Babies with congestive heart failure may grow in height but gain weight slowly. A baby's growth also may be influenced by hereditary or genetic conditions. The most common reason for poor growth is that the baby isn't taking in enough calories or nutrients. But even if your baby seems to drink enough formula or breast milk, he or she may still gain weight very slowly. You don't need to try to weigh your baby often at home.
Babies gain or lose weight from day to day since their appetites vary.
Your baby's pediatrician or cardiologist will weigh your baby with each office visit on the same scale, usually once a month. These weight measurements will show how well your baby is growing. Both these methods work well for babies with heart problems, but it's important to be flexible about your feeding method. Some breast-fed babies may require nutritional supplements. Some babies with heart disease may also require feeding supplements of formula or breast milk through a feeding tube.