Baby weight is 8th percentile should I worry?

[Kirei]

I have had a look at my notes as I had a scan yesterday, her weight was 2279 which is the 8th percentile but they said her weight was normal, is this right? it sounds like she's really small to me and I'm worried now

 

[_Lexi_]

That's still over 5lb. I think if they were worried about her weight they would of mentioned something. My lo is 800g and under the 3rd percentile and I'm on weekly growth scans and high calorie supplements to help boost his weight x

 

[Kirei]

Thanks, I guess you're right, they would have said something. I hope she grows a bit though as we're facing a c section at 39 weeks so I want her to grow a bit more. and bless your little one I hope he grows nice and big too! xx

 

[_Lexi_]

Thank you. From reading in here it seems that a lot of babies put on up to 1lb a week in the last few weeks, so you've got a bit if time for her to gain those extra lbs x

 

[Kirei]

Wow, 1lb a week would be fantastic news! xx

 

[amica]

Percentiles are there as a guide - in height, weight, even in exam results when the poor things get around to that!

Usually (and it depends on the scale and the statistics) the 'average' range is 25-75 percentile, but also someone has to be at 1 and someone has to be at 100, that's what makes averages!! That's the maths!

If you think about it in heights of adults, if you randomly selected 100 adults and lined them up in order from shortest to tallest, there would have to be someone at each end and it doesn't mean that either the person in position 1 or position 100 has anything wrong with their height.

 

[Kyliem87]

5lb is an OK weight right now. Even if bub only put on 1/2lb a week between now and EDD bub will be around 7lb. Yes it's probably smaller than most but who says there's a "correct" weight. I've mentioned before my niece was 5lb 6oz born exactly on her due date and is still only around 28lb at 4years old! She need no oxygen or any other kind of care, she was fully developed...just small and that's it! The first pic is of her at 2 days old the 2nd one she is 4!

 

[Kirei]

Your neice is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing the pictures, she looks really healthy, even though she's so tiny in the first picture, it's reassuring to see how well she's doing in case my baby is small when she's born too

 

[Kyliem87]

She was like a little doll and nothing fit her lol! But she's never had any problems and even now the health visitor isn't concerned she's under-weight by about 14lb+ it's just how she is. I also think my sister just carries small babies so you might be one of those people but try not to panic based on size. Only worry if you're given another reason too.

 

[Olivia_T]

If it makes you feel better, my fundal height has been consistantly low and on a scan at 32 weeks, they estimated our daughter at about the 15th percentile. They didn't want her to go below the 10th, so I went back at 36 weeks and she was still around the 15th. At my 38 week appointment, my fundal height was 3 cm behind so they ordered yet another growth scan and at 39 weeks she was.....30th percentile! She had a total growth spurt. So don't worry too much, even this late, baby can grow a lot Good luck!

 

[abi17]

My daughter was 5lb 3oz born which was 8th percentile and required no treatment, no oxygen. Apgars were 9 after a minute and 10 after 5 so please don't be alarmed a little baby does not make them unhealthy so try not too worry. Arabella is now 13lb at 13 weeks and is thriving. So even if your baby is small it doesn't mean there's anything wrong with them and they will be ill in hospital for weeks x