Monitoring Your Babys Growth At Home

While in the NICU, a registered dietitian follows your babys growth by

plotting his/her weight, length and head circumference on growth charts.
Weight, length and head circumference are indicators we use to measure
quality and quantity of growth. The dietitian plots the first set of
measurements within you r babys first few days of life; new weights and
measurements that follow along the desired curve indicate adequate and
desirable weight gain and development.

What to expect:
Desired weight gain varies depending on your babys current weight.
If you baby is less than 2000g, desired weight gain is 15-20 g/kg
body weight each day
Desired weight gain for babies greater than 2000g is 25-30 g
each day
Your pediatrician will continue to use growth charts to monitor your babys
growth into adulthood. It is important to bring the growth charts created at
Good Sam to your babys first pediatric appointment so they become familiar
with your babys growth since birth. Access to this information will allow
pediatricians to better assess your babys growth since discharge and adjust
feed recommendations if necessary.

What can I do?

1. Follow directions to feeds as they are written; mix formula in the
correct proportions so your baby is receiving the correct amount of
nutrition.
2. Keep track of the amount of spit-up your baby experiences every
feed counts! Spit-up is food your baby has not digested and is nutrition
not consumed. If large amounts of spit up become consistent, be sure
to inform your pediatrician.

3. Supplements:
Depending
on
the
formula
your
discharge
NNP/neonatologist has prescribed or if you are exclusively/partially
breastfeeding, your baby may need a supplement to support their diet.
Ask your pediatrician about supplements.