-pound baby has a low body fat percentage. This means that your baby’s weight can vary based on their current body condition, rather than just their exact weight at birth. So, in summary, be sure to look at your baby’s size and condition when making determinations about their weight loss. This way, you will ensure that you are always aware of the facts rather than being fooled by appearances.
Final Takeaway
So, what should you take away from this? First, realize that newborns are born with extra weight and that this weight will gradually disappear. Second, acknowledge that your baby’s condition will have a major impact on how much weight they will lose within the first 24 hours. Third, don’t worry about the numbers on the scale – instead, look at trends and be sure to keep your eye on the bigger picture.
Also, if you are nursing, then you should not expect your breasts to immediately regain their pre-pregnancy size. As long as you continue to feed your baby, they will continue to gain weight and eventually, your breasts will grow to fit the demands of nursing. So, in summary, be sure to take this into consideration when planning future feeds – this way, you will not be devastated if your breasts do not fill up quickly enough for the both of you.
At this point, you might be thinking that you want to try to lose the weight that your baby has lost, so that you can fit into the clothing that you have purchased for them. However, this is where most new parents get into trouble. Instead of trying to get back to their pre-pregnancy weight, they focus solely on losing the weight that their baby has lost and don’t consider the fact that some of this weight will be replaced by even more weight. So, if you want to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight, then it would be best to focus on making healthy lifestyle choices rather than trying to get back to a number on the scale.