Research-backed
Image: Shutterstock
If you have just welcomed a little one into your home, you would know all about the woes of breastfeeding. Yes, of course, it gives you plenty of time to strengthen your bond with the newborn. But, there are millions of questions that may get you regularly worked up. Are you providing your baby with sufficient milk? Is he/she meeting all the growth milestones? Has he/she put on adequate weight? Are you underfeeding or overfeeding him/her? Here, we bring you a few things that you may want to know regarding breastfeeding and baby’s weight:
1. The Milestones To Remember
Image: Shutterstock
Of course, healthy babies come in different sizes. But, more or less, every infant follows a certain growth path. Here are the guidelines to keep in mind for infant’s growth during the first year (1):
- Until six months of age, the little one will grow nearly half to one inch every month. And, may gain around 140-200 grams every week. You can expect your baby to be twice his/her birth weight at the fifth-month milestone.
- From the age of six to 12 months, the infant may grow nearly 3/8 inch each month. And, might gain around 85-140 grams per week. You can expect your little one to be thrice his/her birth weight as he/she turns one.
Your little one’s doctor will track his/her growth progress at the routine checkups. Also, keep in mind that your infant may go through certain phases where he/she might either not gain weight or lose some weight too. But, you will find your doctor concerned only if the baby’s weight remains stagnant from one checkup to another. It is not your little one’s position on the growth curve that matters as much as the overall development trend (2).
2. Breastfeeding Remains The Best
Image: Shutterstock
At the end of the day, it is a mother’s choice of how she wants to feed her little one, be it breastfeeding or formula feeding. It is one of the biggest decision that a parent needs to make. And, it can depend on numerous reasons, from health and lifestyle to career. But, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding the baby, at least until the age of six months. This is recommended to ensure optimum growth and development of the infant (3). In fact, it is encouraged that a mother should continue breastfeeding up to the age of two years, if possible.
3. Enough Or Not?
Image: Shutterstock
You might notice relatively more weight gain in breastfed babies as compared to formula-fed babies initially. The sudden tapering of your baby’s weight gain may get you all concerned. You might worry whether or not you are feeding enough to your little one. But, guess what? Breastfeeding may have another beneficial effect on babies. It might also help protect kids from obesity at a later stage. A study conducted on over 15,000 kids showed that the ones who were breastfed for around six months or even longer had lower risks of obesity as compared to the formula-fed ones (4). So, there is a possibility that as your kid begins to do more physical activities such as crawling or walking, his/her weight may regulate itself.
4. Your Little One Will Let You Know
Image: Shutterstock
You may think that your baby is not feeding properly and is hungry. But, remember that your little one is more expressive than you think. If your newborn wants to feed, he/she will let you know, either by crying or reaching out to you. And, you may have also noticed him/her letting go of you when full. Take the cue and do accordingly. Trust your baby to tell you if he/she is not content or satisfied with the meal.
And, remember that if something looks out of routine, your doctor will let you know. So, don’t get yourself worked up otherwise. Good luck, ladies!
