Breastfeeding difficulties — baby.

Slow weight gain

In the first days of life, a newborn usually loses weight — typically no more than 7% of the birth weight. If the loss is higher or reaches 10%, the breastfeeding behavior should be checked. If supplementing is medically indicated, use pumped breast milk rather than a bottle if possible. By day 7, at the latest day 14, well-breastfed babies have regained their birth weight.

From the bottle back to the breast

To avoid sucking confusion, supplementing in the first weeks should not be done with a bottle. If a baby has gotten used to the bottle and refuses the breast, it can gently be brought back via alternative feeding methods (supplemental nursing system, finger feeding, cup).

The restless feeding baby — regulation difficulties

“The baby with special needs.”

Right after birth you'll get to know your child's temperament — dreamers, gourmets, excitable, unsettled or especially love-needing babies.

You cannot spoil your baby with love and closeness. What it needs: lots of skin contact, being carried, a low-stimulus environment. A baby with a difficult start (complicated birth, separation from the mother, prematurity) has special needs.

Gas

A newborn's gut is immature. It needs to adapt to digestion. A healthy gut flora develops over time if the digestive tract is not irritated by additional fluids.

Illness of the baby

Breast milk is the healthiest nutrition for an infant, even during illness. Some metabolic conditions only allow partial breastfeeding alongside a special diet.

Premature baby

Breastfeeding premature and sick babies is possible and important. It requires special support and consultation — already during the hospital stay.

Well-coordinated sucking, swallowing and breathing is usually possible from 32 weeks of gestation. Learning to breastfeed is a process that takes time and patience. Intense skin contact and closeness are essential. Sing and talk a lot with your baby. Celebrate the smallest progress.

Drinking at the breast is not more exhausting than drinking from a bottle — on the contrary: a premature baby can regulate better at the breast and experiences fewer oxygen drops.

Not breastfeeding

Women who decide not to breastfeed, to partially breastfeed or to bottle-feed with expressed milk must be respected. Guidance on pumping frequency, storage, hygienic handling of breast milk, loving bottle-feeding and bonding support are part of my consultation.