Newborns often lose 5–7% of birth weight—about 6–9 oz for a 7 lb 8 oz baby—and as much as 10% in some cases in the first 3–4 days.
That dip on the scale right after delivery can feel unsettling. It’s nearly always a normal part of the first week. Babies shed fluid, pass meconium, and settle into a feeding rhythm. Most drop a few ounces before the trend turns around. By the end of week one, many are climbing back. By day ten, lots are at or near birth weight again.
Newborn Weight Loss After Birth: How Many Ounces Is Normal?
Nurses and doctors track this change as a percentage, then translate that number to ounces so parents can picture it. A common range is 5–7% off the starting weight in the first several days. Some babies go a bit higher. A 10% dip calls for a closer look at feeding, latch, and hydration. The AAP’s parent guide notes that many babies lose around one-tenth of birth weight in the first five days and are back near baseline by about day ten. A practical bedside cut-off used in newborn units is that up to 7% is common, while a 10% loss deserves a prompt check; see the Stanford Newborn Nursery note for that threshold.
Ounces And Percentages, Side By Side
Percent makes the math fair for every size baby, yet ounces are what you actually see on the scale. Use the chart below as a clear reference. It shows how much 7% and 10% look like for common birth weights.
| Birth Weight | 7% Loss (oz) | 10% Loss (oz) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 lb 8 oz | 6.0 | 9.0 |
| 6 lb 0 oz | 6.5 | 9.5 |
| 6 lb 8 oz | 7.5 | 10.5 |
| 7 lb 0 oz | 8.0 | 11.0 |
| 7 lb 8 oz | 8.5 | 12.0 |
| 8 lb 0 oz | 9.0 | 13.0 |
| 8 lb 8 oz | 9.5 | 13.5 |
| 9 lb 0 oz | 10.0 | 14.5 |
What Drives Early Weight Changes
Three things shape the first-week pattern. First, fluid balance resets after birth. Babies pee, sweat, and breathe out moisture; that alone trims ounces. Second, meconium clears from the gut, which also lowers weight a touch. Third, milk transfer ramps up over several days, especially with direct breastfeeding while milk volume builds. Babies born by cesarean may carry extra fluid for a day or two from IV hydration in labor, which can make the initial number on the scale a little higher than their “steady” weight.
Breastfeeding Versus Formula
Breastfed babies often lose a bit more in the first stretch because full milk volume arrives gradually. Cluster feeds help bring it in and keep energy up. Formula-fed babies sometimes lose slightly less since the intake is steady from the first day. Either way, the scale should bottom out by day three or four, then trend up once intake matches need and stools turn yellow and seedy.
Delivery Details And Timing
Birth timing and size matter. A small or early-term baby can tire faster at the breast and may need extra time and hands-on help with latch. A bigger baby may need more volume per feed and will show a little larger ounce swing for the same percentage. Twins, babies with a tight tongue or lip tie, or babies who are extra sleepy from a long labor often need a tailored plan and close follow-up in the first week.
Reading The Scale Without Stress
A single number rarely tells the whole story. Look at the trend. Weigh at the same time each day if you’re using a home baby scale. Keep clothing and diaper status the same for each check. If you don’t have a scale, track diapers and feeds carefully and let your clinic weigh the baby at scheduled visits.
Diapers, Feeds, And Behavior
Output reflects intake. On day one, one wet and one meconium stool is common. Day two often brings at least two wets and two stools. By day three to four, wets rise toward five to six in 24 hours, and stools shift from dark to green and then to yellow as milk volume increases. Rhythmic sucking with audible swallows, relaxed hands during feeding, and a content baby after many feeds all point to good transfer.
How To Make Ounce Loss Smaller
Skin-to-skin time, frequent feeds, and a deep, pain-free latch are your best tools. Offer both breasts, burp briefly between sides, and switch back if your baby wants more. If you’re pumping, match the rhythm to normal newborn patterns: eight to twelve sessions across the day, short and steady. Small, well-timed top-ups of expressed milk can help while you and your baby refine latch and stamina.
When Ounce Loss Needs A Call
Reach out if weight loss reaches 10% at any point, or if the scale shows ongoing drops after day four. Call sooner if your baby is very sleepy and hard to rouse for feeds, sucks weakly, has dry lips, shows fewer wet diapers than expected, or looks more yellow over time. The Stanford Newborn Nursery flags 10% as a point that warrants attention, while many nurseries start troubleshooting earlier for smaller or early-term babies. A quick check can confirm latch quality, milk transfer, tongue function, and whether any tweaks are needed.
Red Flags That Can Pair With Weight Loss
Watch for sunken soft spot, cool hands and feet, fast breathing, or a weak cry. Also note a sharp drop in stools after they turn yellow, or a day with far fewer wets than your recent pattern. If any of these show up, call now rather than waiting for the next weigh-in.
Getting Back To Birth Weight
Most babies level off by day three to four and add ounces across days five through ten. Many pass birth weight sometime between day seven and day ten. The AAP guide describes steady gains after that, often four to seven ounces per week in the early months. That pace isn’t a rigid rule; some weeks are faster, some slower. The big picture is steady progress with lively feeds, ample wets, and bright, waking spells between naps.
Simple Ways To Boost Intake
Offer the breast at the first signs of hunger: stirring, hand-to-mouth, rooting. Limit long gaps. If baby is sleepy, strip to diaper, place skin-to-skin, and try gentle breast compressions during sucks. If bottle-feeding, use paced bottle steps with pauses to help match a natural rhythm. Small, frequent feeds are easier for new stomachs than large, spaced feeds.
What Many Families See Across Days 0–30
Here’s a plain-English timeline many parents find helpful. It maps common changes in feeds and the scale through the first month. Treat it as a reference, not a promise; your care team will always personalize guidance to your baby.
| Age | What Often Happens | Scale Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0–1 | Colostrum feeds, long naps, one wet, one meconium | Small drop begins |
| Day 2 | More frequent feeds, two wets, two stools | Still down a little |
| Day 3–4 | Milk volume rising, stools turning green to yellow | Lowest point, then turns up |
| Day 5–7 | Six or more wets, several yellow stools, stronger sucks | Gaining daily |
| Day 7–10 | Feeds feel smoother and faster | Near or at birth weight |
| Weeks 3–4 | Growth spurts, cluster feeds, longer alert windows | 4–7 oz gained per week |
How Many Ounces Does A Newborn Lose After Birth In Special Situations?
Some babies ride a different curve. Early-term babies might tire at the breast and need extra help with latch and positioning. Babies born after a very long labor or who received a lot of IV fluid may show a bigger early drop because the starting point was a bit water-heavy. Babies with tongue-tie can look like they’re latching but transfer less milk; your clinician can check this and guide next steps. If your baby was small for dates or larger than average, the same percent loss can look like a wider swing in ounces, which is why watching percent alongside diapers and behavior gives a clearer view.
Practical Tips That Make The Scale Friendlier
Keep baby close. Feed often. Aim for a deep latch with lips flanged out and cheeks softly rounded, not dimpled. If your nipples are sore past the first moments of let-down, refine positioning. Side-lying and laid-back holds can help babies relax into a deeper latch. If you’re pumping, short, frequent sessions add up well. A few extra minutes after the milk slows can nudge supply upward over several days.
Tracking Without Getting Lost In Numbers
Use a simple log for a week: time of feed, which breast or bottle, minutes or ounces, wets, stools, and any notes about latch or sleepiness. Patterns reveal themselves quickly. Share that log at the first clinic visit; it speeds up real answers and a clear plan if tweaks are needed.
When Extra Feeds Make Sense
If the trend is drifting toward 10%, consider short-term top-ups after nursing while you work on latch and transfer. Expressed colostrum or milk is first choice. If donor milk or formula is needed, keep volumes modest and feed with a paced technique while still offering the breast often. Revisit the plan in one to two days with a fresh weight.
What Parents Can Expect
A mild dip, a low point around day three or four, then a steady climb. That’s the classic arc. Some babies sprint sooner, some take a few extra days. Trust the trend lines, not a single number. Use diapers, swallows, and your baby’s wakeful moments as daily clues. If loss reaches 10%, if your baby looks unwell, or if you’re simply uneasy, call your clinic and ask for a weight check and a feeding review. Small adjustments early make a big difference.