breastfeeding.....?

Question

does breastfeeding your babies make them heavier or gain more weight??

Answer 1

I found this on http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020500.asp

1. Breastfeeding prevents obesity. Even in infancy, breastfed babies as a group are leaner than their formula-fed peers. Studies have shown that children who are breastfed are less likely to be obese during adolescence, and that longer periods of breastfeeding greatly reduce the risk of being overweight in adulthood. Overweight children are more likely to become overweight adults. Since breastfed babies themselves control how much they eat (aided by the changes in fat levels during a feeding session), children who are breastfed learn to trust their bodies' signals about how much they need to eat and when. This builds healthy eating habits right from the start. Although parents might urge a formula-fed baby to finish up the last ounce or two of milk in the bottle, you can't do this to a breastfed baby. When she's done, she's done!

Answer 2

Breastfed babies typically gain quicker than their artificially fed peers in the first 6 months. Then, as they become more active in the second half of the first year, their weight gain usually slows.

Breastfed babies grow as humans were INTENDED to grow! Afterall, breastmik is the biological norm.....it's what their systems expect to be fed. Breastmilk is a perfect food. There are NO empty calories or fillers. Breastfed babies grow NORMALLY. There is good research to indicate that breastfed babies are LESS likely to be obese children or adults than babies who were formula-fed.

Make sure your pediatrician uses a growth chart that is designed for breastfed babies. Many still use the old growth charts that were based on formula fed babies of the 1950's!

Answer 3

I nursed one of my daughters and am nursing now. My oldest gain weight regularly and was a little chunky. The baby now well she weighed 8 lbs 9oz at birth. She just turned 5 months and weighs 21 lbs and wears 12 month clothes. So yeah, I would say some brestfed babies are chunky. I have lost a total of 55 lbs in the past 5 months nursing. I do watch what I eat, but I don't deny myself anything. I eat a lot of veggies and fruit. That is the most important thing. I also take a regular prenatal vitiman daily just in case I decide to eat cake all day!

Answer 4

Most growth charts used by pediatricians use formula-fed babies or a combination of formula-fed and breast-fed babies. My comments are based on these charts, not other charts developed using only breast-fed infants.

Typically breastfed babies are heavier than average during the first six months, after which they may appear to "fall down the charts" and become lighter than average.

In general, breastfed babies are less likely to become overweight children. This may be because the infant regulates their food intake based on their hunger rather than the parent giving them a set amount at each feeding as takes place with formula-fed babies.

Answer 5

All the breastfed babies I've known have been relatively thin and small. This could be because their mothers weren't eating well/enough calories, or it could be because they're just genetically small children.

My nephew, for example, was breastfed by his mother for the first 6 months of his life. She was a fanatic about eating healthy, getting enough carbs, protein, fats in her diet, but she was also very health conscious and kept her weight in check. He was always a very small baby (50th percentile or less), but seemed satisfied enough and he was thriving, even though he was small. At 6 months, she switched him to soy formula, and he really beefed up...not fat, per se (although he did have "enough" baby fat) but he really thrived and was in the 75th and above percentile.

He's now 3 years old, and incredibly skinny again, and back in the 20th and below percentile for his weight. His mother gives him skim milk, and I wish she wouldn't. He doesn't need the whole milk like a 1 year old does (for the extra fat for brain development), but I'm thinking maybe she needs to give him vitamins or something. Her mom is overweight, and she's TERRIFIED of turning out like her mother. She's still incredibly health-conscious, and I think she might be forcing it on her child too. So sad.

Answer 6

I nursed both of my daughters, my first for 1 year and my second for 4 months and counting. My first one was and is still now at 21/2 years old at the top of the charts on height and weight; no less than 90% ever. We used to joke that my milk had cream in it! My second one is currently 75% height and 45% weight. Same parents, just different milk at play. Your body knows what your child needs, and will make the appropriate milk. Amazing!

Answer 7

Sometimes. Sometimes it makes them gain weight slower. It depends on your milk and the baby itself. It will, however, make the baby healthier, less prone to illness, smarter, and happier. And it will help the mother lose weight faster from the pregnancy, and it boosts her mood by releasing hormones during the "let down" which help her relax.

Answer 8

formula lowers iq. oh yes.
formula causes diabetes. oh yes.
formula increases cancer risks in mom and baby. true, too.
formula use causes ear infections, horrible pain.

human milk is the perfect food formulated by your baby's ineraction with your body. you should nurse for at least two to three YEARS and during that time, your baby's needs will change frequently - fat content, nutrition, and more are altered in the milk by your baby's suckling.

to answer your question - nursing doesn't make your babies 'heavier' or 'gain more weight' - it makes them healthier. it is their birthright. depriving them of it is a failure.

Answer 9

depends, how big are your breasts?