Birth Weight Measurements: What does Size say about your Newborn?

It just so turns out that estimating the size of a newborn comes down to an exact science. For New Michigan State University researchers, they've taken it to a whole new level through the use of a more precise set of birth weight measurements to determine gestational size. 

 "More than 7 million records were reviewed," said Nicole Talge, an assistant professor in MSU's Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, via a press release. "Our research looked at live births in the United States during 2009-2010 and using a newly developed method, corrected unlikely gestational ages during that time. This led to changes in the birth weight thresholds, especially for preterm and post-term babies."

These thresholds can play a particularly important role in size classification according to Talge. As a result, study findings have helped to provide updated information in a more precise way to evaluate a baby's birth size--scaling from small to large gestational sizes.

For the study, researchers compared the last menstrual period of the participant mothers and estimated the gestational age of the fetus against the actual birth weight of the baby. Then, they compared this information to their birth records that may have likely contained errors, according to the release. Birth record data was taken from around the country. 

However, as birth size is often an indicator of specific health needs that babies may require in the future, the new measurements may be essential in making critical health decisions for newborns. More precise estimates can also help out in further determining health outcomes.

"It's important to remember that birth size is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to evaluating a baby's health," Talge concluded, via the release.

What do you think?

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Pediatrics.