The average, healthy newborn weighs between 5-1/2 and 8.8 lbs. A baby who weighs above or below the healthy average is considered a high birth-weight or low birth-weight baby. Certain health issues apply to both low- and high birth-weight babies, which is why proper prenatal care and pregnancy management tactics are necessary to ensure that your baby is born at a healthful weight.
Low Birth Weight
A low birth-weight baby weighs less than 5-1/2 lbs. or 2,500 g at birth. Low birth-weight babies are often also preterm babies, meaning they deal with feeding, growth and development problems. The March of Dimes estimates that one in every 12 babies is categorized as low birth weight, which carries issues such as learning and developmental problems, cerebral palsy, and vision and hearing problems. Very low birth weight babies born at less than 3 lbs., 5 oz. are the most likely to sustain lingering effects.
Low Birth Weight Risk Factors
While low birth weight isn't always preventable, precautions during pregnancy help to reduce your risks. Both smoking and drinking alcohol increase your risk for a low birth weight newborn, as does chronic health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes in the mother. Low maternal weight gain also contributes to low birth weight, which is why maintaining an acceptable level of monthly prenatal care is necessary to identify potential problems and limit their effect on your baby.
High Birth Weight
While the arrival of a chubby, bouncing baby is typically cause for celebration, a baby who weighs more than 8.8 lbs. or 4,000 g can also struggle with weight-related issues. Because they are bigger, high birth-weight babies are more likely to sustain injuries and bruising during the birthing process. Infant mortality rates are higher in high birth-weight full-term babies than full-term babies who weigh in the normal range of 5-1/2 to 8.8 lbs. High birth weight is also associated with low blood sugar at birth and when the result of maternal diabetes, lung development issues.
High Birth Weight Risk Factors
One of the most telling predictors of a high birth-weight baby is gestational diabetes. Women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes are at a higher risk than other women to have a high birth weight baby, which often leads to developmental issues in utero and high blood sugar at birth. When diagnosed with gestational diabetes, it's vital that you test often and manage your blood sugar to help avoid a high birth-weight baby.
