Question
At what weight is a newborn baby considered macrosomic? What are the causes of macrosomic babies?
Answer
Generally, a full-term newborn weighing over 4000 grams is diagnosed as macrosomic. The most common cause of macrosomic babies is pregnancy-induced diabetes, with a higher risk for pregnant diabetics to have macrosomic babies. However, although macrosomic babies may be heavier, their organ development may be slower, and they may suffer from respiratory distress syndrome, sometimes requiring further observation in the neonatal intensive care unit. Additionally, improper diet control during pregnancy leading to excessive fetal nutrition, or genetic factors such as tall and heavy parents, may also result in larger-than-average infants. In summary, newborns weighing over 4000 grams should be diagnosed as macrosomic, as weight is not always the better indicator.