babys born with low birth weight?

Question

am 36 weeks today and my baby only weighs 4lb 12oz and is due in 4 weeks,
is there still time to grow?
has anyone else had a low birth weight baby was he/she ok?
im just abit scared my midwife didnt tell me much today.
could i be worrying for nothing?

thanks very much,
you lot have been very helpfull and put my mind at rest.

Answer 1

The last 4 weeks of pregnancy the baby puts on about a half a pound per week--so that's two more lbs. brining baby up to nearly 7lbs if you go to 40 weeks. That is a good birthweight.

Answer 2

Don't fret too much, your baby is less then a pound under weight and the margin for error on estimating fetal weight is a pound one way or another. Your baby very well could be the average 5.5 lbs at 36 weeks or bigger and you just don't know it. There's plenty of time to grow between now and then. The average baby born at 40 weeks is approximately 7.5 lbs. That's 2 full lbs in 4 weeks. Even that puts your baby at 6lbs 12oz, just shy of 7lbs. That's a good size baby. Not small for gestational age at all. Dont worry, everything will work out ok.

BTW all my mom's kids were born at 6lbs and less and we're all healthy, so no worries.

Answer 3

Ur baby still has time 2 fatten up abit before birth!,thats basically wot they do in the last few weeks,but i would think that ur baby will still be abit under weight.Im sure if ur baby is born under weight that he/she will be fine,there are so many under weight babies now,the ospital will know what to do & how to look after ur baby properly. I was born 16 weeks early and weighed only 1lb 14oz!!!!, i am now 19 and have a daughter of my own.I had no problems & caught up eventually.Both my brothers were also premature and very small,but r both fine and in their mid 20's. As ur baby is set 2 be full term he/she should be nice and strong. I hope u and ur baby both turn out ok, good luck & i wish u a happy healthy baby. Take care,& if ur really worried have a chat with ur midwife or doc. xxx

Answer 4

I went through that in the UK being told my first was low birth weight! Was in blind panic over it! I was induced at 37 weeks with high blood pressure only to give birth to a 6lb boy!!!

I was told that he has not more than 4 1/2 lbs in weight and needless to say I worried myself sick.

I was scanned and measured more times. I had to keep a chart of the babys movements and mark down every time the baby kicked. The baby was born absolutely fine. I was told my by consultant at 30 weeks not to bother buying a pram as the baby was not born yet ie. he did not hold out much hope.

My second child - well I put my faith in god and myself and never listened to their nonsense.

You do worry for nothing - it is only natural. Just remember these scans are not accurate when it comes to measuring and weighing babies. I was tall and even when i was giving birth I hardly looked pregnant.

Good Luck - please let us know how you get on x

Answer 5

My daughter was born 5 weeks prem, due to my pre-eclampsia, weighing just on 4lb. I was told over and over that she would never catch up with others of the same age etc, but she's 8 now, full of beans, top of all her classes, 5'3 already...all in all she's amazing!

Also, as you have 4 weeks to go, your baby will put on more weight before then, I would be surprised if, (assuming you go full term), your baby has a low birth weight. Don't worry too much, your body knows what it's doing! Good luck to you!

Answer 6

The baby gains most all there weight the last 4 weeks. So it's about right that the baby is all most 5 lbs. Relax you might just be having a small baby. Both of my kids were under 7 lbs and they were just fine. Congrats and good luck.

Answer 7

Not too worry that put on about 1/2 to 3/4 of a pound a week in the last month. Your baby will be fine. My doctor told me I was having a 7 pound baby and my baby weighed 8 pounds.
momof4

Answer 8

Yes there is time to grow.
There are one or two health risks associated with low birth weight babies but these seem to be more to do with more severe underweight and premature.
Mine was induced a couple of weeks early and at the same weight, and he is now a strapping 26 year old.

Answer 9

I had a scan at 36 weeks and was told my baby was 6 1/2 lb and that i was on for a big one, needless to say when he was born at 39 weeks 4 days he was 8lb 5oz

So i'd say you were on for a nice averaged sized 7lb baby, nothing to worry about there :)

Answer 10

I was born 7 weeks early, weighing 4lb excatly and I'm now a perfectly healthy 26 year old with a daughter of my own. I wouldn't worry too much.