North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) Practice Exam

How many ounces per day can healthy term newborns of average weight be expected to gain?

1. 0.5 oz

2. 1 oz

3. 1.5 oz

4. 2 oz

The correct answer is: 1 oz

Healthy term newborns of average weight are generally expected to gain about 1 ounce per day during the first few months of life. This rate of weight gain is considered normal and reflects the infant’s nutrition, growth, and overall health status. A weight gain of approximately 1 ounce daily aligns with standard pediatric guidelines, which note that during the first few weeks, newborns should ideally regain any weight lost after birth and continue to grow steadily. This consistent weight gain is a sign that the infant is feeding well, whether through breastfeeding or formula feeding. In reviewing other potential weight gain options, a lower rate such as 0.5 ounces would be considered inadequate for most healthy term newborns, possibly indicating feeding issues or growth concerns. On the other hand, a higher rate like 1.5 or 2 ounces may be typical for some infants, but it is often not the average and could lead to concerns about excessive weight gain if consistently observed. Thus, 1 ounce is a balanced and clinically supported figure for daily weight gain in healthy term newborns.