The Initial Loss in Weight of Prematurely Born Infants and their Weight During the First Two Years of life

Abstract

According to RITSCH (4) the initial loss in weight of newborns during the first few days of life is on an average 7.31 per cent of the birth weight. GYLLENSWARD (2), who studied newborns with a birth weight exceeding 2 200 g, estimates the initial loss in weight t o be 6.21 per cent 0.07. The smaller the birt8h weight was, the smaller was the loss per cent.Opinions differ concerning the initial loss in weight of prematurely born infants. Some authors consider the loss t o be proportionally larger than in full-term infants, possibly proportional t o a relatively larger body surface, whilst others (RUSCH (4) et al.) contend that premature children lose less weight, the loss decreasing with diminishing birth weight.