In the very small, not statistically relevant number of births that I know
details about the babies whose mothers did not have IV fluids during labor,
and were not separated afterwards did not lose weight (or only 2-3 ounces).
We seem to take it as normal that babies lose weight, but it seems that I read
in Henci Goer's book "Obstetric Myth vs. Research Realities"  (now on loan to
a friend or I'd look it up again) that this is often due to the IV fluids
artificially plumping up the babies who then lose water weight just like the
moms do.  That book is the only place I have come across that issue, but it
sure makes sense and is reassuring to moms who are fretting about babe's
weight loss.  Does anyone take this kind of weight loss into account when
planning treatment?  What if the mom didn't have IV fluids but did have lots
of edema, could the baby also have in utero edema?

Elaine Ziska, LLLL
Jackson, MS