There are so many cases that make doctors spend months studying baby's diet, medical history, level of activity, and causes of stress in infants before they can determine the source of the problem with certainty.
Generally, if you suspect that your child is not developing properly, it should be checked for the possibility of whether he is classified as having difficulty eating, or his body is difficult to absorb and process the nutrients obtained from food. The following are a number of reasons why this can occur.
Problems when eating
- Your child may be tired and fall asleep before finishing breastfeeding.
- Your child may have a weak sucking reflex, making it difficult to get enough milk (if you give exclusive breastfeeding) or even from a pacifier bottle, even though this is more often found during breastfeeding.
- Cracks on the lips (cracks) or the palate will interfere with the breastfeeding process. To overcome this problem, exchange your bottle with a special bottle, with artificial nipples specifically used by babies with this condition, or ask for special nurse help (cracks on the lips or palate can be corrected during the first year of the baby).
- Your baby has a tongue tongue that can make it difficult for him to breastfeed properly and get the nutrients he needs. This condition can also affect babies who are feeding bottles, but are rarely found.
- If you give your baby formula milk, an inappropriate dose of milk can make your child's weight difficult to rise.
- If you are breastfeeding and have had problems starting breastfeeding, your baby may miss a number of nutrients that he did not get during the period of the problem. Your breasts may not produce enough milk to support your baby's needs or your milk does not come out.
The first 1/3 of the milk droplets that come out every time breastfeeding is known as the foremilk, available at all times for your baby. When you start the breastfeeding process, your body will slowly release the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates the flow of the next breast milk, called hindmilk. This process is called let down reflex (LDR), or the release of breast milk. The signs are your nipples itch or breast milk spurts. Hindmilk contains more calories than the foremilk.
If you are stressed or in pain, the brain nerves will fail to send a signal to start releasing milk, preventing your child from getting hindmilk. If this problem continues, it can lead to a failure to increase the baby's weight. To encourage the release of the milk reflex, you should breastfeed in a calming place, away from the hustle and bustle.
Some babies who breastfeed with strict scheduling, compared to following their own hungry instincts, will actually get fewer nutrients than the amount needed. Some experts believe that the best way to get optimal nutrition is to let your baby breastfeed, either breast milk directly or with a bottle, as long as he wants and whenever he wants.
Other common causes
- Your baby is recovering from illness, or is sick. His body needs more nutrients and calories to be healthy again, but the disease can affect the little one's appetite.
- Your baby has digestive problems, such as diarrhea, reflux, celiac disease, or lactose intolerance.
- If you have postpartum depression or are overwhelmed by other children who ask for your special attention. With the above conditions, it will be difficult for you to make sure your liver is getting the full attention that it needs to ensure it has enough calorie intake.
In some rare cases, failure to increase a child's weight can be caused by lung disorders, such as cystic fibrosis; nervous system problems, such as celebral palsy; problems on the chromosome of children, such as Down syndrome; or metabolic or endocrine diseases, such as growth hormone deficiency. Contact your doctor immediately for early treatment if any of the above conditions are the cause of your child's weight loss.