How small is too small for a full-term baby?

[Anonymous]

A friend just had a baby this week. Over 40wks (they used IUI and so are certain of conception) and yet the baby was only 4lb 12oz. On the one hand, I don't want to pry and ask questions. On the other, I'm worried for them that the baby is not well. They aren't local and so I can't go by the house or hospital.

Is it ok to have a full-term baby this small or is it a sign of potential problems? I know they'd been worried while she was pregnant that the baby was small, and she was on bedrest with a high-protein diet for a few weeks to try and pass some nourishment and calories on to the baby.

[Anonymous]

Are the parents small, OP? That will contribute to the baby's size. Age matters more because of lung development and development of other organs.

[Anonymous]

One of my three was IUGR, the others were very big. The never figured out why he didn't grow properly. He is five now and has no issues at all.

[Anonymous]

Friend is actually fairly large and her DH is a bit pudgy. Apparently she was a big baby but he was on the small side, but I don't think that small.

PP, what is IUGR? Regardless, glad to know he is fine now.

[Anonymous]

IUGR = intrauterine growth restriction

not PP, but a baby can be IUGR even if it's born to large parents. If the flow of nutrients from the mother to the baby was restricted, then the baby would be born small. this does not necessarily mean there is anything wrong with the baby, it could be that the placenta wasn't doing its job.

[Anonymous]

My brother and SIL recently had a baby that was a few ounces under 5 lbs. They are average size. The baby is perfectly healthy, and doubled his birthweight quite quickly.

[Anonymous]

Great to know, thank you all. I'll stay tuned for updates then, and not worry quite as much.

[Anonymous]

My DS was small because I developed pre-eclampsia and was told that sometimes this restricts growth. He was 5 lbs 12 oz at 39 weeks and came out very healthy. Just tiny. He is still petite at age 6 but has a tremendous amount of energy and stamina.

[Anonymous]

One of my babies was IUGR. She didn't have a good supply of nutrients and was born very small (2lbs 8 oz), which was very small eventhough she was born 8 weeks early. There is really nothing wrong with a baby being born "that small". I don't think you need to do anything different then you would normally do to welcome the baby into the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are the parents small, OP? That will contribute to the baby's size. Age matters more because of lung development and development of other organs.

My son was 5 lbs on the nose despite being full term. I was told that actually a full term baby who is small for gestational age than a preemie of the same weight, because it is likely that there were problems in utero that contributed.

That isn't to say that a 5 lb or almost 5 lb baby is likely to have significant or lasting problems, many babies at that size do very well, preemie or not. Just that it's somewhat more likely. My kid did end up having some issues -- very severe reflux, and breathing problems mostly.

Similarly if you have IUGR badly enough that you give birth to a 2 lb full term baby, that baby is very likely to have the kinds of problems seen in micropreemies.

Having said all that, OP, I don't think this makes much of a difference in how you interact. He's still a new baby, cause for joy and excitement.

The one thing I might do is send a preemie outfit as a gift, if you can get one there fast. I didn't bother buying my son any because I knew he's outgrow them, but then I got a few as handmedowns. It was amazing how much better I felt when he wasn't swimming in his clothes, and I didn't have a visual reminder of how small and vulnerable he was.

[Anonymous]

I have an obese friend who had three very small babies. I do think it had something to do with her size. The kids are all fine, and obese, now.

[Anonymous]

A friend had a similar situation. Her daughter had lots of growth issues, saw a ton of specialist. In the end they determined that she is just petite.

Did the mom have any undiagnosed preeclampsia? That can cause a small baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the parents small, OP? That will contribute to the baby's size. Age matters more because of lung development and development of other organs.

My son was 5 lbs on the nose despite being full term. I was told that actually a full term baby who is small for gestational age than a preemie of the same weight, because it is likely that there were problems in utero that contributed.

That isn't to say that a 5 lb or almost 5 lb baby is likely to have significant or lasting problems, many babies at that size do very well, preemie or not. Just that it's somewhat more likely. My kid did end up having some issues -- very severe reflux, and breathing problems mostly.

Similarly if you have IUGR badly enough that you give birth to a 2 lb full term baby, that baby is very likely to have the kinds of problems seen in micropreemies.

Having said all that, OP, I don't think this makes much of a difference in how you interact. He's still a new baby, cause for joy and excitement.

The one thing I might do is send a preemie outfit as a gift, if you can get one there fast. I didn't bother buying my son any because I knew he's outgrow them, but then I got a few as handmedowns. It was amazing how much better I felt when he wasn't swimming in his clothes, and I didn't have a visual reminder of how small and vulnerable he was.

I am one of the PPs with an IUGR baby and I totally agree about buying a preemie outfit. I think Gymboree and some other easy-to-find places have preemie clothes. For some reason, it makes a huge difference to see the clothes fit right.

[Anonymous]

Gymboree definitely has premie-sized clothes (they are "up to 5 pounds, 5-9 pounds, 0-3 months, and so on). Gap has "newborn" (which is up to 7 pounds).

[Anonymous]

OP again.

I just ordered 3 Gymboree outfits in size 5-9lbs and had them priority shipped. They should be there by week's end. Great suggestion! It's that much more fun since they didn't find out the gender and needed some "girly" clothes anyway. I was going to actually buy size 6 or 9mos but getting the tiny sizes was a great idea.