Newborns over 6 lbs. seem insanely large to me

BostonGayGal · December 2009

Bizarre consequence of working with drug-addicted mothers. I am used to my little heroin babies. I have only had one newborn client over 5 lbs. out of the dozens I have had.

Side note: There is a myth about crack babies being small, but actually I have never noticed side effects of crack, but heroin and alcohol babies I can spot.

I was a 5 lb. baby. My mother is tiny. I am a little taller, but I wonder if my baby will be small too.

AllThatGlitters101 · December 2009

My mother was tiny, too, and I was 4lb 13oz.

10 years later her poor little 5ft self gave birth to a 9lb 3oz boy!

sugarfingers · December 2009

Larger babies are *typically* healthier. I know this isn't always true, but when I hear of babies in the 6 pounds and under I wonder if there is something wrong with them.

BostonGayGal · December 2009

sugarfingers:
Larger babies are *typically* healthier. I know this isn't always true, but when I hear of babies in the 6 pounds and under I wonder if there is something wrong with them.

I am not in the medical field, but I wonder whether we confuse the ability to sleep for longer periods and maintain temperature with overall health. Certainly, slightly larger babies are usually easier to care for, but I would not assume it indicates future health at the one year or six month appointment.

sugarfingers · December 2009

BostonGayGal:

sugarfingers:
Larger babies are *typically* healthier. I know this isn't always true, but when I hear of babies in the 6 pounds and under I wonder if there is something wrong with them.

I am not in the medical field, but I wonder whether we confuse the ability to sleep for longer periods and maintain temperature with overall health. Certainly, slightly larger babies are usually easier to care for, but I would not assume it indicates future health at the one year or six month appointment.

I was under the impression larger babies were healthier, not just easier to care for.

Ok, I just did a quick google search and this is something I found. I'm sure small babies can be healthy and vice versa but I think it's true if you look at a large population of babies.

This is from the March of Dimes website:

Does low birthweight contribute to adult health problems?
Some studies suggest that individuals who were born with low birthweight may be at increased risk for certain chronic conditions in adulthood. These conditions include high blood pressure, type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes and heart disease. When these conditions occur together, they are called metabolic syndrome. One study found that men who weighed less than 6 1/2 pounds at birth were 10 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome than the men who weighed more than 9 1/2 pounds at birth (10, 11).

It is not yet known how low birthweight contributes to these adult conditions. However, it is possible that growth restriction before birth may cause lasting changes in certain insulin-sensitive organs like the liver, skeletal muscles and pancreas. Before birth, these changes may help the malnourished fetus use all available nutrients. However, after birth these changes may contribute to health problems.

DNK777 · December 2009

That's sad. My cousin had a baby last spring and she was on methadone during her entire pregnancy. Her baby was on time, but still only 5 lbs. She also smoked cigarettes during her whole pregnancy.

ETA: She was only 12 lbs at 6 months. She has an abnormally small head too.

BostonGayGal · December 2009

Could be.

I wonder if there is any correlation between high birth weight and future health problems. I have no idea.

Mrs_Liberto · December 2009

BostonGayGal:
Could be.
I wonder if there is any correlation between high birth weight and future health problems. I have no idea.

Purely anecdotal, of course. But DH was born nearly 13 lbs and 24 inches long. He was born with a hole in his heart (surgery to repair it when he was 6) but aside from that has never had more than a cold in his entire life.

His first trip to the ER was actually just two months ago, and that was only because he sliced his hand on broken glass.

blondnearby · December 2009

I know i may be late to the game but my DD#1 was 9lbs when born (she was a week early). She was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis at a month old and had to be on chemotherapy for 18 months. She gets sick easily and and has other problems as well. Those could be contributed to the chemo and the fact that she is nutropenic though. Also larger babies can also have a harder time stablizing their blood sugar levels. Both of my DDs had to have theirs checked for the first 24 hours because of size and my youngest even longer.

Jessis62781 · December 2009

Then my almost 10 lb chunker must be surreal for you! LOL

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Newborns over 6 lbs. seem insanely large to me

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