Premature Baby Weight Gain & Weight Chart

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H a s your b a b y been b o r n earlier t h a n the d u e date a n d is n o w a p r e m a t u r e baby? A r e you w o r r i e d about h i s weight a n d the g e n e r a l weight g a i n that s h o u l d happen i n the f i r s t year? D o you w a n t to m a k e sure t h a t his w e i g h t gain i s on t h e right t r a c k and a r e you l o o k i n g for m o r e information o n how y o u can h e l p ?

I f your a n s w e r s to t h e above q u e r i e s are ‘ y e s ’ , consider r e a d i n g our p o s t below. H e r e , we l o o k at h o w you c a n achieve y o u r p r e m a t u r e baby w e i g h t gain and how m u c h weight s h o u l d a p r e m a t u r e baby g a i n each w e e k

U n d e r s t a n d i n g The W e i g h t Of P r e m a t u r e Baby:

I f your b a b y was b o r n after s p e n d i n g less t h a n 37 w e e k s in y o u r womb, i t means y o u have a premature b a b y . In s u c h a c a s e , your b a b y ’ s nutritional n e e d s will b e different t o babies w h o are b o r n full-term, w h o have s p e n t anything b e t w e e n 38 a n d 42 w e e k s in t h e womb.

I n most c a s e s , your p r e m a t u r e baby w i l l first b e kept i n the N I C U (Neonatal I n t e n s i v e Care U n i t ) to h e l p the d o c t o r s observe y o u r little o n e . It d o e s not m e a n that y o u r baby i s not d o i n g well. I t is j u s t a p r e c a u t i o n a r y measure t h a t will a l l o w the d o c t o r s to k e e p a t r a c k of y o u r baby’s n u t r i t i o n and t o see i f your b a b y is d e v e l o p i n g properly.

M o s t full-term b a b i e s will w e i g h around s i x pounds a t the t i m e of b i r t h . However, i f your b a b y was b o r n premature, t h e birth w e i g h t will v a r y depending o n how e a r l y your b a b y was b o r n . Some p r e m a t u r e babies a r e born w i t h a b i r t h weight a s low a s two p o u n d s while s o m e are b o r n with a l m o s t the s a m e birth w e i g h t as t h a t of a full-term b a b y .

P r e m a t u r e Baby W e i g h t Chart:

H o w Much W e i g h t Will Y o u r Premature B a b y Gain?

Y o u r premature b a b y ’ s weight g a i n will d e p e n d on a lot o f factors, t h e main f a c t o r being h o w premature y o u r baby i s . Here a r e a f e w tips t h a t can h e l p you u n d e r s t a n d your p r e m a t u r e baby’s w e i g h t gain b e t t e r :

Y o u r premature b a b y will s t a r t gaining s o m e weight i n a f e w days a f t e r the b i r t h .

I f your b a b y was b o r n too e a r l y and i s very s m a l l , the w e i g h t gain c o u l d be a s little a s about f i v e gm a day. I f your b a b y was b o r n larger a n d closer t o the d u e date, t h e weight g a i n could b e as h i g h as 2 0 gm e a c h day.

D e p e n d i n g on t h e hospital o r medical c a r e facility w h e r e your p r e m a t u r e baby i s being o b s e r v e d , the d i s c h a r g e rules w i l l have s p e c i f i c weight g a i n criteria p r i o r to d i s c h a r g e . Some h o s p i t a l s have a pre-set w e i g h t number t h a t your p r e m a t u r e baby s h o u l d reach, b e f o r e being a l l o w e d to g o home. S o m e hospitals m o n i t o r your p r e m a t u r e baby’s w e i g h t gain p a t t e r n on a daily b a s i s . If i t corresponds t o their c r i t e r i a of a healthy w e i g h t gain, y o u r premature b a b y may b e allowed t o go h o m e .

H o w Will Y o u Feed Y o u r Premature B a b y In T h e Initial W e e k s ?

I f your b a b y was b o r n earlier t h a n 34 w e e k s , feeding c o u l d often b e a c a u s e of c o n c e r n . It c a n be e s p e c i a l l y difficult f o r you t o feed y o u r baby f r o m the b r e a s t or e v e n by u s i n g a b o t t l e . At s u c h an a g e , your p r e m a t u r e baby w i l l still n o t develop e n o u g h to b e able t o breathe, s u c k and s w a l l o w properly. I t can c a u s e a r i s k of c h o k i n g and c a n be d a n g e r o u s for y o u r little o n e .

Y o u r baby’s d o c t o r will f i r s t assess y o u r baby’s c o n d i t i o n and t h e n decide o n the b e s t form o f feeding f o r the i n i t i a l days i f your b a b y cannot b r e a s t f e e d yet. H e r e are s o m e feeding o p t i o n s that y o u r baby’s d o c t o r can s u g g e s t :

1 . Intravenous ( I V ) Lines:

T h e IV l i n e s will h e l p to p l a c e the n u t r i t i o n directly i n your p r e m a t u r e baby’s b l o o d s t r e a m .

T h e IV l i n e s method w i l l be u s e d if y o u premature b a b y has a n immature d i g e s t i v e system. I t will a l s o be u s e d in c a s e your b a b y is s t i l l not a b l e to s u c k , breathe a n d swallow o n his o w n or i n a n o r m a l way.

I f your p r e m a t u r e baby i s being t r e a t e d for a n y other h e a l t h complications, t h e doctor m a y recommend t h e method o f feeding.

T h e IV l i n e will b e placed i n the a r m , leg o r scalp o f your b a b y .

2 . Umbilical C a t h e t e r :

U s i n g the u m b i l i c a l catheter i s a p a i n l e s s method t h a t will n o t cause a n y distress t o your p r e m a t u r e baby.

D o c t o r s will u s e a s u r g i c a l procedure t o place a tube i n s i d e a v e s s e l of y o u r baby’s u m b i l i c a l cord.

E v e n though i t is a painless m e t h o d , there a r e certain r i s k s associated w i t h this m e t h o d . Your p r e m a t u r e baby w i l l be m o r e prone t o blood c l o t s and i n f e c t i o n s while b e i n g on t h e umbilical c a t h e t e r .

T o avoid a n y chances o f a r i s k , the d o c t o r will r e c o m m e n d the m e t h o d only i n the m o s t critical c a s e and i f there i s no o t h e r option. T h e doctor c a n also r e c o m m e n d the m e t h o d if y o u r premature b a b y has t o be f e d using a n external m e t h o d of f e e d i n g over a period o f weeks. I n such a case, i t will b e the s a f e s t and e a s i e s t way f o r your p r e m a t u r e baby t o receive t h e required a m o u n t of n u t r i t i o n .

3 . Oral A n d Nasal F e e d i n g :

I n the o r a l and n a s a l feeding m e t h o d , the h e a l t h care p r o v i d e r will u s e a n a r r o w and f l e x i b l e tube t o provide t h e required n u t r i t i o n for y o u r premature b a b y .

T h e tube w i l l be t h r e a d e d through y o u r baby’s n o s e (for t h e nasal f e e d i n g method) o r the m o u t h (for t h e oral f e e d i n g method).

T h e oral a n d nasal f e e d i n g method w i l l be u s e d for y o u r baby i f the d o c t o r s feel t h a t your p r e m a t u r e baby i s still n o t ready t o digest y o u r breast m i l k or e v e n formula m i l k .

Y o u r baby s h o u l d be a b l e to s u c k the b r e a t h and s w a l l o w normally. O n c e that h a p p e n s , the d o c t o r will g i v e the g o – a h e a d to u s e the m e t h o d of f e e d i n g .

4 . Central L i n e :

T h e central l i n e feeding s y s t e m is s o m e t i m e s also r e f e r r e d to a s the P I C C Line.

I t is a type o f IV l i n e that w i l l be i n s e r t e d into y o u r baby’s v e i n . The m o s t common a r e a where i t is d o n e is i n the v e i n of t h e arm, a s it i s larger t h a n the o t h e r veins.

T h e line w i l l help t o deliver t h e required n u t r i e n t s to y o u r premature b a b y .

O n c e your b a b y develops a natural r e f l u x to s u c k i n g , breathing a n d swallowing, a n d the r e s p i r a t o r y system i s stable, y o u r doctor m a y allow y o u to t r y and b r e a s t f e e d your l i t t l e one. D o speak t o your d o c t o r about a n y breastfeeding c o n c e r n s you m a y have.

H o p e you l i k e d our i n f o r m a t i o n on p r e m a t u r e baby g r o w t h chart. W a s your b a b y born p r e m a t u r e l y ? How d i d you f e e d your b a b y initially a n d how w a s the w e i g h t gain?

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