How This Mum Reached Her Exclusive Breastfeeding Goal Despite Slow Weight Gain
CLIENT PROFILE
A first-time stay-at-home mum | Baby 8 weeks old | Concerned about slow weight gain and wanting to exclusively breastfeed
SERVICE RENDERED
Postnatal breastfeeding support (This service entailed a home visit for a one-to-one session and ongoing text support — all delivered in Singapore.)
MUM WAS WORRIED ABOUT HER BABY'S WEIGHT GAIN — AND WONDERING IF SHE COULD STILL REACH HER GOAL TO EXCLUSIVELY BREASTFEED.
She reached out when her baby was almost 8 weeks old. That afternoon, he'd been crying hysterically and refusing to latch. They were already worried about his slow weight gain, and now this.
She sent me a voice message. I responded and arranged to visit the next day.
Baby's weight gain had been slower than expected. At 8 weeks, he weighed 3.1 kg — having gained about 250 g from his lowest weight of 2.85 kg at 3 days old. Mum's goal was clear: she wanted to exclusively breastfeed for at least six months and hoped baby could gain between 155 g and 250 g per week. But right now, that wasn't happening.
And she was feeling it — the worry, the questions, the fear that something might be wrong.
WHAT DID OUR WORK LOOK LIKE
During our 90-minute session at her home, we focused on helping baby feed more effectively and supporting mum's milk supply so she could meet her goal:
Introduced Gestalt breastfeeding and side-lying positioning to help baby settle and feed more calmly
Encouraged flexible, frequent offering of the breast so baby had more opportunities to feed well
Worked with mum to protect and increase her milk supply through pumping, giving her a clear plan that fit her day
Coached her on paced bottle feeding to protect the breastfeeding relationship if supplementation became necessary
Explored all her options openly: continuing to breastfeed, donor milk, and formula — while respecting her choice to exclusively breastfeed
We also talked about sensory hunger — the idea that babies don't just cry from physical hunger, but sometimes need comfort, connection, and reassurance through feeding too.
After the session, I sent her a detailed plan of action via email, along with handouts she could refer back to whenever she needed.
We stayed in close contact as she continued to implement what we'd worked on together. I checked in regularly and asked mum for updates from her paediatrician's appointments so I could support her more holistically. Medical scans had come back showing normal function, and while baby's weight was on the lower end, her paediatrician wasn't too worried about it. Having this context — shared directly by mum — helped me stay informed about the full picture of baby's wellbeing and adjust our plan as needed.
THE OUTCOME: BABY DOUBLED HIS BIRTH WEIGHT AND THRIVED ON BREAST MILK ALONE BY 5.5 MONTHS
By 5.5 months, baby reached 6.2 kg and was thriving on exclusive breastfeeding, exactly what mum had hoped for.
He was rolling, pivoting, and army crawling during tummy time. Smiling, babbling, and interacting with everyone around him. All the developmental milestones of a healthy, well-nourished baby.
And mum? She felt so much more confident in her own ability to nourish him.
As she put it:: "I've gained so much confidence in breastfeeding and pumping knowing I have your support. You've been so caring, empathetic and compassionate."
IN HER OWN WORDS:
"Some things I really found helpful from our consults: switch feeding, waking baby up/repositioning with micro movements, advice about pumping + latching.
I also really appreciated how you were very supportive and respectful of my choice to not give our baby any formula. And had I decided otherwise, I know you would've supported me, too."
WHAT STOOD OUT FOR ME:
What I loved most about working with this mum was watching her find her footing — not just in breastfeeding, but in trusting herself.
She came to me worried and lacking confidence. But underneath all that doubt was a mum who knew exactly what she wanted for her baby, guided by her own parenting values.
Even when the numbers weren't where we expected, she stayed deeply tuned in to her baby. She learned to read his cues, to know when to offer more feeds, and to make informed choices about supplementing when needed. That kind of quiet determination — the kind that shows up every single feed, every single day — that's what makes the difference.
I also felt so grateful for how openly she shared updates from her paediatrician's appointments. It gave me the full picture: not just the feeding, but baby's overall health and development. When mum feels like all the pieces are being looked at, she breathes a little easier.
Seeing baby thrive at 5.5 months — rolling, babbling, army crawling all over the place — was everything. That's the win! Not just the weight gain, but the joy she found in feeding him. The confidence she built in her own body. The trust she placed in the process, even when it was hard.
And her encouragement to other mums says it all:
"It's important to know your why. And if you choose to exclusively breastfeed, you can trust that your body WILL produce the milk that your baby needs, because mums are created that way."
That's what I'm here for.
This case study was built on a conversation with this specific client, going through our work together. Anything in quotes is a word-for-word statement said by the client in feedback.
IF WEIGHT GAIN WORRIES ARE KEEPING YOU UP AT NIGHT:
Send me a message on WhatsApp and let's find a time that works for you.
