Underweight Baby
Tips to Help Your Underweight Baby Gain Weight
Did you give birth to an underweight baby or are you worried that your baby hasn’t been gaining weight as fast as it should? There are many causes behind a child being underweight, and there are also many treatment methods used to encourage weight gain. In this article, we are going to discuss the causes behind babies being born under the average weight as well as ways that you can encourage your baby to put on those extra pounds to boost his/her weight to normal.
Some of the main causes of having an underweight baby are due to either the mother not gaining enough weight or eating improperly during pregnancy, smoking and drinking during pregnancy, and premature delivery. If a woman does not take in enough nutrients from her diet, she may not be providing her baby with the vitamins and minerals imperative to growing as quickly as he or she should. It is very important that an expecting mother eats plenty of vegetables, fruit, and protein (such as meat and beans) to balance the nutrients that both her body and her baby’s body need to remain healthy.
Studies have also shown that smoking and drinking can cause a baby to be born underweight, along with other potential abnormalities. The chemicals in cigarettes pass directly through the placenta and straight into the baby, resulting in a hindrance of the baby’s growth rate. Smoking can also cause babies to have weakened immune systems, likelihood of developing asthma, and even an increase in the chance of SIDS occurring (sudden infant death syndrome). Drinking alcohol during pregnancy—even one drink—can result in a reduced birth weight in babies. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome may even result, which is a hindrance of growth both in the womb and after birth—this is usually a lifelong condition.
Genetics can also play a large part in having an underweight baby. Some families simply have a history of producing smaller babies that may or may not remain small throughout their lives. These people are more likely to produce a small child, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the child is unhealthy. If a small birth weight is hereditary, it is likely that the child is otherwise healthy just a little smaller than other babies. Some babies may also be born with genetic disorders that cause abnormal growth such as a heart defect.
Getting your baby’s weight up may take a lot of perseverance and willpower, but don’t distress! If you can’t seem to get your baby’s weight up on your own, you may need to enlist the help of your doctor. The first thing you need to ask yourself is whether your baby is on formula or breast milk. Breast milk is always recommended, if you’re able to breast feed, but you must also consider that most growth charts are composed based on the results of formula fed babies, which tend to be heavier. If your breast fed baby is only just falling short of average rates (based on formula fed babies) and your doctor says that the baby appears to be healthy overall, you may not have anything to worry about in the weight department. If your baby is drastically below the average weight for his/her height and age, then you may have to consider switching to another type of formula or topping up breast milk with formula. Breast feeding moms may also want to address their diet. If the mom isn’t getting enough nutrients through her diet, her breast milk may not be sufficient to keep the baby’s weight up.
If switching formulas and topping up breast milk doesn’t seem to have an effect, try feeding your baby less food more often; try to offer him food every two or three hours, but don’t force him to eat. Many women find this to be quite helpful with smaller babies. If your baby is four months or older, he/she may be ready to try solids. Baby rice, yogurt, or pureed food can be offered to the baby and then supplemented with milk.
If these changes have been implemented and your baby still does not seem to gain enough weight, then you should seek the advice of your doctor. He/she will be able to test for other conditions that may be hindering your baby’s weight gain, as well as offer treatment ideas.