An infant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU, has their weight measured on a daily basis. An infant or premature baby’s weight is an important number to know, as it can affect everything from diet and nutrition to medications.
Neonatologists and Pediatricians will carefully monitor an NICU infant’s weight to determine the best possible care plan. Many parents with babies in the NICU generally expect to see a weight in pounds. However, in the NICU, the common measurement used is actually in grams. Measuring in grams is a far more accurate way to determine feedings, nutrition, and medications.
When parents ask about their NICU infant’s weight, they can use the following pounds to grams translation:
- 1 pound is equal to 454 grams
- 1 ounce is equal to 28 grams
Low Birth Weight Classifications
If a baby is born with a low birthweight, it is possible the infant will be admitted to the NICU. This is usually determined by a NICU nurse, or even a neonatal nurse practitioner or neonatologist.
Generally, low infant birth weights can be classified as the following, though some small differences may vary from hospital to hospital:
- Low Birth Weight (LBW) – Less than 2500 grams, or 5 lb 8 oz
- Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) – Less than 1500 grams, or 3 lb 5 oz
- Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) – Less than 1000 grams, or 2 lb 3 oz
Photo by brettneilson under Creative Commons CC BY 2.0
