PEDIATRIC SOMATOMETRY: WHAT ARE THE MEASUREMENTS OF A NEWBORN?

Pediatric somatometry is the measure of the human body considered in its relationship with the constitution. We therefore speak of body measurements: weight, length and perimeter. As for newborns, somatometry is used to detect measurements that do not conform to normal body indices. These calculations are first made after birth, when the baby is just born.

While when it is inside the belly have you ever wondered how big it is? Watch the video to find out!

Have you ever wondered how children's measurements are calculated? What values are considered within the normal parameters?

How is it calculated?

When a baby is born, medical staff first clean it and then calculate its measurements. At that point they calculate:

Weight: Place the baby on the scale with a cloth or towel underneath to prevent loss of body heat.
Size: measured horizontally on the neonatometer.
Head circumference: this is the maximum width of the head, calculated with a flexible tape measure.
The perimeter of the chest: a measure that adapts to the circumference of the chest itself.

In addition to this, the heart rate is also considered, which must be between 120 and 160 beats per minute, the respiratory rate, between 40 - 60 breaths per minute, and the temperature, which is around 37ºC.

Neonatal measurements

It should be understood that every baby is completely different and that his weight and measurements can depend on multiple factors, such as genetics, fetal, maternal or demographic causes, for example. With regard to weight, in particular, it must be taken into account that there is a so-called physiological weight loss, which occurs in the first days of the newborn's life. In this phase (completely natural) they eliminate liquids through urine, sweat or meconium, losing up to 10% of their total weight.

However, some estimated measures for newborns have been established:

The weight can vary between 2.5 and 4 kilos.
The average size is usually around 50cm.
The average head circumference of the newborn is approximately 34 centimeters.
The thoracic perimeter is usually two centimeters shorter than the cephalic perimeter.

Percentile and growth charts

As we have said, these values are an "average approximation. To determine if a child is within the parameters considered" normal ", medical professionals use the growth charts created by the WHO. With these tables it is possible to know the child's percentile based on height or weight associated with each age group, height, sex or length.
The tables can tell us what percentile range our baby is in and help us track its development and growth. The pediatrician will be responsible for this follow-up.