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Are first borns lighter at birth than their younger siblings?

32 replies

Posey · 27/02/2004 18:56

In my extensive research (well asking around friends ) it seems that most first babies are lighter than the next ones. My first was 9oz lighter than my 2nd, and dh and I, both 2nd born, were substantially heavier than our older siblings.
Is this your experience? How did your babies weights differ?
Does anyone know if this is a recognised fact or is it just the case with the people I know? Is there a reason for this?

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Freckle · 27/02/2004 19:04

My first born was the heaviest of my three, but that might have been that he was 5 days overdue, whereas the others were 10 and 9 days early respectively. DS1 was 7lbs 6oz, DS2 6lbs 12.5oz and DS3 7lbs 5oz. I don't do particularly big babies, not by today's standards anyway. DS3 is looking to be the tallest/biggest build of the 3.

spacemonkey · 27/02/2004 19:05

I've always thought this was the general rule, but that's only based on hearsay so it'd be interesting to know if it's a scientific fact! My first was just under 9lb and second was just over.

coppertop · 27/02/2004 19:06

Ds1 weighed 9lb 8oz, while ds2 weighed only 9lb. However, ds1 was induced at 41 weeks while ds2 was induced at 38 weeks so I suppose my second baby WOULD have been bigger than my first if nature had been allowed to take its course.

Hope that makes sense!

3GirlsMum · 27/02/2004 19:08

My firstborn was actually the lightest of my three at 6'8, the others were 7'3 and 7'7 respectively..lol!

suzywong · 27/02/2004 19:09

Spacemonkey (yes I am stalking you through the threads) mine were the same weights as yours exactly but the other way round, second born slightly lighter

JJ · 27/02/2004 19:10

Thank goodness, no. My eldest was 9lbs 4oz, youngest (and next) was 8lbs exactly. Both born on their due dates, btw.

Bekki · 27/02/2004 19:10

My first was 2 lbs heavier than his brother!

Janh · 27/02/2004 19:12

DD1 - 5.11 (41 weeks)
DD2 - 7.12? (40 weeks)
DS1 - 8.3 (38 weeks)
DS2 - 7.4? (37 weeks)

(All caesarians.)

Sorry about question marks - can't believe I have forgotten!

DD1 grew up under 25th centile, and DD2 above 75th, but they ended up the same height and weight. DS1 has been 50th throughout but was late developer and at 15 is just shooting up. DS2 is c 90th for height, but skinny.

Older brother, younger brother and I were all between 9.12 and 9.15 I think.

Obv I come from a very random family!

lou33 · 27/02/2004 19:37

dd1 6lb 6oz 39 weeks
dd2 6lb 10 oz 37 weeks
ds1 8lb 38 weeks
ds2 6lb 4oz 36 weeks

emmatmg · 27/02/2004 19:50

DS1 7lb 11oz
DS2 8lb 5oz
DS3 8lb 4oz(with nappy on, don't know why MW didn't weigh him without it)

Not sure of our weighs but my brother was the first and heaviest, then my sister next and then I came along last and was the lightest.

Slinky · 27/02/2004 19:59

DD1 was 8lb 2oz - at 41 weeks
DS1 was 8lb - at 39 weeks
DD2 was 8lb 12 1/2oz - at 42 weeks.

suedonim · 27/02/2004 20:15

8lb 8oz @ 40+3wks
8lb 8oz @ 41+3wks
7lb 5oz @ 41wks
7lb approx @ 39+6wks

SenoraPostrophe · 27/02/2004 20:18

baby #1: 3.06 kg
baby #2: 3.77 kg

Am I the only metric person?

Posey · 27/02/2004 21:52

Well there goes my theory

OP posts:
stupidgirl · 27/02/2004 22:00

Mine was.

Ds 5lb 7oz (on due date)
Dd 6lb 12 (and a half!)oz (4 days early)

kiwisbird · 27/02/2004 22:06

no 1 7lb 11 2 weeks late
no 2 7lb 8 oz 2 weeks early
Technically debatable!!

zebra · 27/02/2004 22:13

Me: 2.92 kg, then 3.25 kg (just to make SP happy).
Friend: 9lb10oz, then 8 lb8oz.
Aunt: 10lb, 10lb, 8.5lb, 10lb.
Cousin: 6lb13oz, 9lb12oz, 8lb10oz.
DH's cousin: 8lb8oz, 8lb8oz, 9lb10oz.

Only ones I can recall not involving twins. The pattern just looks all over the place, to me.

Skara · 28/02/2004 19:34

no1, girl, 6lb 15oz, born on due date
no2, boy, 9lb 4oz, born 5 days after due date
no3...? we'll see

Kayleigh · 28/02/2004 19:43

ds1 was 6lb 2 days early and ds2 was 6lb 8ozs 3 days late.

hmb · 28/02/2004 19:54

Dd 8lb 7oz, on her due date
Ds 9lb 1oz, but he was two weeks early! No diabetes in pregnancy, he was just plain big!

Ailsa · 29/02/2004 12:31

DD1 8lb 8½oz - 42wks
DS 9lb 1½oz - 41wks
DD2 7lb 7½oz - 40wks

alison222 · 01/03/2004 10:47

DS (first born) 10lb exactly, DD 9lb 8oz.
so no BUT, DS was 15 days late

Bron · 01/03/2004 11:09

This reply has been deleted

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Bron · 01/03/2004 11:11

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dinosaur · 01/03/2004 11:22

That's how it was with us. DS1 was 7lb2, and DS2 was 8lbs.