Signs of Poor Feeding in a Newborn: Solutions and Tips
How to Successfully Navigate the Challenge of Poor Feeding in Newborns-Your Guide
One of the most common concerns for new parents today is ensuring that their newborn receives enough nourishment and stays healthy. However, a lot of new parents struggle with managing proper feeding for their infants.
Poor feeding in newborns is difficult to define, and, in most instances, it is simply understanding the changing needs of an infant. As the baby grows, the pattern of feeding and the speed at which the weight increases changes. Every parent should have a growth chart, which is available via your health practitioner and online via the World Health Organisation
https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/child-growth/child-growth-standards/indicators/weight-for-age/cht-wfa-girls-p-0-6.pdf?sfvrsn=52e7206c_12
Poor feeding can, however, indicate other conditions ranging from simple latching issues to infections of various kinds or genetic disorders.
In this post, we will learn more about the feeding challenges in newborns, including the signs of poor feeding and tips and solutions for managing these issues successfully.
Signs of Poor Feeding in Newborns
There are several signs that could help you identify poor feeding issues in a newborn. Some of these are:
Inadequate latch or sucking
In some newborns, feeding is very hard work. This is especially true for infants with difficulties in latching/sucking or problems in coordinating sucking and swallowing. Among the main symptoms of poor latching are:
- The child does not wake on cue for feedings at least eight or more times in 24 hours
- The infant initially latches on and then lets go of the breast repeatedly
- Shows cues to feed 14 or more times in 24 hours
- Feeds continuously for more than 45 minutes without showing signs of being satisfied or full after a meal
- Produces less than 6 wet diapers and fewer than three stools in 24 hours (for the first four to eight weeks of being born)
Persistent issues of poor latching while breastfeeding can have several consequences for both the baby and the mother. These include
- Poor weight gain in babies
- Sore nipples in the mother, which can lead mothers to stop breastfeeding early
- Difficulty for the baby to drain the breast effectively
- Reduced milk supply in the mother
Insufficient milk intake
This is another major reason for poor feeding in newborns. Here are some signs you can look for to know that your newborn might not be getting enough milk:
- Your newborn is not gaining 5-7 ounces of weight per week
- Nursing sessions that are either too short or consistently longer than 45-50 minutes
Additionally, if latching in newborns is painful for the mother, it could prevent the baby from getting enough milk.
Serious health complications can occur from inadequate milk intake in a newborn. These include dehydration, jaundice, hypoglycemia, and slow growth.
Solutions and Tips for Managing Signs of Poor Feeding in a Newborn
If you are a new parent looking to effectively manage the signs of poor feeding in your newborn, here are some tips and solutions you could use:
1. Improving latch and sucking technique
- Hold the baby with their nose close to the nipple, and their head tilted back slightly to help the baby open their mouth wide.
- When the baby's mouth is open, bring them to your breast so their chin touches your breast first.
- Tickle baby's lips with your nipple to encourage them to open wide
2. Enhancing milk production in mothers
You can also use the below tips to enhance milk production:
- Breastfeeding frequently (every 1.5-3 hours or 8-12 times per day)
- Gently massaging breasts before and during feedings
- Using various relaxation techniques to reduce stress
- Offer both breasts to the baby at each feeding
Apart from these techniques, you can also use breastfeeding aids if necessary. If required, seek lactation consultation for advice.
Recognizing and Addressing Specific Issues
The first step to improving the journey of breastfeeding for a mother and a newborn is to recognize and address the specific issues that are preventing this goal. You can just read on to learn more about some common issues.
1. Tongue tie
Tongue-tie in newborns can make feeding difficult as it is a condition that limits the function of a baby's tongue and makes it difficult to latch on for breastfeeding or take in enough milk. Tongue tie is often blamed for poor latching, but, in practice, it rarely impacts feeding. Please take advice from a professional before starting any surgical procedure to resolve tongue ties.
Often, dedicated support from a lactation consultant can help adjust position issues and latch for successful breastfeeding.
2. Engorgement or mastitis in the mother
Mastitis or engorgement is an inflammation of the breast and is usually caused by an infection. It often happens while a new mother is breastfeeding, especially during the first 6-12 weeks after giving birth.
Some of the symptoms of mastitis include breast pain, swelling in breasts, a burning sensation while breastfeeding, fever, chills, discharge from nipples, nausea, and vomiting.
Here are some basic prevention methods and breastfeeding techniques to lower your risk of developing mastitis.
- Make sure that the baby latches onto the nipple with their mouth open wide.
- Change your baby’s position from one feeding to the next to ensure all areas of breasts are empty
- Allow your baby to empty one breast before making the switch to the other breast.
- Air your nipples out when possible
Seek help from your doctor or lactation consultant if you have nipple pain during breastfeeding.
Seeking Professional Help
If you are noticing signs of poor feeding in your baby consistently, contact a paediatrician or lactation expert. Reaching out to solve these issues promptly helps ensure that you and your baby can continue to enjoy the many benefits of breastfeeding.
A good lactation expert can help with all aspects of breastfeeding, including challenging situations, developing a breastfeeding routine, recognizing issues, and helping you correct them early on.
Parental Support and Education
Breastfeeding mothers can experience exhaustion, fear, and a vast range of other feelings and emotions. Significant others, such as partners, family members, and health providers can play a key role in offering emotional support to breastfeeding mothers at this time.
Some of the ways to offer emotional support to new mothers include giving them time for self-care such as active relaxation techniques (deep breathing, yoga, or meditation) or ongoing help with household tasks so they can focus on caring for the baby and getting the rest they need.
Educating parents on feeding cues
One of the most important aspects of managing feeding issues in newborns is educating parents on feeding cues. Infants communicate their needs through body language, including hunger or feeding cues.
It is, therefore, important to understand newborn hunger cues, to help babies establish their feeding routines, pace, and level of ability. It can also help prevent various physiological instabilities, which can cause harm to the baby.
Closing Thoughts
Feeding issues in newborns are common and can, most often, be resolved with simple advice and support. Rarely, it can put them at risk for dehydration or growth failure.
Additionally, the lack of emotional bond formed during breastfeeding can have significant negative consequences for the well-being of both mother and baby. It is, therefore, essential to address the issue early on for better long-term outcomes.
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