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Original poster

What weight is 'average' for a newborn?

44 replies

PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 08/09/2009 16:06

I have had a scan (well, had it at 28 wks) and been told that baby is slap bang in the middle of the charts for size, for all three things they look at (length, head, abdomen) and that should he continue to grow at this rate, and stay in the middle he will be a good average sized baby.

I am curious to know roughly what size that might mean, roughly?

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Wheelybug · 08/09/2009 16:07

I think chartwise its almost 8 lbs.

BerylCole · 08/09/2009 16:08

I always think 6lbs-8lbs.

NewbeeMummy · 08/09/2009 16:08

I believe 3.5 kgs or 7 ½ pounds is considered normal, but I could be wrong

Original poster
PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 08/09/2009 16:09

wheelybug Noooooo.

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StayFrosty · 08/09/2009 16:09

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docket · 08/09/2009 16:13

I think for a boy it's around the 8lb mark. DS was 7.4 and was on the 25th centile.

Wheelybug · 08/09/2009 16:14

Yes, am afraid so ! My dd2 was 7 lbs 1oz and that was only 25th centile.

shonaspurtle · 08/09/2009 16:15

Ds was 50th centile at 7lbs 14oz

deleting · 08/09/2009 16:16

looking at quite a few different websites, the average shown is 7.5lbs

StayFrosty · 08/09/2009 16:17

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deleting · 08/09/2009 16:19

centile charts start at 2 weeks though because of weight loss etc so it's not a birth weight.

PinkTulips · 08/09/2009 16:20

StayFrosty is right you know... my 7lb4 dd was a far harder birth than either of the ds' (8lb10 and 8lb2) and lots of people have similar experiances

Original poster
PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 08/09/2009 16:21

stayfrosty not so bad .

DD was 5lbs. Which is why I am having growth scans. she got stuck and I needed ventouse, so the thought of 8lbs - that is 3lbs more .

DH said though that he thinks DD got stuck because she was small, as she did not have enough gravity so to speak to help her out (she was in the back too) and that this baby will have brute force to help him out I hope he is right!

Its not that I want a small baby or anything, but 6lbs would be fine!

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pooexplosions · 08/09/2009 16:27

8lbs isn't really very big. Mine were 3.5 kilos (7.5 lbs) and 3.7 kilos (8lbs), and they were really very small. This one is on course to be more like 9lbs apparently, but I'm told that bigger babies are often easier for some reason. I know my SIL's biggest baby was by far her easiest.

Seriously though, 8lbs is tiny these days!

StayFrosty · 08/09/2009 16:45

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ElectricElephant · 08/09/2009 16:47

It's 8lb.

Original poster
PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 08/09/2009 16:47

stayfrosty the birth was surprisingly ok, til the ventouse, when apparantly I swore for the first and only time! I just have visions of it hurting a lot more with a bigger baby...

I shall try not to think about it, he is coming out whatever I think eh? .

Oh, and good luck yourself, imminent now!

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Deemented · 08/09/2009 16:50

I seemed to go frm one extreme to the other - DT's 2lb 4oz and 2lb 14oz, and DD 10lb 2oz.

I'm hoping that this one is going to be nice and normal sized!

Original poster
PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 08/09/2009 16:51

deemented now they are opposites!! How did you find them both (all three even?)

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Deemented · 08/09/2009 16:56

DT's - emergency c-section as went into prem labour at 28 weeks and both were breech. Obviously traumatic, but no lasting problems with me.

DD - VBAC - horrible, 3rd degree tear and 30 plus stitches. Was out of action for ages.

This time i'd like a home water birth, but can't see it happening.

glasgowlass · 08/09/2009 16:57

My DS was 7lb9oz and was on 50th centile, I know centiles are a PITA though.

My poor wee gran, all 5'1" of her had a 13lb7oz baby, ouchie!

Original poster
PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 08/09/2009 17:00

I am hoping for a water birth. I want a home birth too, but DH is panicking about it, as I needed monitoring last time, and ventouse (which I said I might not have needed if at home) and manual removal of placenta (which I told DH I could go to hosp for afterwards if it was necessary again which it won't be). So I am hoping for water birth in hospital.

Were your twins ok after prem birth?

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ErikaMaye · 08/09/2009 17:00

8lb is avarage??? Crumbs. And here's me messuring a week over gulps

Original poster
PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 08/09/2009 17:01

glasgowlass oh my word!

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waitingforbedtime · 08/09/2009 17:03

dont worry about it! I measured 3 weeks ahead all the time. Ds was born at 42 weeks weighing 8lbs 11oz and it was a pish easy birth