Do Breastfed Babies Gain More Weight

But when using the charts on formula-fed babies, the babies gain weight slowly at first and then too quickly. One reason breastfed babies weigh less at one year may be that they stop feeding when they’re satisfied, unlike formula-fed babies who may be coaxed to finish a bottle and end up getting more food than they need.

Breastfeeding burns up to 500 calories a day. This means that even though you are probably eating more to sustain breastfeeding, you can still lose weight. On average, if you’re taking in the recommended amount of calories each day and breastfeeding exclusively, you should lose about 1 pound every week or two.

Some causes for low weight gain in breastfed babies. Babies who are sick (with even a minor illness) often slow weight gain or even lose weight. A few common things that can affect weight gain are ear infection, thrush, reflux, anemia, allergies, tongue-tie, and urinary tract infections.

Baby should regain birth weight by 10 days to 2 weeks. If your baby lost a good bit of weight in the early days, or if your baby is sick or premature, it may take longer to regain birth weight. If baby does not regain birth weight by two weeks, this is a sign that the breastfeeding needs to be evaluated.

The most obvious reason for putting on too much weight too soon is overeating, but don’t get out the baby diet books just yet. Weight gain can also occasionally be attributed to certain medications and, in rare instances, even a hormonal condition.

Reasons why a child may not grow Not getting enough calories. In 90% of cases children aren’t growing because they’re not consuming enough calories. … Limited food. Occasionally a caregiver with mental health concerns of their own may not adequately feed the child. Oral or neurological issues. … Vomiting. … Pancreatic problems. … Gastrointestinal disorders. … Thyroid and metabolic issues. … More items…

The Real Reason You Can’t Lose the Baby Weight. "Stress can interfere with the normal function of our neuroendocrine system and cause the body to over stimulate the production of certain hormones that can lead to weight gain," she said.

Newborns who are breastfeeding can lose weight for a variety of reasons. Not Breastfeeding Enough: It is important to put your baby to the breast at least every 2 to 3 hours to stimulate healthy milk supply and provide your baby with enough breast milk to gain weight. 2 

Occasionally, though, babies don’t grow at a healthy rate. This may be because of problems with the placenta, caused by the pregnancy illness pre-eclampsia. If your baby isn’t growing at the expected rate, doctors will say he has intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).