LO Not Gaining Weight

Hhaber

After reading the weight gain poll from yesterday, I can't help but be concerned again about my LO's weight gain. She was born at 7 pounds 8 oz and is now only 10 pounds at 12 weeks. Some weeks she will gain 5 ounces in a week and this last check she only gained 1 ounce in 2 weeks. It's so frustrating. I have plenty of milk (an oversupply) and she transfers milk well. The pediatrician has us coming in once a week now for weight checks and we just had an ultrasound of her tummy on Friday and everything looks good.

The pediatrician is concerned and wants us to add rice cereal to a BM bottle, which I won't do because she's so young. Her reflux is getting better so I want to see if that helps before I mess with rice cereal or anything else. I just feel like such a horrible mom that my LO is not gaining weight and we have no answers. If she doesn't start gaining soon they want to do blood tests to check for metabolic disorders. I'm trying to remind myself that all babies are different and mine might just be small, but I am definitely starting to worry. She is hitting all her milestones and developing well, so DH isn't as concerned as me.

Anyone have any experience or advice they can hand down? I am Just getting very discouraged and starting to feel like I am somehow letting my LO down. I know as moms we worry about everything, so maybe I am just being paranoid but it's been hard on me.

Bunnyfer

My LO was also born at 7lb 7oz....she ended up dropping a lot of weight, over a pound, in the few days out of the hospital, and was slow to get back to birth weight. Took her 3w to get back to birth weight. When LO went in back in Oct for her 2m check, she was *almost* 9lb. But she had grown 2 almost 3 inches. My doc is NOT concerned. She is just a small, skinny baby. DH was a small baby too...

I would not worry about it...If she is healthy,hitting milestones, wetting diapers and doing good...enjoy the smaller baby....It has its advantages....My LO is still in 3mo clothes! I am getting my moneys worth on them!

Caz1221

Bunnyfer said:

My LO was also born at 7lb 7oz....she ended up dropping a lot of weight, over a pound, in the few days out of the hospital, and was slow to get back to birth weight. Took her 3w to get back to birth weight. When LO went in back in Oct for her 2m check, she was *almost* 9lb. But she had grown 2 almost 3 inches. My doc is NOT concerned. She is just a small, skinny baby. DH was a small baby too...

I would not worry about it...If she is healthy,hitting milestones, wetting diapers and doing good...enjoy the smaller baby....It has its advantages....My LO is still in 3mo clothes! I am getting my moneys worth on them!

I'm in a similar situation - LO was 7 lb 6 oz at birth, dropped to 6 lb 10 oz when she was around 2 weeks old due to milk transfer issues, and wasn't back up to birth weight until around 3-4 weeks old. She currently weighs about 10 lb 6 oz at 14.5 weeks old and has been around the 5th percentile for weight but the 50th percentile for height. Our pedi has not expressed concern since she is hitting developmental milestones just fine.

cinderin

My DS is also small. 

Born 6 lbs 4 oz, lost 10% (I think he was down to 5 lbs 10 oz) and has been gaining slowly. 

He is pretty much at the 5th percentile. 

He looks good (chubby cheeks, can't see his ribs) he is very active and alert. His pediatrician said he looks good and isn't concerned. 

One thing she mentioned is that how big a baby is at this point has a lot to do with genetics. I was a smaller baby (about 15th percentile) and DH was as well. DH is part Asian and so is DS, which can sometimes mean a smaller baby. 

Kelly Mom has a lot of great info. Here is the page on weight gain:

https://kellymom.com/bf/normal/weight-gain/

alexkylee

We have the same problem. In the last month LO has gained only 5 oz (up to 10 lbs 14 oz). The pediatrician mentioned rice cereal but decided not to and referred us to a gastroenterologist. Every doctor keeps telling me she's a happy baby and meets all of her milestones. That's been reassuring and helps me feel less guilty. DH and I keep saying she looks so cute and dainty and is getting plenty of use out of the 3 month clothes. I know my baby will catch up, but it's hard not knowing if she is getting all the nutrition she needs.

magdalina.h

Oh sweetie, you can't compare!  My daughter was 6 8 at birth and weighs about 10 8 right now. I just make small babies who don't grow quickly. As long as she's on her own curve on the growth chart and hitting her milestones, there shouldn't be a concern.
Has your pedi talked about testing your milk to make sure you have enough calories? Make sure to eat healthy fats, like almonds.

Hhaber

Thank you, ladies. This is all very reassuring. I go through days where I am ok with it and know she's healthy and then days where I worry myself sick. She's very active and alert so I know she's fine. It's just hard because I'm the one feeding her... and I want to know I'm doing all I can for her. DH and I are both thin people so she may just be destined to be small. I hope that's all it is.