7 month premature baby weight
Premature Baby Weight: Expectations and Concerns
If you’re worried about going into labor early or have delivered your new bundle of joy a bit earlier than expected, you’re not alone. About 10 percent of all births in the United States are premature (preterm) babies.
Sometimes babies are born prematurely for no reason at all. There is nothing you could have done differently, and your doctor could not have stopped it.
Premature babies can arrive 3 to almost 15 weeks earlier than the approximate due date at 40 weeks. How early a baby is born makes a difference in your baby’s health and in their birth weight.
Premature baby weight also affects how healthy your little one will be. The end of the third trimester is when babies gain weight quickly to get ready for birth. Some babies gain weight faster than others but an early delivery often means a small baby.
Remember, healthy babies come in all different sizes. However, babies that are born too tiny may face more challenges and need to do some growing before they can go home.
Fortunately, neonatal (newborn) care and incubators can help most premature babies catch up in growth and development. Babies born as early as 25 weeks have a survival rate of up to 81 percent, while a baby born at about 34 weeks can have a survival rate of 100 percent.
In the third trimester your baby is finishing off developing and the focus turns to gaining weight. At about 31 weeks of pregnancy babies begin to gain weight very quickly. A baby can more than double their weight in only about 10 weeks.
Your little one weighs only about 3 pounds at week 30 of pregnancy. Most full-term babies born at about 40 weeks of pregnancy weigh an average of 7 1/2 pounds. This is why the earlier a premature baby is born, the smaller and lighter they might be. However, even full-term babies can also sometimes have low birth weight.
In the United States, about 8 percent of babies have low birth weight. This means that they are born weighing at or less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces. Only about 1.4 percent of all babies in the United States are born at a very low birth weight of less than 3 pounds.
Many factors can influence your premature baby’s weight including pregnancy complications, infections, and maternal behaviors. But one of the primary factors in an early arrival and lower birth weight is carrying more than one baby.
Expecting multiples
If you’re pregnant with twins, triplets or other multiples, your babies have a higher chance of being born early and on the smaller side.
In the United States, only about 2 percent of singleton babies are born early preterm, or at less than 34 weeks. That percentage jumps to almost 20 percent for twin babies and up to 63 percent for triplets.
Having quintuplets (5 babies) or more in one pregnancy? There’s almost 100 percent chance that your babies will be born early preterm.
The more babies you are carrying in one pregnancy, the shorter your pregnancy will likely be. This is simply because the babies outgrow your uterus (womb) faster. More babies sometimes also means more complications during pregnancy.
Twins, triplets and other multiples of babies are also more likely to have a lower birth weight than singleton babies. Twin babies are up to 55 percent more likely to weigh less than 5 1/2 pounds, compared to only 6.6 percent of single babies. Triplet babies have up to a 95 percent chance of being having low birth weights.
Other causes of low birth weight
Some babies may be born only slightly early or even full term and still have low birth weight. There are not usually any symptoms that your baby will be born low birth weight. This is why going to all prenatal checkups is so important.
Issues during a pregnancy can sometimes slow down a baby’s growth. This might happen due to:
- problems with the placenta inside the womb
- the mother’s health
- a health condition in the baby
A pregnant woman’s bacterial or viral infection can also cause low birth weight. These include:
- cytomegalovirus
- toxoplasmosis
- rubella
- syphilis
Other causes of low birth weight include:
- mother’s age (under 17 years or over 35)
- smoking during pregnancy
- drinking alcohol while pregnant
- using drugs before or during pregnancy
- heart disease
- high blood pressure
- some autoimmune diseases
- poor nutrition before and during pregnancy
- poor healthcare during pregnancy
- exposure to lead
- problems in the shape or size of the uterus (womb)
There are also genetic factors. If one or both parents are small or your previous babies were born at a lower birth weight it’s more likely your baby will have a lower birth weight.
The lower the birth weight, the higher the chance that a baby may have complications including long-term health problems. Premature babies may need medical care right away to treat:
- low blood sugar levels
- low oxygen levels
- breathing problems
- low body temperature
- infections
- difficulty feeding
- difficulty gaining weight
- bleeding problems
- digestive problems
Very low birth weight (about 3 pounds) babies have the highest risks of long-term health issues, such as problems with:
- vision
- hearing
- breathing
- learning
- digestion
These very low birth weight babies may also have
- cerebral palsy
- heart problems
- sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Low birth weight babies are usually treated in the neonatal (newborn) intensive care unit (NICU) immediately after birth. Treatment includes:
- oxygen
- help with breathing
- temperature controlled incubator
- special feeds sometimes with a tube
- vitamin A and other nutritional supplements
Many babies who are premature also have trouble with feedings and coordinating their sucking and swallowing. This can mean a longer process to achieve weight gains.
Your baby will be weighed and have their height measured. Your doctor will also check the circumference (size) of their head. A baby’s head size is an important sign of good growth and development after birth.
Most premature babies with low birth weight catch up in weight and growth by the time they’re about between 18 and 24 months old. Your baby’s pediatrician will chart your baby’s weight gain against other babies of the same age and sex, to show how well they are doing.
Premature babies usually have low birth weight. Premature or preterm births are most common with twin and multiples pregnancies. The more premature your baby is born, the more likely they’ll have a lower birth weight.
Lower birth weights increase the chances of complications and some long-term health problems. However, it’s important to remember that, while you can’t control every factor, making healthy choices during pregnancy and keeping up with prenatal care helps to give your baby their best start.
Premature Baby Weight: Expectations and Concerns
If you’re worried about going into labor early or have delivered your new bundle of joy a bit earlier than expected, you’re not alone. About 10 percent of all births in the United States are premature (preterm) babies.
Sometimes babies are born prematurely for no reason at all. There is nothing you could have done differently, and your doctor could not have stopped it.
Premature babies can arrive 3 to almost 15 weeks earlier than the approximate due date at 40 weeks. How early a baby is born makes a difference in your baby’s health and in their birth weight.
Premature baby weight also affects how healthy your little one will be. The end of the third trimester is when babies gain weight quickly to get ready for birth. Some babies gain weight faster than others but an early delivery often means a small baby.
Remember, healthy babies come in all different sizes. However, babies that are born too tiny may face more challenges and need to do some growing before they can go home.
Fortunately, neonatal (newborn) care and incubators can help most premature babies catch up in growth and development. Babies born as early as 25 weeks have a survival rate of up to 81 percent, while a baby born at about 34 weeks can have a survival rate of 100 percent.
In the third trimester your baby is finishing off developing and the focus turns to gaining weight. At about 31 weeks of pregnancy babies begin to gain weight very quickly. A baby can more than double their weight in only about 10 weeks.
Your little one weighs only about 3 pounds at week 30 of pregnancy. Most full-term babies born at about 40 weeks of pregnancy weigh an average of 7 1/2 pounds. This is why the earlier a premature baby is born, the smaller and lighter they might be. However, even full-term babies can also sometimes have low birth weight.
In the United States, about 8 percent of babies have low birth weight. This means that they are born weighing at or less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces. Only about 1.4 percent of all babies in the United States are born at a very low birth weight of less than 3 pounds.
Many factors can influence your premature baby’s weight including pregnancy complications, infections, and maternal behaviors. But one of the primary factors in an early arrival and lower birth weight is carrying more than one baby.
Expecting multiples
If you’re pregnant with twins, triplets or other multiples, your babies have a higher chance of being born early and on the smaller side.
In the United States, only about 2 percent of singleton babies are born early preterm, or at less than 34 weeks. That percentage jumps to almost 20 percent for twin babies and up to 63 percent for triplets.
Having quintuplets (5 babies) or more in one pregnancy? There’s almost 100 percent chance that your babies will be born early preterm.
The more babies you are carrying in one pregnancy, the shorter your pregnancy will likely be. This is simply because the babies outgrow your uterus (womb) faster. More babies sometimes also means more complications during pregnancy.
Twins, triplets and other multiples of babies are also more likely to have a lower birth weight than singleton babies. Twin babies are up to 55 percent more likely to weigh less than 5 1/2 pounds, compared to only 6.6 percent of single babies. Triplet babies have up to a 95 percent chance of being having low birth weights.
Other causes of low birth weight
Some babies may be born only slightly early or even full term and still have low birth weight. There are not usually any symptoms that your baby will be born low birth weight. This is why going to all prenatal checkups is so important.
Issues during a pregnancy can sometimes slow down a baby’s growth. This might happen due to:
- problems with the placenta inside the womb
- the mother’s health
- a health condition in the baby
A pregnant woman’s bacterial or viral infection can also cause low birth weight. These include:
- cytomegalovirus
- toxoplasmosis
- rubella
- syphilis
Other causes of low birth weight include:
- mother’s age (under 17 years or over 35)
- smoking during pregnancy
- drinking alcohol while pregnant
- using drugs before or during pregnancy
- heart disease
- high blood pressure
- some autoimmune diseases
- poor nutrition before and during pregnancy
- poor healthcare during pregnancy
- exposure to lead
- problems in the shape or size of the uterus (womb)
There are also genetic factors. If one or both parents are small or your previous babies were born at a lower birth weight it’s more likely your baby will have a lower birth weight.
The lower the birth weight, the higher the chance that a baby may have complications including long-term health problems. Premature babies may need medical care right away to treat:
- low blood sugar levels
- low oxygen levels
- breathing problems
- low body temperature
- infections
- difficulty feeding
- difficulty gaining weight
- bleeding problems
- digestive problems
Very low birth weight (about 3 pounds) babies have the highest risks of long-term health issues, such as problems with:
- vision
- hearing
- breathing
- learning
- digestion
These very low birth weight babies may also have
- cerebral palsy
- heart problems
- sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Low birth weight babies are usually treated in the neonatal (newborn) intensive care unit (NICU) immediately after birth. Treatment includes:
- oxygen
- help with breathing
- temperature controlled incubator
- special feeds sometimes with a tube
- vitamin A and other nutritional supplements
Many babies who are premature also have trouble with feedings and coordinating their sucking and swallowing. This can mean a longer process to achieve weight gains.
Your baby will be weighed and have their height measured. Your doctor will also check the circumference (size) of their head. A baby’s head size is an important sign of good growth and development after birth.
Most premature babies with low birth weight catch up in weight and growth by the time they’re about between 18 and 24 months old. Your baby’s pediatrician will chart your baby’s weight gain against other babies of the same age and sex, to show how well they are doing.
Premature babies usually have low birth weight. Premature or preterm births are most common with twin and multiples pregnancies. The more premature your baby is born, the more likely they’ll have a lower birth weight.
Lower birth weights increase the chances of complications and some long-term health problems. However, it’s important to remember that, while you can’t control every factor, making healthy choices during pregnancy and keeping up with prenatal care helps to give your baby their best start.
Table of height and weight of premature and underweight babies
According to statistics, 1 baby out of 10 is born prematurely. Such children are classified as premature. They require special attention, because they are prone to lagging behind in physical and mental development. It is not surprising that each of the parents is overcome with anxiety if the child was born before 37 weeks. Let's see how these children differ from others, and how the first year of their life goes.
What kind of babies are called "premature"
Normal pregnancy lasts from 37 to 42 weeks. If labor begins earlier, the baby is born prematurely. Its weight usually does not exceed 2.5 kg. Doctors distinguish 4 degrees of the child's condition, depending on 3 factors:
Degree | Deadline (weeks) | Weight (kg) | Height (cm) nine0014 |
First | 35 - 37 | 2 - 2. 5 | 40 - 47 |
Second | 33 - 35 | 1.5 - 2 | nine0011 |
Third | 31 - 33 | 1 - 1.5 | 35 - 37 |
Fourth | 29 - 31 | nine0002 < 1 | < 35 |
If the child's weight is at least 1.5 kg, medical professionals will record low body weight (LBW) in the documents. Children from 1 to 1.5 kg are recorded as patients with very low body weight (VLBW), and babies lighter than 1 kg are classified as children with extremely low body weight (ELBW). On the 8th day of life, a premature baby is called a newborn.
When the child was born and what weight the baby was born with are not the only factors by which doctors assess his condition and make predictions. Of great importance are also: the presence of congenital pathologies in the child, chronic diseases in the mother, her age. As a result, the degree of maturity of the crumbs is determined, in accordance with which medical procedures are prescribed and recommendations for care are given. In the first minutes after birth, a premature baby must be checked for:
- severity of the main reflexes;
- state of muscle tone;
- level of physical activity;
- thermoregulation.
Doctors suck out mucus from the baby's mouth, sometimes from the stomach. The lungs are assessed and the child's ability to breathe independently. For children weighing less than 1 kg, conditions are usually created that are as close as possible to those that were in the womb. They need mechanical ventilation. Thanks to the achievements of modern medicine, it is possible to put even the smallest with a body weight of 500 g on their feet. The main thing is not to give up and provide the crumbs with quality care and continuous medical supervision. With the right approach, premature babies catch up with their peers very quickly and do not differ from them with age. nine0003
What do babies born at 24-28 weeks look like? During this period, the development of all vital systems in his body takes place. If the baby is born before the due date, he does not have time to fully form and prepare for life outside the mother's womb. Premature babies are all different. Their differences mainly depend on the period in which the birth occurred.
Babies born at 24-28 weeks are characterized by:
- weight up to 1 kg;
- skull of a non-standard shape - an elongated nape, a high forehead, a thin neck, the head is visually much larger than the chest;
- ear shells very soft with underdeveloped cartilage;
- The upper and lower limbs are very thin, and the elbows and knees are markedly sharp;
- nails below the edge of the fingers;
- the navel is not in the center of the abdomen, but below;
- there is a clear underdevelopment of the genital organs - in girls the small lips remain visible, in boys the testicles are not yet lowered; nine0108
- skin red, thin and wrinkled;
- the vascular network is clearly visible;
- muscles are in a weak tone;
- Eyes remain closed for the first few weeks.
External signs of babies born at 28-32 weeks of gestation
In these premature babies, the signs are not as pronounced as in those born earlier. However, they are often placed in special incubators. The circumference of their head is larger than the sternum by an average of 3 cm. Large springs and open seams are noted on the head. They are also weakened, most of their organs have not gone through all the stages of development. There is a barely noticeable fat layer on the body, and a light fluff covers the whole body. Their weight usually does not exceed 1.5 kg. Such children have a great chance to quickly catch up with their peers in development. nine0003
What are the distinguishing features of babies born at 32-37 weeks
Despite preterm birth, these premature babies are more like normal newborns than others. They have no fluff on their face and body, they already have a formed subcutaneous fat layer. They are already forming nipples, the navel is located where it is needed. Body weight varies from 1.5 to 2.5 kg. Complications in such babies are rare, but they still need special care and constant monitoring by the pediatrician. nine0003
In some cases, premature babies stay in the hospital for up to 4 months. It depends on the degree of prematurity and the severity of certain developmental problems. If doctors insist on additional monitoring, this should not be neglected.
Correspondence of weight and height (table)
The shorter the gestational age at which the birth occurred, the lower the baby's performance. Usually, body height and weight are noted within the following limits:
Gestational age (weeks) | Weight (kg) | Height (cm) |
24-28 | 0.85 - 1.3 | < 35 |
29 | 1.15 - 1.5 nine0014 | 35 - 36 |
30 | 1. 25 - 1.7 | 35 - 37 |
31 | 1.3 - 1.75 | 36 - 37 |
32 | 1.4 - 1.95 | 36 - 38 |
33 | 1.55 - 2.3 | 36 - 39 |
34 | nine0002 1.8 - 2.5 | 37 - 40 |
35-36 | 1.95 - 2.5 | 40 - 47 |
All babies born at 27-34 weeks have an underdeveloped lung system and therefore need to be connected to a ventilator. They cannot breathe on their own for several months. Feeding also occurs through a tube during this entire period, since the immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract is observed. The rate of weight gain is very low. Due to the underdevelopment of various body systems in the first months of life, the child does not gain weight well, but by 3–4 months, vital processes stabilize. nine0003
Weight gain and growth changes in preterm infants in the first year of life
Age | 4th degree | 3rd degree | 2nd degree | 1 degree | ||||
Weight (kg) nine0014 | Height (cm) | Weight (kg) | Height (cm) | Weight (kg) | Height (cm) | Weight (kg) | Height (cm) | |
1 month | 0.18 | 3.9 | 0.19 | 3.7 | 0.19 | 3.8 | 0.3 | nine0011 |
2 months | 0.4 | 3.5 | 0. 65 | 4 | 0.75 | 3.9 | nine0011 3.6 | |
3 months | 0.65 | 2.5 | 0.65 | 4.2 | 0.75 | nine0011 0.8 | 3.6 | |
4 months | 0.6 | 3.5 | 0.65 | 3.7 | nine0011 3.8 | 0.75 | 3.3 | |
5 months | 0.65 | 3.7 | 0.75 | nine0011 0.8 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 2.3 | |
6 months | 0. 75 | 3.7 | nine0011 2.8 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 2 | |
7 months | 0.5 | nine0011 0.95 | 3 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 1.6 | |
8 months | nine0011 2.5 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 1.5 | |
9 months | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.7 | nine0011 |
10 months | 0. 45 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.8 | nine0011 1.5 | |
11 months | 0.5 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.5 | nine0011 0.4 | 1 | |
12 months | 0.45 | 1.7 | 0.35 | 1.2 | nine0011 1.5 | 0.3 | 1.2 | |
1 year (general) | 7.08 | 68-70 | 8.45 nine0014 | 69-72 | 8.65 | 70-73 | 9.45 | 71-74 |
Average body weight of premature babies in the first year of life
The table below shows approximate values that have been determined statistically. Each child is individual and you need to focus primarily on the recommendations of the pediatrician. nine0003
Age | 4th degree | 3rd degree | 2nd degree | 1 degree |
Starting weight | 0.5-1 kg nine0014 | 1 - 1.5 | 1.5 - 2 | 2 - 2.5 |
1 month | 0.68 - 1.18 | 1.19 - 1.69 | 1.69 - 2.19 | nine0011 |
2 months | 1.08 - 1.58 | 1.84 - 2.34 | 2.44 - 2.94 | 2.6 - 3.1 |
3 months | nine0011 2.59–3.09 | 3.19 - 3.69 | 3.4 - 3. 9 | |
4 months | 2.3 - 2.9 | 3.34 - 3.84 | nine0002 3.94 - 4.44 | 4.15 - 4.65 |
5 months | 2.95 - 3.55 | 4.09 - 4.59 | 4.74 - 5.24 | 4.95 - 5.4 |
nine0002 6 months | 3.7 - 4.3 | 4.89 - 5.39 | 5.44 - 5.94 | 5.65 - 6.1 |
7 months | 4.2 - 4.8 | 5.84 - 6.34 | 6.04 - 6.54 | 6.35 - 6.8 |
8 months | 4.7 - 5.3 | 6.44 - 6.94 | 6.74 - 7.24 | 7.05 - 7.5 nine0014 |
9 months | 5.2 - 5.8 | 7. 04 - 7.54 | 7.44 - 7.94 | 7.75 - 8.2 |
10 months | 5.65 - 6.25 nine0014 | 7.54 - 8.04 | 7.84 - 8.34 | 8.15 - 8.6 |
11 months | 6.15 - 6.75 | 7.84–8.34 | 8.34 - 8.84 | nine0011 |
1 year | 6.6 - 7.2 | 8.19 - 8.69 | 8.74 - 9.24 | 8.85 - 9.3 |
Discharge of a premature baby from the hospital
Premature babies tend to stay longer in the hospital, depending on their health status. Doctors insist that the baby was under their care, for a period of 1 week to 4-6 months. The baby is discharged on the condition that he does not have any developmental problems, within 5 days he has a stable weight gain, he eats, breathes, keeps warm on his own, and his body weight is more than 2. 3 kg. nine0003
Features of the development of a premature baby
Children born prematurely always lag behind their peers who were born on time in terms of performance. According to statistics, this situation is observed no more than for 6 months. After this time, previously weakened babies quickly catch up with other children. Parents of premature babies often face problems in the development of their nervous system. Due to its instability, signs of hyperactivity often appear.
1 month
Almost all premature babies in the first month of their life are under the supervision of neonatologists. If the baby is born very small and weak, he may be in the hospital for several months. At the same time, it is determined in a special open or closed couveuse. The latter is necessary in order to create comfortable conditions for the crumbs and enable all body systems to develop properly.
If a child has problems with thermoregulation and needs special treatment, they are placed in a closed incubator. After stabilization of the baby's condition, they are transferred to an open structure. The next stage is a specialized department, in which children with already developed basic skills (breathing, nutrition) are located. There they are observed until discharge. nine0003
In the first month of life, weight gain is minimal. The fault is a poorly developed sucking reflex and underdevelopment of body systems. To increase the amount of calories received, feeding is carried out through a tube. The ideal food for premature babies is breast milk. During this period of life, the baby's body is greatly weakened, so it is important to observe the conditions of sterility and protect it from various infections. Contact with a large number of people is not allowed. The usual behavior for such a child is to sleep a lot and be inactive. His muscles are still very weak, so pronounced signs of hypotonia are recorded. nine0003
2 months
Children with 1-2 degrees of prematurity are discharged home in the second month of life. Their sucking reflex is still poorly developed, so they need to be fed not only by breastfeeding, but also from a bottle with pre-expressed breast milk. Doctors recommend paying attention to simple physical exercises - laying the baby on the stomach as often as possible. Despite the fact that the baby gets tired quickly, his muscle tone will gradually increase. A significant increase in motor activity is usually observed from 1.5 months. A characteristic feature of premature babies is a strongly clenched hand. Fingers must be developed with a special massage. nine0003
If a child has a 3-4 degree of prematurity, he also spends the second month of life in the hospital. Only after weight gain up to 2.3 kg and complete normalization of his condition will he be discharged home. For very premature babies, constant and close contact with the mother is important. Even if there is a feeling that he does not respond to touch, the child is simply still weak, therefore he cannot show emotions properly.
3 months
By three months of age, premature babies mimic other newborns in many ways. They are actively developing, their reflexes are improving:
- the child's weight and height are rapidly increasing;
- the gaze is already focused on objects, the child explores the world around him with interest;
- as muscle tone increases, the baby can hold various objects in his hands;
- the first attempts to raise and hold the head appear.
Pediatricians recommend booking a professional massage to stimulate muscle development. Sleeping on your stomach at this age is not yet recommended. It is better to lay the child on his back and alternately turn his head to the left and right. nine0003
4 months
Even very premature babies are usually discharged home by 4 months. Their weight reaches 2.3-2.9 kg, they independently hold their heads, make various sounds. During this period, the child stabilizes all neuropsychic processes. It is important to spend a lot of time outdoors. But you should be careful about the selection of clothes. Both hypothermia and overheating should be avoided.
5 months
By 5 months after birth, a premature baby noticeably catches up with peers. He consciously smiles, reacts to sounds and turns his head in search of their source. It easily holds light objects, shakes rattles. Contact with adults causes him clear positive emotions. By 5.5-6 months, many babies born prematurely begin to roll over from their back to their stomach. nine0003
6 months
Six months after birth, the weight of a premature baby should triple. The kid masters coups from the stomach to the back, studies the environment with even greater interest. He willingly makes contact with adults, plays, "talks". The differences between him and his peers are practically erased. Complementary foods are usually introduced at 6 months, but only after agreement with the pediatrician. He must assess the condition of the child and the features of his development. The behavior of children with 1-2 degrees of prematurity is almost identical to those who were born with 3-4 degrees. nine0003
7 months
By 34-38 weeks, babies have their first teeth. They have a desire to eat on their own. They learn to crawl, become very active and inquisitive. In children with 3-4 degrees of prematurity, motor activity is still not fully developed, but deviations, if any, are barely noticeable.
8 months
Children with any degree of prematurity try to sit up by 8 months. This may not work only for the weakest, but very soon they will also master this skill. It is still difficult for them to hold their back on their own, so it usually arches in an arc. The child is trying to crawl "in a plastunsky way", moving briskly around the room. Some even get on all fours. The baby begins to understand speech. He easily perceives simple sentences - if he is asked to show something, he will certainly point to this object with his finger, or at least pay attention to it. nine0003
9 months
You can try to distinguish between a premature 9-month-old baby and a full-term baby, but it's unlikely to succeed. At this age, children confidently crawl on all fours, sit, some even try to stand on their feet, holding on to something. The amount of sleep is noticeably reduced. Most children begin to pronounce the first syllables, show even greater interest in the world around them.
10 months
The baby clearly understands speech, tries to answer. Always responds when addressed by name. His muscles are already strong enough, so he stands confidently, holding on to a support. Significantly expand the possibilities in game actions. The child is interested in a large number of household items, involves adults in games, often smiles. nine0003
11–12 months
Physically, preterm babies are no different from their peers closer to the age of 1 year. They take their first steps, show great interest in interactive toys, pronounce simple words, and are interested in ordinary food.
Development of skills depending on the degree of prematurity
Skill | 4th degree | nine0002 3rd degree | 2nd degree | 1 degree |
Fixing gaze on objects | 2-3 months | 2 - 2.5 | 1.5 - 2 | nine0002 1 - 1.5 |
Head hold | 3-4 | 3 - 4 | 2 | 1.5 - 2 |
Turn onto the stomach from the back | nine0002 6.5 - 7.5 | 6 - 7 | 5 - 6 | 5 - 5.5 |
Turning from belly to back | 7.5 - 8.5 | 7 - 8 | 6 - 7 | 6 - 7 |
Sit | 9 - 12 | 8 - 10 | 7 - 8 | 6 - 7 |
Stand | nine0011 11 - 12 | 9 - 10 | 9 | |
Walk | 14 - 15 | 14 -15 | 11 - 13 nine0014 | 11 - 12 |
talk | 12 - 14 | 12 | 11 - 12 | 11-12 |
Nuances of feeding premature babies
The type of complementary foods depends primarily on the gestational age at which the premature baby was born:
- with 1 degree of prematurity, breastfeeding is provided from the first days of life;
- at grade 2 - expressed breast milk through a bottle;
- at 3-4 degrees - through a special probe.
The doctor issues a verdict in the first hours of the baby's life, assessing his condition, sucking reflex, development of key body systems. Breastfeeding should be continued for as long as possible. There is nothing more valuable and healthier than real breast milk. If there is a very low weight gain, the amount of food is adjusted. At discharge, the pediatrician gives recommendations for further nutrition. nine0003
The average daily food allowance depends on the age of the premature baby. For example, from 10 days to 2 months, it is ⅕ of the child's weight. And at 8-12 months - 1/9 of the body weight. When breastfeeding, it is impossible to calculate how much the baby eats, so you need to pay attention to his behavior. He will never eat more than he needs.
Height and weight gain for children of the first year of life. Tables
Dear parents, your baby is growing and you are worried about whether he is gaining enough weight and height. For control, there are centile tables for assessing the physical development of children, weight and height indicators. At the same time, you must remember that each baby is individual, he cannot grow according to the textbook. These weight and height recommendations are based on an average number of children and 10% deviation is normal. In addition, the centile corridor from 25% to 75% is an average physical indicator. That is why they say: Physical development is mesosomatic, macrosomatic, microsomatic. nine0003
It is important that the weight and height indicators are in the same centile corridor, but no more than two adjacent ones. Then we can talk about harmonious development. If the gap is more than two centile corridors, the development is disharmonious. Then we can think either about an unbalanced diet or about a pathology associated with obesity (paratrophy), or protein-energy deficiency (hypotrophy). In addition, one should not forget about the constitutional characteristics of the child, about genetic predisposition. Therefore, in no case should you compare your child with a neighbor's. To talk about the health of a child, we evaluate his condition according to many criteria. This is neuropsychic development, laboratory examination data, anamnesis, heredity. How many times in my practice have I met children who gained 400-450 g in weight every month, by the year they barely gained 7.8-8 kg. But at the same time, children already at 10 months began to walk, pronounce syllables, and follow complex instructions. nine0003
We'll talk about weight and height gain for term babies. In preterm infants, rates of weight gain and height differ according to the degree of prematurity. In addition, children can be born with intrauterine malnutrition.
The tables for girls and boys are different in terms of numerical indicators, but at 1 year of age, these differences are quite minimal.
Centile tables for assessing the physical development of girls from 0 to 12 months. nine0003
Body length (height), cm. Centiles in % | Age in months | Body weight, kg. Centiles in % | ||||||||||||
3 | nine0002 10 | 25 | fifty | 75 | 90 | 97 | 3 nine0003 | 10 | 25 | fifty | 75 | 90 | 97 | |
nine0002 45.8 | 47.5 | 49.8 | 50.7 | 52.0 | 53.1 | 53.9 nine0014 | 0 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 3. 9 | 4.1 |
48.5 | 50.3 | 52.1 | 53.5 | 55.0 | nine0011 57.3 | one | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 4.2 nine0003 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 5.1 | |
51.2 | 53.3 | 55.2 | nine0011 58.0 | 59.3 | 60.6 | 2 | 3.8 | 4.2 nine0003 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 5.9 | |
54.0 | nine0002 56. 2 | 57.6 | 59.3 | 67.7 | 61.8 | 63.6 | 3 nine0014 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 6.3 | 6.7 nine0003 |
56.7 | 58.4 | 60.0 | 61.2 | 62.8 | 64.0 | nine0011 4 | 5.0 | 5.4 | 5.8 | 6.2 | 6.6 nine0003 | 7.0 | 7.5 | |
59.1 | 60.8 | 62.0 | 63.8 | nine0011 66.0 | 68.0 | five | 5.5 | 5.9 | 6.3 nine0003 | 6.7 | 7.2 | 7.7 | 8.1 | |
60.8 | 62.5 | nine0011 65.5 | 67.1 | 68.8 | 70.0 | 6 | 5.9 nine0003 | 6.3 | 6.8 | 7.3 | 7.8 | 8.3 | 8.7 | |
nine0002 62.7 | 64.1 | 65.9 | 67.5 | 69.2 | 70.4 | 71.9 nine0014 | 7 | 6. 4 | 6.8 | 7.3 | 7.7 | 8.4 | 8.9 | 9.3 |
64.5 | 66.0 | 67.5 | 69.0 | 70.5 | nine0011 73.7 | eight | 6.7 | 7.2 | 7.6 | 8.2 nine0003 | 8.8 | 9.3 | 9.7 | |
66.0 | 67.5 | 69.1 | nine0011 72.0 | 74.1 | 75.5 | nine | 7.1 | 7.5 nine0003 | 8.0 | 8. 6 | 9.2 | 9.7 | 10.1 | |
67.5 | nine0011 70.3 | 71.9 | 73.2 | 75.3 | 76.8 | 10 nine0003 | 7.4 | 7.9 | 8.4 | 9.0 | 9.6 | 10.1 | nine0002 10.5 | |
68.9 | 70.1 | 71.5 | 73.0 | 74.7 | 76.5 nine0003 | 78.1 | eleven | 7.7 | 8.3 | 8.7 | 9.3 | nine0002 9.9 | 10.5 | 10. 9 |
70.1 | 71.4 | 72.8 | 74.1 nine0003 | 75.8 | 78.0 | 79.6 | 12 | 8.0 | 8.5 | nine0002 9.0 | 9.6 | 10.2 | 10.8 | 11.3 |
At the same time, until the age of three months, the child adds 20-30 grams per day daily, respectively, from 140 to 200 per week. If we talk about the average weight gain by months, then it is only 600 g per month, since the child after birth has physiological weight loss (with urine, feces, transition from intrauterine feeding to breastfeeding during the adaptation period), approximately 10% of the weight, which is 200-300 grams. nine0003
More often, by 3-4 days, the child restores its original weight, and then there is an increase. But I had a case in practice when the child began to gain weight from the 20th day of life, while the girl was active, reflexes were alive, her appetite was good, she could withstand the night interval, stool 4-5 times a day, urination was sufficient, developed according to age. Therefore, do not worry. Our indicator is the well-being of the child. If the baby is active, eats with appetite, sleep is calm, the skin is clean, physiological functions are not disturbed, be calm, your baby is healthy and not hungry. You see from the table the range of weight per year is from 8 to 13 kg. This is the norm. There is no reason to run to the endocrinologist, genetics, to examine the child. nine0003
Or the opposite situation: in the first months of life, a child gains 1-1.5 kg while breastfeeding. If the baby does not have colic, he does not spit up, there are no gastrointestinal manifestations, he is active, the skin is clean, physiological functions are not disturbed - this is also the norm. Remember, as often happens, premature babies quickly gain weight and catch up with their peers by the year. And large babies gain weight more slowly. In my entire thirty-year practice, only two children weighed 14-15 kg by the year, although their parents were large and tall. By the age of three, they weighed almost the same, added only in height, the rest of their peers caught up with them. nine0003
Month | Weight gain in grams |
one | 600.0 |
2 | 800.0 nine0003 |
3 | 800.0 |
4 | 750.0 |
five | 700.0 nine0014 |
6 | 650.0 |
7 | 600.0 |
eight | 550. 0 | nine0027
nine | 500.0 |
10 | 450.0 |
eleven | 400.0 |
12 | 350.0 |
It is believed that by 4-4.5 months the child should double the weight, and triple by the end of the year.
It happens that the increase in height and weight goes in leaps, seasonality, unevenness, and sometimes asymmetry of growth are noted. Pediatricians are concerned about the circumference of the head and chest, by 2-3 months they should be equal. Further, the breast grows faster. This is important so as not to miss the pathology. nine0003
The younger the child, the faster his growth. In the first 3 months of life, body length increases by 3 cm monthly, in the second quarter by 2.5-2 cm monthly. In the third - 1.5-2 cm, in the fourth - 1 cm monthly. The total increase in height in the first year of life is about 25 cm.
Centile tables for assessing the physical development of boys from 0 to 12 months.
Body length (height), cm. nine0003 Centiles in % | Age in months | Body weight, kg Centiles in % | ||||||||||||
3 | 10 | 25 nine0003 | fifty | 75 | 90 | 97 | 3 | 10 nine0014 | 25 | fifty | 75 | 90 | 97 | |
46.5 | 48.0 nine0003 | 49.8 | 51.3 | 52.3 | 53. 5 | 55.0 | 0 | nine0002 2.7 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.4 nine0014 |
49.5 | 51.2 | 52.7 | 54.5 | 55.6 | 56.5 | nine0002 57.3 | one | 3.3 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.7 | nine0011 5.4 | |
53.6 | 53.8 | 55.3 | 57.3 | 58.2 nine0003 | 59.4 | 60.9 | 2 | 3. 9 | 4.2 | 4.6 | nine0002 5.1 | 5.6 | 6.0 | 6.4 |
55.3 | 56.5 | 58.1 nine0003 | 60.0 | 60.9 | 62.0 | 63.8 | 3 | 4.5 | nine0002 4.9 | 5.3 | 5.8 | 6.4 | 7.0 | 7.3 |
57.5 nine0014 | 58.7 | 60.6 | 62.0 | 63.1 | 64.5 | 66.3 | 4 nine0003 | 5.1 | 5.5 | 6.0 | 6. 5 | 7.2 | 7.6 | nine0002 8.1 |
59.9 | 61.1 | 62.3 | 64.3 | 65.6 | 67.0 nine0003 | 68.9 | five | 5.6 | 6.1 | 6.5 | 7.1 | nine0002 7.8 | 8.3 | 8.8 |
61.7 | 63.0 | 64.8 | 66.1 nine0003 | 67.7 | 69.0 | 71.2 | 6 | 6.1 | 6.6 | nine0002 7.1 | 7.6 | 8.4 | 9.0 | 9. 4 |
63.8 | 65.1 nine0003 | 66.3 | 68.0 | 69.8 | 71.1 | 73.5 | 7 | nine0002 6.6 | 7.1 | 7.6 | 8.2 | 8.9 | 9.5 | 9.9 nine0014 |
65.5 | 66.8 | 68.1 | 70.0 | 71.3 | 73.1 | nine0002 75.3 | eight | 7.1 | 7.5 | 8.0 | 8.6 | 9.4 | nine0011 10.5 | |
67.3 | 68.2 | 69. 8 | 71.3 | 73.2 nine0003 | 75.1 | 75.5 | nine | 7.5 | 7.9 | 8.4 | nine0002 9.1 | 9.8 | 10.5 | 11.0 |
68.8 | 69.1 | 71.2 nine0003 | 73.0 | 75.1 | 76.9 | 78.8 | 10 | 7.9 | nine0002 8.3 | 8.8 | 9.5 | 10.3 | 10.9 | 11.4 |
70.1 nine0003 | 71.3 | 72.6 | 74.3 | 76.2 | 78. |