Weight of a baby at birth; in the United States average birth weight is about 7.5 pounds (3,500 grams). Babies weighing less than 5.5 pounds (2,500 grams) at term are considered small for gestational age; those over 10 pounds (4,500 grams) large for gestational age.
The weight of a baby immediately after birth. Newborns usually weigh between 5½ and 9 pounds. The average full-term infant birth weight in the United States is 7½ pounds. Newborns weighing from 31/3 to 5½ pounds are considered to be low- birth-weight babies, and those weighing less than 373 pounds at birth are very low-birth-weight babies.
The weight of the newborn. Normal weight of the newborn is between 5.5 lb (2.5 kg) and 10 lb (4.5 kg) and is directly related to the gestational age at which the infant was born. Birth weight is an important index of maturation and chance for survival. Weight of less than 2.5 kg is associated with an increased chance of death in the perinatal period. Medical advances have increased the chance of survival of newborn’s of 2.0 kg or more.