Final Answer:
The cause of neonatal weight loss in the first 3 days of life is. Excretion of accumulated excess fluids. Thus option D is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the first few days after birth, it's common for newborns to lose weight, typically around 5% to 10% of their birth weight. This weight loss occurs primarily due to the excretion of accumulated excess fluids. During pregnancy, the baby receives nourishment and hydration through the placenta. After birth, as the baby starts feeding, their body begins to regulate its fluid balance, resulting in the expulsion of excess fluids they no longer need.
Babies are born with extra fluid reserves to help them adjust to the outside environment. The initial weight loss is a natural and expected phenomenon as the baby adapts to feeding patterns and eliminates the excess fluids through urine and stool. Typically, by around the fourth or fifth day, newborns start to regain the lost weight as they establish a more consistent feeding routine and their bodies adjust to their new hydration and nutritional needs.
This process of weight loss and subsequent regain in newborns is a part of normal physiological changes. It's crucial for healthcare professionals, like nurses, to educate new parents about this natural occurrence to alleviate concerns and ensure they understand the expected weight fluctuations in the first few days of their baby's life. Thus option D is correct.