A first-time mother brings in her 5-day-old baby for a well-child visit....

A first-time mother brings in her 5-day-old baby for a well-child visit. The nurse weighs the infant and reports a weight of 7 lb 5 oz to the mother. The mother looks concerned and tells the nurse that her baby weighed 7 lb 10 oz when she was discharged 4 days ago.

The nurse’s best response to the mother is:
A. “I will let the doctor know, and he will talk with you about possible causes of your infant’s weight loss.”
B. “A weight loss of a few ounces is common among newborns, especially for breastfeeding mothers.”
C. “I can tell you are a first-time mother. Don’t worry; we will find out why she is losing weight.”
D. “Maybe she isn’t getting enough milk. How often are you breastfeeding her?”

Answer:
B. “A weight loss of a few ounces is common among newborns, especially for breastfeeding mothers.

Discussion:

• A loss of a few ounces during the first few days of life is normal. There will be a reason for concern if the infant does not gain weight within the next week.
• Newborns can lose up to 10% of their birth weight without concern but should regain their birth weight by 2 weeks of age.
• A loss of a few ounces during the first few days of life is normal. Many times infants of breastfeeding mothers lose weight initially because the mother’s milk has not come in yet.