Question

A term newborn needs to take in ___ calories per pound per day. After the initial weight loss is sustained, the newborn should gain ___ per day.

A. 10; 1 ounce
B. 20; 2 ounces
C. 30; 3 ounces
D. 40; 4 ounces

Answer 1

A newborn should intake 50 to 100 calories per pound per day, and after initial weight loss, gain about 0.5 to 1 ounce daily; option B (20 calories, 2 ounces) is the closest match.

Step-by-step explanation:

A term newborn needs to take in 50 to 100 calories per pound per day to support adequate growth. After experiencing the initial weight loss, which is a normal phenomenon in the first week of life, the newborn should ideally gain about 0.5 to 1 ounce per day.

Putting the available options in context, the closest match for calorie intake and weight gain would be option B. 20; 2 ounces, though it should be noted that 2 ounces per day is slightly high based on the provided references, which suggest a gain of 0.7 ounces per day in the first week followed by 1 ounce per day in the subsequent months.