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Is Overfeeding By An Infant Normal?

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Posted on Wed, 9 Nov 2016
Question: Hi,
Our baby is exclusively breast fed. He has on his 7th day shown a sudden increase in his diet. A change we have introduced is that at times when dust breastfeeding is not possible we give him pumped best milk though Medela Calma bottle. This is 1-2 times in a day and day of the times it is direct breastfeeding.
We have nice that he tends to drink the milk from the bottle at a much faster rate of any 40 ml in only 5 minutes. This doesn't satisfy his hunger and he generally ends up feeding more.
Today we noticed a slight change in his poop which appeared slightly runny (photograph attached) . Please check and advise if this is normal.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (14 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Bottle feeding is easier, hence faster sucking

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

Congratulations on having a baby. It is good to know that you are keeping him entirely on breast feeding. Let me emphasize on the fact that breast milk is the best possible milk for a baby and there can be no alternatives for the same. It is ok to give expressed breast milk. I would not be worried about the rapid increase in amount or rapid feeding. So long as the child does not aspirate it is not a problem.

Mother's breast milk is produced on the demand of the baby. Hungrier the baby, more vigorous is the suck. More is the suck, more is the amount of breast milk produced. Giving formula automatically reduces the demand of the baby and thereby the production of breast milk. All you need to do is to monitor the urine output. If the frequency is more than 6 times in 24 hours, you would know that the amount of feeding is adequate. If the amount of passage of urine is less or if the child is lethargic you would need to take the child to a doctor without delay.

For a baby of this age, it is normal to pass stool several times a day or even after each feed. Alternatively the child may pass stool once in 10 days and that is normal too. Unless the stool is hard and pellet like, you need not grow concerned. It is also normal to pass green stool or a combination of yellow stool. If the child is exclusively breast fed you need not worry about the consistency.

Breast milk also takes care of immunity against common ailments like cough and cold, and diarrhea. So, automatically your worries would be reduced. For a baby of this age, it is normal to pass stool several times a day or even after each feed. Alternatively the child may pass stool once in 10 days and that is normal too. Unless the stool is hard and pellet like, you need not grow concerned. You need not use suppositories but in case you use, it would not be harmful.

You should burp the baby for at least 15-20 mins after each feed. All you need to do is to hold the baby head end elevated for this duration. The extra air taken in would escape and the milk will not regurgitate back from the stomach to the food pipe.

Let me know if you have further queries.

Regards
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Diptanshu Das

Pediatrician

Practicing since :2005

Answered : 3878 Questions

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Is Overfeeding By An Infant Normal?

Brief Answer: Bottle feeding is easier, hence faster sucking Detailed Answer: Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic. Congratulations on having a baby. It is good to know that you are keeping him entirely on breast feeding. Let me emphasize on the fact that breast milk is the best possible milk for a baby and there can be no alternatives for the same. It is ok to give expressed breast milk. I would not be worried about the rapid increase in amount or rapid feeding. So long as the child does not aspirate it is not a problem. Mother's breast milk is produced on the demand of the baby. Hungrier the baby, more vigorous is the suck. More is the suck, more is the amount of breast milk produced. Giving formula automatically reduces the demand of the baby and thereby the production of breast milk. All you need to do is to monitor the urine output. If the frequency is more than 6 times in 24 hours, you would know that the amount of feeding is adequate. If the amount of passage of urine is less or if the child is lethargic you would need to take the child to a doctor without delay. For a baby of this age, it is normal to pass stool several times a day or even after each feed. Alternatively the child may pass stool once in 10 days and that is normal too. Unless the stool is hard and pellet like, you need not grow concerned. It is also normal to pass green stool or a combination of yellow stool. If the child is exclusively breast fed you need not worry about the consistency. Breast milk also takes care of immunity against common ailments like cough and cold, and diarrhea. So, automatically your worries would be reduced. For a baby of this age, it is normal to pass stool several times a day or even after each feed. Alternatively the child may pass stool once in 10 days and that is normal too. Unless the stool is hard and pellet like, you need not grow concerned. You need not use suppositories but in case you use, it would not be harmful. You should burp the baby for at least 15-20 mins after each feed. All you need to do is to hold the baby head end elevated for this duration. The extra air taken in would escape and the milk will not regurgitate back from the stomach to the food pipe. Let me know if you have further queries. Regards