Premature infant weight
Release time : 06/08/2025 09:30:01
Due to various reasons, many babies are born prematurely.
Premature babies are much worse than full-term babies in terms of immune function and physical fitness.
Therefore, parents have to devote more energy and time than other parents in the process of caring for and caring for premature babies.
Because premature babies have not yet completed complete growth and development in their mother's stomach, the development of many body organs is not yet very mature. Therefore, many parents are very uneasy at this time.
Many people are not aware of the relevant knowledge about preterm infants, which results in them feeling at a loss when it comes to their care.
Some people wonder, what is the normal weight for a preterm infant? Weight in preterm infants tends to be lower.
Generally speaking, the weight of premature infants is mostly below 2500g and the head circumference is less than 33cm.
For infants with birth weight greater than 2500g, even those who are premature, special care should be given.
A small-for-gestational age infant is defined as a neonate who weighs less than the 10th percentile for gestational age for the same birth weight or more than two standard deviations below the average weight.
Low birth weight infants are those weighing less than 2,500g at birth, extremely low birth weight infants are those weighing less than 1,500g, and both include preterm infants and those with a gestational age below the normal range.
Factors affecting the weight of preterm infants include: 1. First-time birth age: The newborn's weight increases with an older maternal age, but decreases with a younger age.
2. Pregnancy Health: Pregnant women with hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease, etc., and newborns with low birth weight.
Infection with viruses or other microorganisms can also affect the development of the fetus.
3. Habits of pregnant women: Smoking in pregnant women will cause the weight of the newborn to be lower than normal.
4. Geothermal week: The time the fetus is in the mother is too short or too long, which will affect the birth weight of the newborn.
From 35 to 39 weeks of pregnancy, the birth weight of newborns increases significantly with the increase of weeks: from 40 to 43 weeks of pregnancy, the weight gain is slower.
After 44 weeks of pregnancy, the weight dropped instead.
5. Birth order and multiple births: The birth weight of newborns with the second and fifth births increased compared with the first, and the weight of newborns with multiple births was generally lower.
6. Nutritional status: Dieting, partial eating, and picky eaters can cause nutritional deficiencies and lead to low birth weight.
How do premature babies gain weight? Because premature babies are not physically well developed, have poor sucking and swallowing abilities, and are prone to vomiting, the weight gain of the born baby is a heartbreak for new mothers. How to increase the weight of premature babies? 1. Premature infants need breast milk more.
The richer antibodies and nutrients contained in breast milk will protect babies from the many infections that preterm babies are more likely to develop.
Human milk is more easily digestible, and it does not put additional burdens on the already fragile gastrointestinal system of the baby.
The utilization rate of fats and proteins in breast milk is much higher than that in formula.
Moreover, for premature infants, breastfeeding is more efficient than formula feeding. Breastfed preterm infants tend to grow better and experience a significantly reduced incidence of respiratory pauses (asphyxiation).
2. Understand the amount and frequency of breastfeeding.
Because premature babies have poor gastric capacity and small stomachs, they can only take the method of feeding in divided parts.
Premature infants weighing less than 1500 grams should be fed every 2 hours, starting with 4 ml. If the response is good after feeding, the increase can be 2 ml each time, but the increase can be up to 16 ml per day.
Infants weighing over 1500g should be fed every 3 hours, as needed, and the feedings may be adjusted.
Between feedings, give a small amount of glucose water during the day.
It should be noted that after each feeding, it is best to let the baby lie on his side to avoid suffocation when spitting milk.
3. Calculation formula for food intake in preterm infants: For the first 10 days after birth, the daily breastfeeding volume (ml) for preterm infants is calculated as follows: (the actual number of full days of birth + 10) × weight (g) / 100; for the next 10 days, it is calculated as 1/5 to 1/4 of the weight (g).
Early supplementation of vitamins E in preterm infants is also indicated, 5 days later, daily use of 5 drops of concentrated Vitamin A and D preparation.
5. If premature infants are unable to suck, a dropper feeding method may be used.
Using a dropper, take a small amount of formula or milk and slowly drip it onto the baby's tongue root.
However, when giving milk, do not forcefully pour it into the throat to prevent it from choking in.
Additionally, the temperature of the milk should be appropriate; it should neither be too cold nor too warm. Generally, it is sufficient if you do not feel a chill or warmth when you drop a drop of milk on your hand.
6. When introducing solid foods, start with small amounts and gradually increase the amount to accommodate.
Although the baby was premature, the time to start introducing solid foods should be calculated from the date of birth.
Additionally, when adding food, it is essential to gradually increase the amount and experiment with a variety of foods. It is also important to closely observe your child's stool for any changes in consistency or color.
For the nutritional needs of premature infants, please refer to the following suggestions: 1. ** Calorie demand **: Premature infants have a higher basal metabolic rate, so they need relatively more calories. Typically, premature infants need an additional 30-60 kcal/kg of body weight per day. For example, a premature infant weighing 2.5 kilograms at birth may need 450-900 kilocalories per day. 2. ** Protein **: Premature infants will gradually increase their demand for protein in the first few months after birth. However, their kidneys are not yet fully mature, so protein intake needs to be monitored with special care. 3. ** Fat **: Fat is the main source of energy for premature infants. They need enough fat to support the development of the brain and nervous system. 4. ** Vitamins and minerals **: Premature infants need large amounts of minerals such as vitamin D, iron, zinc and calcium to support their growth and development. 5. ** Water **: Premature infants need enough water to maintain their body temperature, digestion and excretion functions. To ensure premature babies receive proper nutrition, doctors and nurses often regularly monitor indicators such as weight, height, head circumference and blood cell counts. In addition, parents or caregivers of premature infants should also closely monitor their child's health and follow their doctor's recommendations for feeding and nutritional supplements.
It is generally believed that premature babies have higher calorie requirements than full-term babies, requiring 110 to 150 kilocalories per kilogram of body weight per day.
Because premature babies have a greater resting metabolic rate (referred to as the work done by lungs breathing) than full-term babies, but their absorption capacity is lower than that of full-term babies, it is advisable to start with a slightly lower supply of heat energy.
Adjust the quantity gradually as needed.
Protein: Protein intake from breast milk at full term accounts for 6% to 7% of the total calories, and protein intake by premature babies accounts for 10.2% of the total calories, which is higher than that of normal infants.
Amino acids: There are 9 essential amino acids for full-term babies and 11 essential amino acids for premature babies. Because premature babies lack the relevant converting enzymes to convert methionine into cystine and phenylalanine into tyrosine, these must be ingested from breast milk or formula.
Inorganic salts: Premature babies need more than full-term babies, because the final stage of the fetus is the stage when inorganic salts increase, such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron all increase. Premature babies who are less than a month old will lack inorganic salts.
Vitamins: Premature babies lack vitamin E and are prone to hemolytic anemia; early babies do not absorb fat as full-term babies, and may lack fat-soluble vitamins and other nutrients.
Can listening to music help premature babies gain weight? The study findings were published in a recent issue of the American journal Pediatrics.
Researchers at the Solaskai Medical Center in Tel Aviv, Israel used 20 healthy premature infants as subjects to study the effect of Mozart's music on their metabolism during rest.
Researchers asked premature infants to listen to 30 minutes of Mozart music for two consecutive days, and then to no music for two consecutive days.
Comparative analysis showed that the metabolism of premature infants when listening to music slowed by 13% compared with when not listening to music.
Researcher Ronit Lubecki said the findings suggest that music may help premature babies gain weight because slowing metabolism helps weight gain.
However, the researchers said that whether music therapy can be used to care for premature infants is still inconclusive and further experimental confirmation is needed.
The medical information provided in this article is for reference only.
If you feel unwell, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately, and the medical diagnosis and treatment will be subject to offline diagnosis.