1. WEIGHT RECORDING ON A
DIGITAL MACHINE
BIJAYLAXMI BEHERA

2. PURPOSE
• Recording of weight at birth helps in identifying the level of care required for the baby
• Daily weight is also essential to monitor the adequacy of nutrition as well as fluid
balance. This is important for the management of VLBW babies
• Term babies lose about 10% birth weight and regain birth weight at 7-10 days
• Preterm babies lose about 15% birth weight and regain birth weight by 15 days

3. INDICATIONS
• All babies at birth
• All LBW babies at 2 weeks (to check regaining of the birth weight) and 4 weeks(to ensure
weight gain of 80-100g/kg/week) and then every monthly
• Sick babies daily to monitor fluid therapy
• Pre and postfeed,adequacy of breastfeeds

4. EQUIPMENTS
1. Weighing scale with accuracy of ± 5 g
2. Clean, warm linen

5. POINTS OF EMPHASIS
• Record weight prior to feeding
• Resume skin-to-skin care or ask the mother to dress the baby promptly after weighing.
• Accurate daily weighing would be helpful in avoiding complication due to under or over
hydration.
• Excessive weight gain would raise suspicion of fluid overload or of heart failure/renal
failure.
• If baby loses or gains 3% or more of body weight in a day(immediately notify the
physician)
• For monitoring of weight, one should use the same weighing scale

6. PROCEDURE
1. Put the weighing scale on a flat, stable surface preferably near the baby.
2. Put a clean warm towel/cloth on the scale pan.
• Zero the scale if the machine has the facility.
• If zero facility is not available, record the weight of the towel.
3. Detach as many tubes/equipment as possible.
4. Keep the naked baby on the towel ,in the middle of the pan, and record the weight
(subtract the weight of the towel if the scale has not been zeroed with the towel on the
scale) up to the least count of the machine.

7. 5. Record weight while the baby is not moving.
6. Use separate sterile towel for each baby.
7. If using pre-weighed splint, reduce the weight of splint from the baby's weight.
8.Ideally weigh babies in the same time of day and using the same scale.
9. Document the weight in case record for quality assurance, check accuracy of
weighing scale with standard known weights every 1 week.
PROCEDURE

8. NOTE
1. A weighing scale can also be employed to measure the urine output of the babies.
• Pre-weighed nappies should be used for nursing babies.
• Weighing the nappies post urination would be helpful in assessing the urine output of sick babies.
2. Weighing a baby pre-and post-feed is helpful in assessing adequacy of breast feeding.

9. THANK YOU