ATI Postpartum Practice Test 2026 – Complete Exam Prep

Newborn weight patterns in the first days reflect a normal transition from intrauterine fluid balance to establishing feeding. It’s common for newborns to lose some weight in the early days as they shed excess fluid and adapt to feeding. A loss of up to about 7–10% of birth weight is typical, and weight usually begins to stabilize and the baby starts to regain weight around days 7–10. By about two weeks, many babies have returned to their birth weight or are on a steady gain trajectory. Monitoring for signs of inadequate intake remains important—if weight loss exceeds 10% or the baby isn’t feeding well, has few wet diapers, or shows poor energy, evaluation is needed. In contrast, weight remaining constant with no initial loss or weight increasing every day by a fixed amount, or weight staying unchanged for two weeks, does not describe the normal pattern.