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Being a mother means being constantly concerned with the various issues that involve raising your baby, from the feeding and the clothes he should use to the diseases he may possibly have. And when you realize that you have a baby losing weight , it can be really desperate.
Many mothers end up taking desperate measures for fear of their children becoming ill, but is this really a problem? Is it common for babies to lose weight? When to see a doctor?
How to Know if the Baby is Breastfeeding Well?
There are some details that a mother can pay attention to to see if her baby is breastfeeding or not. The first is to understand if, when it comes to breastfeeding, he voluntarily stops because he feels satisfied or is looking for more milk.
This lack of satiety may indicate that the amount of milk ingested by the baby is not the most adequate. In addition, it is also necessary to be aware of the number of feedings per day.
It is common for newborns to always look hungry and breastfeed between 8 and 12 times a day , a number that goes down as the baby grows and their diet changes.
Another thing that you can also be aware of is the amount of diapers the baby gets dirty per day. If he poops less than normal and starts to lose weight, you need to watch out for other signs to see if there is anything abnormal about your health.
Causes of Baby Weight Loss
There are several things that can cause weight loss in the baby, whether they are natural growth processes or health problems in fact. Some of the main ones are:
- Natural Weight Loss;
- Breastfeeding Problems;
- Malnutrition
We will talk a little more about each of these causes below and explain their main characteristics.
Natural Weight Loss
Within the first 5 to 7 days of life, it is quite common to notice your baby losing weight . This, despite being of concern to many mothers, is a natural process in those early days.
After the second week of life, the baby will start to gain weight normally. There is no need to do anything but breastfeed the baby whenever necessary. After this period, the baby is weighed at each monthly visit to the pediatrician to ensure that he is developing as expected and eating properly.
Breastfeeding Problems
There are several problems with breastfeeding that can cause the baby to lose weight. The incorrect handle, the wrong position of the mother to be breastfeeding and everything that involves and can affect the timing of adequate breastfeeding.
Malnutrition
According to the WHO (World Health Organization), a baby should feed exclusively on breast milk during its first 6 months of life . When he stops drinking this type of milk or when a mother tries to add some kind of supplement to meet any need, the baby may suffer from malnutrition.
Any type of dietary supplement can only be introduced into your baby’s diet if this is extremely important and indicated by a specialist doctor.
Possible Problems with Breastfeeding
The fact of having a baby losing weight can be directly linked to possible breastfeeding problems and that is exactly why it is necessary to talk here about some of the main ones and how to solve such problems. They are:
- Incorrect handle;
- Little Milk Production
Incorrect Handle
Incorrect grip is a very recurrent problem, especially in first-time mothers. But the good news is that this problem has a relatively easy solution . Incorrect grip can make your nipples cracked, painful and even bruised, depending on the situation. But the worst of all is that the baby will not be breastfeeding properly if the handle is not correct and there may be a case of a baby losing weight.
For the grip to be correct, the baby’s mouth must cover the entire nipple, with the areolas almost completely covered. In addition, it is always necessary to pay attention if the baby is
satisfied and observe the period he is breastfeeding and if he can sleep soundly after the feeding.
Little Milk Production
If you are producing too little milk, your baby may not be able to breastfeed enough and, as a result, is losing weight. This problem can be solved with some natural recipes to increase your milk levels.
In the latter case, the pediatrician may recommend the use of milk formulas or even, depending on the baby’s age, start introducing other foods, such as fruits, juices and baby food.
When to See a Doctor?
Usually, the occurrence of a baby losing weight is observed by the pediatrician during the monthly routine consultations that must occur during the first year of life. But if you notice any changes or changes in the baby in the meantime, see your doctor immediately.
If this matches the fact that your baby is not breastfeeding well, the signal may be even more serious. It is necessary to be very attentive to these details, because, if the baby really has a health problem, the sooner a doctor is sought, the greater the chances of treatment being done easily.
It is necessary, however, to be cautious and really be sure that this is a problem with the baby and not just a distrust of you.
When you realize you have a baby losing weight, it can be quite scary at first. Of course, mothers always want what is best for their children and do not know about certain information about some babies’ normal weight loss.
But in many cases it is also necessary to know the right time to see a doctor to check that there is no problem with your baby or even with your milk. Being aware of these issues means that you know how to take good care and pay attention to your child’s health.
It is very common to despair on certain occasions, especially when it involves the health of those we love most. But even so keeping your feet on the ground and your head in place is always important to know exactly what actions to take and what will be the healthiest for the baby. These are stages that all mothers end up going through. And many more are yet to come.
See Also: Should I Worry About Baby’s Sleep?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
