Pattern of change of weight following birth in the early neonatal period.

Birth weight of new born will vary according to gestational age, maternal, Placental and foetal intrauterine conditions. Postnatal weight change in the first few days of life (early neonatal period) may vary according to gestational age and birth weight. This may create problem in management of these babies. Birth weight and their pattern of change were followed on 105 newborns. Questionnaire and observation charts were the research Instruments and statistical analysis were done by using manual calculator. It was observed that full term newborns had better control on initial weight change following birth than preterm and low birth weight babies. Majority of term newborns loss their weight up to 5 days of life and regained their initial weight by 10 days. Maximum weight loss for longer duration occurred in preterm and very low birth weight babies who regained their initial weight by 10 - 14 days and some required more than 21 days.