Weight Gain Pregnancy - Maximed Turkey

Managing Poor Weight Gain in Your Breastfed Infant

New parents often worry that their newborn's weight gain isn't enough or that their child is eating too much. Or maybe you are struggling with your weight gain, which has only recently begun to climb. Whatever the reason for your concerns, achieving an appropriate weight gain for your infant is important for both physical and emotional health. For example, inadequate weight gain can lead to physical problems like anaemia, while too much can impact your child's social development or psychological wellbeing. Here are some ways to ensure your baby is gaining weight appropriately.

The amount your baby needs to gain each week depends on several factors, including gender, age, and weight at birth. Most breastfeeding babies will do well when gaining from 1 to 2 ounces per day. If your baby is not gaining this amount or seems to be losing weight, a discussion with a paediatrician is recommended.

Latching and Positioning

How you feed your baby can impact how much she eats. Becoming familiar with latching, latch position and your breast shape may help you decide what breastfeed position is best.

Latching is an essential part of breastfeeding, but it's not always easy to get right. Your paediatrician will probably demonstrate effective latching when your baby is born. But you can also practice this skill frequently, so when the time comes it'll be second nature to you both. Here's how:

Before beginning, ensure that the nipple and areola are clean and dry.

New parents often worry that their newborn's weight gain isn't enough or that their child is eating too much. Or maybe you are struggling with your weight gain, which has only recently begun to climb.

Whatever the reason for your concerns, achieving an appropriate weight gain for your infant is important for both physical and emotional health. For example, inadequate weight gain can lead to physical problems like anaemia, while too much can impact your child's social development or psychological wellbeing. Here are some ways to ensure your baby is gaining weight appropriately.

The amount your baby needs to gain each week depends on several factors, including gender, age, and weight at birth. Most breastfeeding babies will do well when gaining from 1 to 2 ounces per day. If your baby is not gaining this amount or seems to be losing weight, a discussion with a paediatrician is recommended.

How you feed your baby can impact how much she eats. Becoming familiar with latching, latch position and your breast shape may help you decide what breastfeed position is best.

Latching is an essential part of breastfeeding, but it's not always easy to get right. Your paediatrician will probably demonstrate effective latching when your baby is born. But you can also practice this skill frequently, so when the time comes it'll be second nature to you both.

Are your breasts relaxed and relaxed in the correct position? If not, see below for suggestions.

Babies should be positioned in an upright position (feet flat on the floor). For more information, see this blog. For more information, see this blog.

Use different latch positions when offering each breast -- try all the different positions to find one that's comfortable for you and your baby. Once you find a latch position that works well for both of you (and it doesn't hurt), try it out next time so your baby gets used to it. If your baby continues to have difficulty latching, you can try a nipple shield.

If you're not sure whether your baby is latched correctly, contact a lactation consultant who can help. It could be that your child has a tongue or lip tie that needs to be clipped or released by an oral surgeon.

Breastfeeding Positions for Mothers with Small Breasts or Large Breasts

Breast position is another factor in how much milk is available to your baby. When breastfeeding, different women find different positions more comfortable. Breast size and shape can also affect comfort level.

If you have large breasts, you may find that the best position for breastfeeding is the football hold (or clutch hold) -- and vice versa. For more information about breast size and breastfeeding, see this blog.

Small breasts: If your breasts are small, breastfeeding lying down on one side of your back can help you get a good latch, which in turn will provide an adequate supply of breastmilk.

What if your paediatrician says your baby is gaining too much?

If you have concerns about excessive weight gain in a breastfeeding infant, you should weigh the risks and benefits of continuing to breastfeed. If you decide to continue breastfeeding, maintaining good nutrition and monitoring your infant's growth (along with input from her healthcare provider) can help ensure that she gains an appropriate amount of weight over time.