What to do if premature babies gain weight slowly

It is the common wish of all parents that every child can grow up healthy and happy. However, many women are particularly prone to premature birth in the late pregnancy due to their physical constitution. We all know that once a child is born prematurely, his weight will be very low, and the organs of various parts of the body are not yet mature. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the care of the child after delivery. Many parents will find that premature babies gain weight relatively slowly, which makes many inexperienced parents particularly worried. They don’t know how to take better care of their babies. Let’s learn about what to do if premature babies gain weight slowly.

What to do if premature babies gain weight slowly

Premature babies gain weight slowly, and even if there is insufficient milk, mothers are advised to breastfeed as much as possible. In fact, breast milk is the most ideal natural nutritional food for premature babies. The physiological functions of premature babies are not fully developed, so we should do our best to feed them with breast milk (especially colostrum). The protein in breast milk contains more lactalbumin, and its amino acids can easily promote the baby's growth. Colostrum also contains a variety of antibodies, which are particularly valuable for premature babies. Premature babies who are breastfed are less likely to develop indigestion diarrhea and other infections, and their weight will gradually increase.

In addition, attention should be paid to the amount and frequency of feeding for premature babies. Premature babies have limited sucking ability and stomach capacity, and whether their intake is sufficient or not is not as obvious as that of full-term newborns. Therefore, they must be fed an appropriate amount according to their weight. Premature babies who are breastfed should be weighed regularly. Observing the weight gain of premature babies is an important indicator to determine whether feeding is reasonable.

Generally, full-term newborns will lose a little weight in the first few days due to insufficient feeding or defecation, which is normal. However, it is crucial to maintain the weight of premature babies at this time. We should pay attention to early feeding after birth and try to prevent the baby from losing weight.

Because premature infants have weak oral and tongue muscles, poor digestive ability, small stomach capacity, and require more energy every day, a feeding method of small and frequent meals can be adopted. If artificial feeding is used, a premature baby weighing 1500-2000 grams should be fed 12 times a day, once every 2 hours; a baby weighing 2000-2500 grams should be fed 8 times a day, once every 3 hours. The amount of milk fed each day varies greatly among babies. In the neonatal period, the amount of milk fed each day ranges from 10 to 60 ml. If the baby is growing well, the interval can be extended appropriately at night, so that the habit of not feeding at night can be gradually formed while ensuring the intake.

You don't have to worry too much about the weight gain of premature babies. As long as the baby is guaranteed adequate nutrition, the baby's weight will return to the same growth as normal babies. Yiyao.com wishes your child to grow up healthy and happy.

What is the standard weight of premature babies?

Most premature babies have a birth weight below 2500g and a head circumference below 33cm. A small number of premature infants weigh more than 2500g, and their organ function and adaptability are worse than those of full-term infants. They should still be given special care. Any baby whose birth weight is reduced to below the 10th percentile of normal weight for gestational age or two standard deviations below the mean due to factors such as placental insufficiency is called a small for gestational age baby (small for gestational age, poorly mature baby). Babies with a birth weight below 2500g are collectively referred to as low-weight babies, and those with a birth weight below 1500g are referred to as very low-weight babies, including premature babies and those small for gestational age.

As a general standard, premature babies weighing more than 2000 grams at birth will grow to 2700 grams; premature babies weighing less than 2000 grams at birth will grow to about 2500 grams. If there are no special abnormalities, they can be discharged from the hospital and go home.

In terms of time, if a premature baby weighs only 1500-2000 grams at birth, it usually takes about one and a half months for its weight to grow to 2500 grams. It is worth noting that although the weight of premature babies has grown to more than 2500 grams, their resistance is still weaker than that of full-term babies, so we must not be careless.

The above is an introduction to what to do if premature babies gain weight slowly. After understanding it, we know that this phenomenon usually occurs because each child’s physique and physical condition are different. Mothers of premature babies must pay special attention when caring for their babies, must pay attention to scientific feeding methods, and must take their babies to the hospital regularly for physical examinations.