Birthweight

A baby’s weight at birth that usually ranges from 2.5–4.5 kg. Birthweight depends on a number of factors, including the size and ethnic origin of the parents. Babies who weigh less than 2.5 kg at birth are classified as being of low birthweight. Causes of low birthweight include prematurity and undernourishment in the uterus (for example, because the mother had pre-eclampsia). Abnormally high birthweight is often due to unrecognized or poorly controlled diabetes mellitus in the mother.