Can babies become overweight drinking too much breastmilk??

Anita - posted on 04/09/2009

Just read another post.... a breast fed baby Does NOT need WATER!! Your fore milk does the job of "water" and hind milk does the job of "food"... and your milk DOES Change as babies needs change... Your body is smart, it will make what your baby needs... If you're ok with soothers then offer one, but not water (until your baby is older and you are offering it as another drink)... Your baby might bulk up a bit from breastfeeding a lot, but it won't become "Overweight"... breast milk is digested and burned up much faster then artificial milks (Formulas), it is much more efficient and healthier for your little one, your are doing a great job!

Anita - posted on 04/09/2009

Dose your baby take a soother? If not, she might be feeding just for the comfort of sucking... ??... I know my Son does that. That, and like others mentioned, she is bulking up before she becomes mobile. When she eats is she normally satisfied after? If so, she's getting enough. Is there certain times when she wants to "eat" like when she gets tired? bored? then maybe it's just comfort sucking....

Jennifer - posted on 04/09/2009

Sometimes breastfed babies weigh more. but are healthier for it. they need the fat for brain development and studies show breastfed babies are less likely than their formula fed friends to be heavy children and adults.

Amanda - posted on 04/09/2009

No breastfed baby can be over fed, it is physically impossible. A child who does not want to be feed will not latch on correctly, you will feel the difference between a correct latch, and a latch just used to soothe. It isnt like a bottle where you can shove it in and froce a baby to eat it even if they dont want it. Also breastmilk is such an efficient form of feeding, that it is digusted much faster then forumla, so some children feed every 1-2 hours instead of 2-4 hours (esp during growth spurts).

Do NOT give water, a paccie, nor does she need soild food. Just keep up the good work at breastfeeding, and no need to worry about over feeding.

Kristin - posted on 04/09/2009

My baby was 13.9 at two months and the doctor said she is not gaining too fast as long as she is exclusively breastfeeding. Dr. recommended no water for breastfed babies.  My first child was 95th percentile for weight until she was a year, then when she started eating more solids and was more active the baby fat naturally melted away. Don't worry, you're doing the right thing for your baby.

Queade - posted on 04/09/2009

If she is only 13 pounds at 5 months, I don't think she is over eating, but if she is continuously feeding you could have a latching on problem which could be restricting your ability to increase milk production which is stimulated by increased feeding. Make sure you are eating properly, have enough sleep and energy.

Queade - posted on 04/09/2009

Of course they can. Cows milk is 4% fat and human milk is 10-15%! If you feed for comfort the baby will get too many calories. If you restrict the feedings for meals only, baby should be OK. Offer water and a soother. When baby is hungry there is no substitute...you cannot go wrong. Breast feeding is the best, but baby shouldn't feed all the time. my two were 100% breast fed for the first year, after which i introduced solids and they were weaned by 18 months. Make sure you are hydrated to ensure you have enough milk, offer baby water and comfort with hugs and rocking (soother may be required) but do not breast feed every time baby cries. The milk does not change over the year as the baby's needs change. The first milk is colostrum after that the only variation in human milk is foremilk (beginning of feeding, watery) and hindmilk (end of feeding, creamier).

Emily - posted on 04/09/2009

Quoting Erinn:

She just turned 5 months on the 6th and had her most recent appointment with the pediatrician less than a month ago. At the appointment she was almost 13lbs.

Sounds like she is fine to me!

Emily - posted on 04/09/2009

From the Yale-New Haven Hospital website, emphasis mine

too much breastfeeding - from: Cathy Stubbs RNC, IBCLC

 Many breastfed 3 to 4 month old babies are chubby and even plump. Babies on average gain a lot of weight in the first 3 to 4 months, it is expected that they gain one ounce a day or more. After 3 to 4 months of age, the expected gain decreases to one half ounce or more each day. Babies slow their growth after 6 months of age and generally slim down in toddlerhood. It is not recommended to restrict the breastfed baby's nursing because of weight gain. The kinds of fat in your milk are long chain polyunsaturated fats and are the healthy kind-like we should be getting. You are giving your baby a wonderful healthy start with your breastfeeding. It may be helpful for you to consult your pediatrician with your husband's concerns to help settle his mind on this. Research on breastfed adults also show that there is less obesity when breastfed. It is not believed that a baby will over feed with breastfeeding. They will stop with satiation unlike babies who are using a bottle. Congratulations on your successful breastfeeding! Cathy

Cody - posted on 04/09/2009

The only "fat" babies I have ever seen were formula fed (and overfed).  All the literature I have read indicates that you CANNOT over feed a breast fed baby...their little bodies know exactly how much they need and that is what the take.

Erinn - posted on 04/09/2009

She just turned 5 months on the 6th and had her most recent appointment with the pediatrician less than a month ago. At the appointment she was almost 13lbs.

Amie - posted on 04/09/2009

It is normal for breastfed babies to gain weight more rapidly than their formula-fed peers during the first 2-3 months and then taper off (particularly between 9 and 12 months). There is absolutely NO evidence that a large breastfed baby will become a large child or adult. In fact, there is good research to indicate that breastfed babies are less likely to be obese children or adults than babies who were formula-fed.

Babies who gain quickly during infancy often start to slim down once they become more mobile; ie. rolling, crawling, pulling up, walking, running, etc. Often toddlers are very picky eaters and/or become almost too "busy" to take the time to eat. The fat laid down in infancy ensures that there are ample stores to pull from during the active toddler years.

Keep in mind, too, that breastmilk is a perfect food. There are NO empty calories or fillers. The amount of fat or calories in breastmilk is not affected by mom's dietary fat or sugar intake. However, mom can change the types of fat in her milk by altering the types of fat that she eats. (See Can you affect the amount of fat or calories in your milk? What we know from research.)

Do not try to limit your baby's nursing by stretching out feedings, limiting time at the breast, using a pacifier to "hold baby off" until a specified time has passed, or offering water so that baby nurses less. It can be dangerous to limit your baby's growth by limiting nursing, as your baby needs the nutrients and fat for proper growth and brain development. Only by continuing to feed your baby on cue will you ensure that his needs are perfectly met and that your milk supply is maintained.

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/gro...

Micki - posted on 04/09/2009

I don't think babies get "overweight" from eating too much breastmilk. She is probably eating much more because she is almost ready for other foods. I breastfed exclusively until around 6 1/2 months and they do eat a lot until they start (and get used to) eating baby food. Please don't worry about your babies weight, when they hit a year old they start shooting up and need all the reserves they can get! My first was VERY round until she started walking and now I can't find pants that are small enough around the waist!

Emily - posted on 04/09/2009

At that age they need lots of caloires because she is going to be mobile soon! Lots of breastfed babies chunk up during their first 6 months and then grow upwards for the second half of the first year. How much does she weigh? My oldest was 20 lbs at 4 months and only 22 lbs at one year. She burned it all off when she learned to crawl and walk! Also, breastmilk changes composition as babies age. It is fatty and filling at first then changes to acomodate the grwoing baby's energy needs.