Why is a premature baby gaining weight slowly?

Slow weight gain in premature infants may be caused by insufficient breast milk supply, improper feeding, or underlying medical conditions.

1. Insufficient Breast Milk Supply

Premature infants are generally weak. If breastfeeding occurs too infrequently, the infant's sucking posture is incorrect, or the mother is overly fatigued—leading to a temporary reduction in milk production—or if there are physical issues such as inverted nipples or asymmetric breast size, these factors can result in inadequate milk supply, thereby causing slow weight gain in premature infants.

2. Improper Feeding

Some premature infants have larger feeding volumes and faster digestion, requiring frequent feedings, while others consume less and digest more slowly, needing less frequent feeding. Underfeeding or overfeeding may lead to hunger or indigestion, which can also result in poor weight gain.

3. Medical Conditions

If a premature infant has medical conditions such as gastrointestinal malformations or congenital heart disease, digestive and absorptive functions may be impaired. Prolonged insufficient energy intake due to these conditions can also lead to slow weight gain.

For premature infants experiencing slow weight gain, timely medical evaluation and active cooperation with healthcare providers for appropriate management are recommended.