How to Help Baby Gain Weight While Breastfeeding?
Is your baby baby not gaining weight the way he/she should? Are you worried about his/her health? mama don’t get so worked out! I’m going to show you how to help baby gain weight while breastfeeding.
I have seen mothers suffer sleepless nights over their babies’ poor weight gain. Therefore, in this article kiddieqsuare is going to give you:
- Reasons your breastfed baby is not gaining weight properly
- Powerful tips in managing poor weight gain in the infant
- What food to eat when breastfeeding to help the baby gain weight fast
Naturally, newborns do loose about 5 – 10 % (percent) of weight in the first week of their birth.
However, they recover and gain back the weight when they begin to latch properly on their mother’s breast. That is to say, Infants gets bigger when they can get enough breastmilk.
When there is poor weight gain in breastfed baby – it implies the mother’s breast isn’t producing enough milk, the infant isn’t getting the required amount breast-milk, or there is a medical issue depriving the baby of gaining weight.
Here are some other causes of poor weight gain in babies.
Table of Contents
Managing Poor Weight Gain in Infant – How to Help Baby Gain Weight While Breastfeeding?
Managing baby with poor weight gain can be overwhelming, it requires you to to know how to help baby gain weight while breastfeeding.
To solve the issue and help your baby gain weight while breastfeeding, moms need to devoted and persistence towards making their baby feed properly on breastmilk.
Your baby’s Pediatrician is knowledgeable to assess any case of weight loss. In most cases, a lactation advisor can help. The following are some common tips for managing baby weight loss in a breastfed infant.
#1 Watch Out for Cues
When learning how to help baby gain weight while breastfeeding, you should start by watching out for cues.
According to John Hopkins Medicine, mothers are expected to look for signs from their infants that they need to feed. The following are some signs to look out for:
- Infant making licking or sucking movements,
- Baby bobbing his/her head or bringing his/her hand to the face or mouth,
- In 24 hours your child should wake and signal to be breastfed around 8 to 12 times.
It is essential to observe these feeding signals and keep your infant close to your breast when she cues. Try not to wait until your baby cries. Most babies cries due to a late response to feeding cue.
Poor weight gain can also be attributed to putting baby off longer between feedings and oftentimes offering a pacifier rather than the breast when an infant shows a feeding sign.
#2 Wake Baby to Feed
If your newborn is the type that sleeps often and doesn’t show sign to feed at least 8 times in a day.
You should wake him/her oftentimes to feed on the breast – for every 2 hours during the daytime and at night for about 3 to 4 hours’ intervals until baby begins to show weight gain.
#3 Latching on Properly
Ensure your infant is perfectly latching on. The mother should also feel comfortable when the baby latches on. Your newborn’s lips should be positioned like that of a fish, flanged outward.
For better latching, infants ought to have their tongue under the breast. A lot of breast milk should be seen on your little child’s mouth.
Besides, switch nursing should be avoided. The technique involves breastfeeding at one breast for a couple of minutes and switching to the other one, and afterward back again.
This may meddle with your child getting enough hindmilk – fat-filled milk that appears creamy, and richer in calories. Your infant gets a greater amount of breast-mlik when continuously latching on one breast.
#4 Good Feeding Schedule
To discern how to help baby gain weight while breastfeeding, you’ve got to have a good feeding schedule.
However, there is no explicit rules, you must follow to feed your baby at a specific time. You have to work out an ideal time for your baby. It is usually any time that is suitable for both of you.
Alongside breastfeeding, you can begin feeding your child solids. It will give additional nourishment and help the baby gain weight while breastfeeding.
Also, you can try this at any time your infant awakens with hungry eyes. At first, begin with one meal daily and after that, go beyond to two meals per day the next month or two.
You can give baby solids at the beginning of the day and one at night. Monitor the weekly turnout to know if the baby is adding or gaining weight.
#5 Comfortable Feeding Position
whichever feeding position comfortable to you, stick by it. Learning how to help baby gain weight while breastfeeding, is by knowing the position your infant is okay with when breastfeeding.
Discovering a comfortable feeding position will help reduce feeding time. There is no fixed guideline that you should feed your baby in a specific way. As every child is unique, so is their feeding pattern.
Your baby will show whichever position is appropriate for him/her. So, focus while feeding your child to uncover which position they easily take food. And afterward, keep feeding in a similar manner.
#6 Alternative Feeding
Alternative feeding is another way to help baby gain weight while breastfeeding. Mothers should use their own expressed milk first for any alternative feedings.
Then, you can later supplement with formula when the need arise. Use other feeding methods if recommended by your baby’s pediatrician. It is subject to your baby preference anyways!
With experience i have found out that one technique may be effective than the others.
So, inform your doctor if a suggestion doesn’t feel right. There are numerous alternative feeding methods available, some of which include:
- Cup feeding
- A tube system
- An eyedropper
- Spoon-feeding
- Bottle-feeding
#7 Use Correct Pumping Techniques
Breastfeeding encounters may vary from one kid to the next. Many moms may Pump a few times in a day to feed an infant who hasn’t mastered the craft of breastfeeding.
Some moms choose to pump because they are busy and want to leave breastmilk in a bottle for their baby to be fed with by a caregiver. While some mothers choose to not breastfeed, for reasons known to them.
Whatever the reasons are, using the proper pumping techniques are important for every mom.
If you are searching for how to help baby gain weight while breastfeeding, you need to first gain more skill on proper pumping techniques.
You have to learn techniques like pumping while breastfeeding, massaging your breast, pumping both breasts concurrently, establishing a good pumping routine, using multiple types of equipment, and so much more.
Before thinking about proper pumping techniques you need a quality breast milk pump. You need one that will quicken your breast response, to release the desired amount of milk for your baby.
#8 Eat Healthy Diet
What new mom eat has ways it impacts on the baby’s health. Eating a balanced diet will help your baby gain weight quickly. The food nutrients are passed through the breastmilk to the baby.
Knowing what to eat is vital on how to help baby gain weight while breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is tiring and energy-consuming.
Attempting to keep up an even balanced diet. You should eat at least three meals per day and endeavor to incorporate varieties of healthy foods.
To stay healthy for you and your baby – here are tips to help you maintain a better diet.
- Consume fish once every week. Most seafood is a good source of protein,
- Eat enough calories daily,
- Consume milk products,
- Drink water often Vitamins – consume it naturally, but consult your doctor if you must have vitamin supplements.
How Much Should Breastfed Baby Gain?
Do you want to how much weight should a breastfed infant gain every week? Here is the weight gain outline for a healthy breastfed infant.
| Baby | Age | Weight (g)/ week |
| Newborn | 2weeks to 4 months | 130-200g per week |
| Young baby | Four to six months | 50-150grmas per week |
| baby | Six to twelve months | 30 to 75 grams per week |
Food to Eat to Help Baby Gain Weight Fast During Breastfeeding
When your baby is not gaining weight, it becomes a worrisome concern for you, especially if you are a first time mom.
Your baby weight loss shouldn’t stress you much because, for every baby, there is a drop in weight in the first week of birth.
However, after regular breastfeeding you feel that your baby’s weight gain, then you need to start eating these foods. A breastfeeding mom’s diet is important the same as her diet during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding is an essential part of an infant’s nutritional care. These foods will facilitate an increase in fat-rich milk supply with high calories needed to improve your baby’s weight gain fast.
Top Foods for Breastfeeding Moms to Make Baby Gain Weight
1. Galactagogues
Galactagogue foods are the food items that increase the flow and boost breast milk production in nursing mothers. Examples of such foods are:
- Dark, leafy greens e.g. broccoli and spinach
- Papaya
- Coconut
- Garlic
- Whole grain e.g. Oatmeal
- Ginger
- Seeds: White Sesame, Cumin, Garden Cress, and poppy seeds
- Bottle Gourd
2. Dairy Products
Products of dairy extraction are carb-rich and contain good fat the body needs. Additionally, it is loaded with protein that can widen one’s body muscle mass.
Milk For Breastfeeding Mom
Breastfeeding moms are encouraged to consume cows’ milk that lacks a form of β-casein proteins called A1, and instead, they should consume the A2 form.
A2 form of cow milk brings comfort and relaxation to mothers when they consume the milk, according to the A2 milk company.
You ought to drink Full-fat milk to help baby put on weight. All these and many more is what you get when you drink an A2 milk. You can buy – A2 Cow’s Milk from here.
Are You Lactose Intolerant?
In an event that your digestive system can’t process milk and other dairy products effectively (lactose intolerant), then you should drink other forms of milk.
3.Nuts and Dry Fruits
Your baby can healthily gain weight if only you can combine nuts and dry fruits into your meal plan. They are loaded up with calories. They lower cholesterol levels in the body and give enormous vitality.
Example of Nuts and dry fruits to eat:
- Almond
- Walnuts
- Dried Figs (Anjeer)
- Apricots
- Dates (Use them instead of Sugar)
- Raisins
- Pistachios
4.Banana
The Banana you consumed helps your baby gain weight while breastfeeding. It lacks allergen and contains an enormous amount of supplements. In addition, it is one of the best First Food for infants when they start with solids.
How Many a Day?
Two bananas a day is enough.
Ways to Eat Banana
- Drink Banana Smoothies, of caffeine refreshments.
- Quit eating bread and jam. In place of the jam, use margarine/chocolate to spread on your bread and sandwich and cuts banana in it.
- On occasion, you can eat the banana with milk in a bowl. You can also add fruits like Papaya, Mango, and Pineapple into a delicious mix.
Why Is My Baby Not Gaining Weight While Breastfeeding?
1.Erratic Breastfeeding
Erratic or inconsistent breastfeeding could be the reason your baby isn’t gaining weight. Newborn should be consistently breastfed at least for the first two months at regular intervals during daytime and night.
Continue to breastfeed your baby as much as their stomach can carry. In no time, your baby will form a feeding routine and start adding weight.
2.Short Feeding Sessions
For newborn, the Breastfeeding session should be about 10 -15 minutes before moving her to the other breast. But, The session becomes shorter as your child get older and when you start weaning her.
Be sure your infant is not covered during breastfeeding. A baby who is excessively covered get comfortable, and may likely sleep off during breastfeeding.
3. Thrush in Kids
Thrush is a regular in many infants. Such a disease frequently prompts distress and uneasiness keeping your young one from latching on and sucking appropriately.
4. Low Breast milk Supply
Low breastmilk supply is the biggest culprit for poor weight gain in breastfed babies. There are several reasons behind your low breastmilk supply.
Speak with a medical officer when you notice that your child isn’t getting enough. Fortunately, poor breast milk supply can be managed to improve your milk production to help baby gain weight while breastfeeding.
6.Acid Reflux
Acid reflux isn’t a pleasant experience, babies that experienced heartburn often spit up breast milk after feeding. They become fussy after breastfeeding.
Babies rarely put on weight when battling with Acid Reflux because they vomit or spit up breast milk regularly.
8.Health Issues
Health related-issues is another factor that derived babies from gaining weight while breastfeeding.
Infants suffering from tongue-tie or with injury in the mouth will experience difficulties in breastfeeding. Also, infant find it hard to feed when they are ill and running temperatures.
Other ailments include; allergies, urinary tract disease, thrush and, ear infections can make your child not to feed properly.
Wrapping Up
What you eat, your feeding schedule, latching ability, etc., all play an important role in how to help baby gain weight while breastfeeding.
So I urge you to use the above tips to improve your baby’s health and help them gain weight fast.
Hope i have helped solve some of your concerns.
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DISCLAIMER – The information on this post is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for advice from a medical professional or health care provider.
