NURS 6501: Final Exam: Please contact Assignment Samurai for help with NURS 6501: Final Exam or any other assignment. Email: assignmentsamurai@gmail.com A term newborn is noted to have lost about 5% of their birth weight by the 10th day of life. How should this weight change be interpreted?

• Evidence of overfeeding
• Normal physiological weight loss
• Possible dehydration requiring immediate intervention
• Indicative of failure to thrive

  The correct answer is: Normal physiological weight loss   Explanation: In term newborns, the following weight changes are expected:

• Physiological weight loss:
  • 5–7% loss of birth weight by day 3–4 of life (due to fluid shifts, meconium passage, and limited initial intake).
  • Return to birth weight by day 10–14.
• This baby’s 5% loss by day 10 is normal (likely already stabilizing/gaining).

Why Not the Others?

• Overfeeding: Newborns rarely overfeed; weight loss would be <3% if excess intake.
• Dehydration: Suspect if >10% loss, poor feeding, or dry mucous membranes.
• Failure to thrive: Requires persistent weight loss/growth faltering (not a single data point).

Key Points:

• Breastfed babies often lose slightly more (7–10%) but still normalize by 2 weeks.
• Intervene only if:
  • Loss exceeds 10%.
  • No regain by 2 weeks.
  • Signs of dehydration (e.g., fewer wet diapers, lethargy).

Thus, 5% loss by day 10 is normal.