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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Should Breastfeeding Be Supplemented With Formula Milk For Overweight Infants?

I had a c-section, my little girl was 8 lbs 11 oz when born (wed. june 3rd). I left the hospital two days after she was born (friday afternoon) and her weight loss was normal. Although, the hospital gave us formula to make sure her sugars were normal, after the breastfeeding clinic the friday I was leaving, I decided I wanted to try breastfeeding exclusively. All day Saturday I breastfed knowing Sunday I had a check up with the breastfeeding clinic to make sure my baby was latching ok. When they weighed her, she had 11% weight lost. My question is, should I have supplemented formula with breastfeeding (making sure she was getting enough?) Do bigger babies tend to lose more than 10% body weight? How serious was it that our baby lost 11%? My husband thought she wasn t getting enough and I didn t listen. I m afraid he will never forgive me for starving our baby...it has come up in many arguments ever since.
posted on Tue, 25 Aug 2015
Twitter Tue, 8 Sep 2015 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 8 Sep 2015 Last reviewed on
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
hello.
first of all please don't worry if your baby has lost more than 10 % weight. when a baby is born he has more of brown fat which gives him more energy. after a fortnight the brown fat disappears and there fore the weight loss.
in case the baby is being breast fed properly and he is not hungry the baby shall sleep around 12 in the whole day in the first month and he will have a feed cycle of 1.5 to 2 hours.

exclusive breastbreeding is the best for the child till 6 months of age and ensures proper growth of child.
in case you have doubt then just record the weight of your baby after every fortnight.
normally the baby will gain 0.5 kg per month till 6 months after the 1st month.
so take care and relax.
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Should Breastfeeding Be Supplemented With Formula Milk For Overweight Infants?

hello. first of all please don t worry if your baby has lost more than 10 % weight. when a baby is born he has more of brown fat which gives him more energy. after a fortnight the brown fat disappears and there fore the weight loss. in case the baby is being breast fed properly and he is not hungry the baby shall sleep around 12 in the whole day in the first month and he will have a feed cycle of 1.5 to 2 hours. exclusive breastbreeding is the best for the child till 6 months of age and ensures proper growth of child. in case you have doubt then just record the weight of your baby after every fortnight. normally the baby will gain 0.5 kg per month till 6 months after the 1st month. so take care and relax.