Clinical Evaluation of Postnatal Weight Gain in Premature and Low Birth Weight Infants

ABSTRACT

Among premature and low birth weight infants admitted between March 1970 and February 1977, 228 infants who were clinically normal and older than 7 hospital days are evaluated as to the changes of baby weight. The average postnatal weight loss was 18 to 8 per cent during the first 7 to 17 days after birth. Infants refained their birth weight at the age of 15 to 17 days in the weight group of 1001 to 1250g 9 to 10 days in 1251 to 1500g, 13 to 15 days in 1501 to 1750g, 14 to 16 days on 1751 to 2000g, 11 to 13 days in 2001 to 2250g, 7 to 8 days in 2251 to 2500g. Postnatal weight gain in this study corresponded well to Dancis postnatal growth curve.