When a baby is born, the doctor considers various aspects of it to assess in a fundamental way the general state of health with which it has arrived in the world. One of the most critical data is the child’s weight since this could indicate the nutritional status and development depending on the gestational age.
Despite this, there are other important data for a specialist, such as the different measurements of the newborn; however, these can vary considerably from one child to another. That is why, if you ask yourself, how tall is a baby at birth approximately? We advise you to continue reading the following FastlyHealarticle.
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Newborn measurements
Babies should arrive in the world between weeks 38 and 42 of amenorrhea, that is, the absence of the rule that must be counted from the first day of the last menstruation. When the baby is born, it can be somewhat challenging to know exactly how tall it is because children who have just come out of their mother’s womb find their limbs flexed from the fetal position they had for so long.
Although the measurements of a baby can be different between each one, it is considered that a child born full term should measure between 47 and 52 cm. Despite this, the height can vary due to several aspects, for example, the child’s genetic characteristics, that is, if their parents and relatives are very tall or relatively short, among other elements.
Many parents assume that the size of their child at birth has a great relationship with the height that he will grow up; however, this is not correct because your adult measurement will not only depend on your genetics but also on how your development occurs in childhood and puberty, your diet during these stages and if you do any sports, among other.
How to know if the size of a newborn is correct
The doctor in charge should be careful when observing the baby since if it is very small or huge, it could be an essential factor for its life and development outside the mother’s womb. For this reason, after birth, specialists are in charge of controlling the child’s weight and measurements to compare them with average figures, that is, the means, depending on the weight and height tables by percentiles.
Those in charge of examining the baby can observe the weight and the usual size of a child on the tables since, if any abnormal factor is perceived, there could be an essential aspect that must be taken into account. Although the data do not vary much by sex among babies, it is estimated that a child measures between 46 and 53.5 cm with a weight between 2,500 and 4,300 kg. It may vary slightly in the case of a girl being born since a girl measures between 45.5 and 53 cm with a weight of between 2,400 and 4,200 kg. However, as we can see, the difference between the means is minimal.
Suppose the baby is outside these average values. In that case, the doctor must check correctly if there are any signs of danger in the newborn, as it may be a weight that can also be considered normal or, on the contrary, It could be due to some alteration that must be identified.
What if a newborn baby is very big or very small
Generally, big babies, that is, those considered above the 90th percentile, can make many relatives happy. They think that they are healthy and that being big is synonymous with good health; however, this is incorrect. It is important to check blood sugar or glucose in these cases because its measurement may be due to difficulty in regulating this component. If this is the case, the specialist may recommend that the child be fed more frequently than other babies since they are at risk of suffering from hypoglycemia, a condition in which a low level of sugar can affect the growth of the little one.
In the opposite case that the newborn is tiny, below the 10th percentile, it is necessary to review the feeding because they can present many more problems when eating and difficulty in constantly regulating their temperature by themselves; this is because its thermoregulation system is still under development.
In these cases, if there is any anomaly, condition, or disease that needs to be controlled, the neonatologist specialist will be the one who will help the parents, as they are the doctor who specializes in newborns. In addition, after a few days after the baby has been born, whether there is a disease to control or not, it is essential to take it to the first check-up with the pediatrician. He will be in charge of re-measuring and weighing the child to inform the parents about his development and offer them the necessary instructions on how to continue raising the child in the best way.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
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I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.