P92: Feeding problems of newborn

P92.3: Underfeeding of newborn

The body needs the energy from food in order to grow and stay healthy. Food is made up of various ingredients. For example, the body needs proteins to build up muscles and to be able to work properly. In a case of malnutrition, in general too little food or too little of certain food elements is being taken in.

Newborn babies usually lose a little weight during the first few days after the birth. After that, their weight keeps increasing. They should reach their birth weight again after around 2 weeks.

If the baby is undernourished in the period after it is born, it will not consistently gain weight. It may be that the baby loses too much weight initially, or that it fails to put on enough weight.