For Indian mothers, a child s wellbeing is directly proportional to the weight she gains. For some, it is difficult to understand that weight gain isn t the only parameter for growth and development. However, certain diet changes are implemented at an early age so that she gains enough weight. One of them is making a switch from breast milk to formula to help baby gain enough weight. Even though we can t stop stressing enough on the importance of breastfeeding and why it is the perfect food for your baby, for the first six months of her life. Some mothers try to supplement it with a formula to ensure that the baby gains adequate weight. Here are top 10 breastfeeding myths busted.
To understand if it is necessary to supplement a baby less than six months of age with formula to help her gain weight we got talking to Ms Avani Oke Principal K. J. Somaiya College, School of Nursing to get a perspective. Here is what she has to say, A mother produces adequate breast milk required for the baby. Breast milk is nutrient dense and is the right food for baby to weight gain, fight immunity and keep her satiated. However, if the baby is not gaining weight even after exclusive breastfeeding there are certain parameters that should be checked for lack of adequate weight gain. Know if early weaning is necessary to help your baby gain enough weight.
Before making a quick switch to formula, she suggests that a mother should get a proper evaluation done to see if the baby can latch properly. Most of the time the baby is not latched properly to the breast. This makes it difficult for the baby to take enough feed. It also makes the baby cranky, irritable and leads to more feeding sessions as the baby isn t able to suckle properly. This could be a reason for inadequate weight gain. However, this can be overcome with help. Here is a step-by-step breastfeeding guide for new mums.
Remember, switching to formula might not always ensure weight gain in your baby. Sometimes mothers don t follow the right instructions needed to prepare formula which is common and this could again lead to sluggish weight gain. So, if a baby suckles properly and is satiated there is no reason to switch to formula to enforce weight gain as every baby grows at her own pace, she says. Here are few rules to stick to if you are choosing to switch to formula.
Resorting to formula is only encouraged if the baby becomes allergic to breast milk. Still, it is very rare and if that happens, a mother is advised to give her child formula to counter the problem. In some cases, the child might be lactose intolerant, and that can lead to choosing a formula that is lactose-free, she mentions. Here are reasons why you should prefer breastfeeding over bottle feeding.
Apart from this, there is no need to replace breast milk with formula, especially to help your child gain weight. However, prolonged weight gain also doesn t help much in the weight gain process. It is necessary to slowly wean off your baby after six months of age. Remember, even if your baby is taking the time to settle with the weaning process keep trying don t just keep breastfeeding thinking it will encourage weight gain because most of the time it is done for an emotional need rather than satiety. A mother s milk production also dips after the initial six months and so it is necessary to help your child get started with weaning, recommends Oke.
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