Birthweight

The first weight of a live born or stillborn baby obtained after birth. The World Health Organization further defines the following categories:

• extremely low birthweight: less than 1,000 grams (up to and including 999 grams),
• very low birthweight: less than 1,500 grams (up to and including 1,499 grams),
• low birthweight: less than 2,500 grams (up to and including 2,499 grams).

Perinatal

The definitions of low, very low, and extremely low birthweight do not constitute mutually exclusive categories. Below the set limits they are all-inclusive and therefore overlap (i.e. low includes very low and extremely low, while very low includes extremely low).

For live births, birthweight should preferably be measured within the first hour of life before significant postnatal weight loss has occurred. While statistical tabulations include 500 gram groupings for birthweight, weights should not be recorded in those groupings. The actual weight should be recorded to the degree of accuracy to which it is measured.

National Perinatal Data Development Committee

World Health Organization 2004. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision (ICD-10), 2nd edn. Geneva: World Health Organization.

Supersedes Birthweight Health, Superseded 03/12/2020, Tasmanian Health, Endorsed 24/06/2020, Indigenous, Endorsed 02/04/2019

See also Birthweight Health, Standard 12/12/2018, Tasmanian Health, Endorsed 03/07/2020, Indigenous, Endorsed 02/04/2019

Birth status code N Health, Standard 03/12/2020
Indigenous, Endorsed 14/07/2021

Perinatal NBEDS 2021–22 Health, Standard 03/12/2020

Perinatal NMDS 2021–22 Health, Standard 03/12/2020

Product of birth—birth order, code N Health, Standard 03/12/2020

Product of birth—birthweight, code N Indigenous, Endorsed 14/07/2021

Product of birth—birthweight, total grams N[NNN] Health, Standard 03/12/2020