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Is Breast milk sufficient
My baby is EBF and his birth weight is 2.36kg , he is 5 month old and his weight at present is 6.35kg, my relatives are saying baby is looking week and my breast milk is not sufficient and askng me to introduce formula, my baby is rejecting formula , any suggestions how to introduce formula , is formula introducing required, please suggest
Answers (11)
Baby's weight gain is good.Continue EBF.
Next Steps
start complementary foods after 6 months.
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Dr Faisal Zoheb
MBBS , MD PAEDIATRICS , PGPN (BOSTON), FELLOWSHIP IN NEONATOLOGY ( Newborn and vaccination specialist )
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Baby s weight gain is well in normal limits.
Also babies on breastfeed are usually thinner than on formula feed but they’re healthier in terms of immunity , brain development and gut health. So fat doesn’t mean healthy. If your baby is passing urine 6-8 times a day and has a good weight gain (which already is) , your feed is enough upto 6 months. Later start complementary feeds along with ur feed.
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Greetings
Going from a birth weight of 2.36 kg to 6.35 kg by 5 months shows a strong catch-up growth pattern, as babies typically double their birth weight by 4 to 5 months, and your baby has already crossed that mark. This progress indicates your breast milk is sufficient, even though your relatives' concern is completely understandable. As long as he is having 6 or more wet diapers a day, nursing every 2 to 3 hours, and gaining weight steadily, you can confidently continue exclusive breastfeeding without introducing formula right now, especially since he is rejecting formula and growing well without it. Finally, be sure to visit your pediatrician during the next routine checkup so they can plot his weight and length on a growth chart and confirm this healthy growth trend is continuing.
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Hello
2.36 kgs at 5 months is within normal range. Growth of infants initially when they are on exclusive breast feeds depends on infants weight gain pattern that should be charted on growth charts not a single weight recording, if baby is active, sleeping well, feeding well, with adequate wet diapers and development milestones according to age. You do not worry about relatives perspective of baby looking weak. Share your concerns with your paediatrician at next vaccination visit and you would get proper insight.
Do not force formula if baby is resisting. Continue exclusive breast feeding on demand and empty the breast completely because the hind milk helps in weight gain before putting on to other side.
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Mr. Bhalala lalji narshibhai
Pediatrician
8 yrs exp
Ahmedabad
EBF baby, birth weight 2.36 kg (low birth weight), now 5 months 6.35 kg. Weight gain is excellent - almost triple in 5 months, which indicates breast milk IS sufficient. Baby looking thin is perception, growth chart is objective. Baby rejecting formula is common in EBF babies.
Next Steps
-No need to introduce formula if weight gain is good as per WHO growth chart, baby active and passing 6+ urine/day.
- Get growth plotted by pediatrician - weight for age, length, head circumference.
- Continue EBF till 6 months.
Health Tips
- Explain to relatives - chubby is not equal to healthy, weight gain is best marker.
- Do not force formula - can cause nipple confusion and reduce breast milk supply.
- Continue on-demand feeding, ensure good latch, mother balanced diet and hydration.
- At 6 months, start complementary feeding as per pediatrician advice, continue breast milk.
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Dr. Himanshu Singh
Pediatrician
7 yrs exp
Bharatpur
Your baby has nearly tripled his birth weight in 5 months (babies usually only double their birth weight by 5–6 months). This proves your breast milk supply is more than sufficient.
NO formula milk is not required. Your breast milk is meeting all his growth needs perfectly. It is very common for well-gaining breastfed babies to look leaner than formula-fed infants, but lean does not mean weak.
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Dr. Jay Gajjar
Pediatrician
8 yrs exp
Surat
Your baby’s weight gain is reassuring. His birth weight was 2.36 kg, and he now weighs 6.35 kg at 5 months, which is a good sign.
Just because a baby looks thin or relatives feel that breast milk is insufficient doesn’t mean the baby needs formula.
The best indicators of adequate breastfeeding are appropriate weight gain, at least 6 wet diapers daily, an active baby and satisfactory growth on the growth chart.
Based on the weights you mentioned, there is no obvious indication to introduce formula at present. However, his growth should be plotted on a WHO growth chart to confirm that he is following an appropriate growth pattern.
Continue exclusive breastfeeding on demand until 6 months of age. After 6 months, introduce complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding.
Please don’t force formula feeding just because of family pressure. Breast milk alone is sufficient for most healthy babies during the first 6 months.
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Dr. Bhatt Vivek Prafulchandra
Pediatrician
7 yrs exp
Rajkot
Consult with Pediatrician physically for further evaluation and treatment
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Dr. Rachita Sewara
Pediatrician
6 yrs exp
Gurgaon
Weight gain by baby is appropriate , nothing need to be worried
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Dr. Ankita Gahlot
Obstetrician
12 yrs exp
Bangalore
Going from a birth weight of 2.36 kg to 6.35 kg by 5 months is actually a strong catch-up pattern. Babies typically double their birth weight by 4 to 5 months, and your baby has already crossed that mark. This doesn't fit with your milk being insufficient, even though your relatives' concern is understandable.
Next Steps
If he's having 6 or more wet diapers a day, nursing every 2 to 3 hours, and gaining weight steadily, you can continue exclusive breastfeeding without introducing formula right now. Since he's already rejecting formula and growing well, there's no need to force it at this stage.
Health Tips
Please see your paediatrician at the next visit so they can plot his weight and length on a growth chart and confirm this catch-up trend is continuing.
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