Please help - 25th percentile?

Dochas

I'm freaking out a little about Daniel's growth. He was born at 8.13 and gained his birthweight back by 1 week. At his 1 mth he was 10lbs and grew half an inch and was in the 50th percentile. Mth 2 he gre another inch but was only 10lbs 6oz and is in the 25th perc. The dr. said he's doing great. But I'm breastfeeding and worry he's not getting enough. When we're out everyone seems to say "he's so tiny" and my dh is afraid he's starving and his growth is being stunted. We don't go back for a checkup until 4mths so I'm afraid in 2 mths we will find out there is a problem. He fusses at night sometimes and now I'm always worried he's still hungry. I BF and we've never supplemented but everyone is telling my dh that their surprised we haven't given him formula, that I deserve a break, he'll sleep longer if he gets a bottle at night etc. I don't know what to think. Is it bad that he's in the lower % and that he dropped from 50?

Mouseygail

ignore the comments from everyone else!!  Jones is a moose and people still say "he's so tiny!".  I think they just mean "babies are so tiny!". 

If you are concerned, call your pedi and see if you can just stop in for a weight check, they should let you do that.  I think it is normal for younger babies to shift around percentiles like that though.  FWIW, I do the same thing you do..when he's fussy at night (and I usually feel like my breasts are less full at night) I worry that he's hungry...in fact, last night DH was trying to put him to bed and he was crying a lot...I had finally just ran downstairs to make him a bottle of formula to supplement and by the time I got back upstairs, he was asleep...and slept all the way through the night.   

Dochas

just adding I leave him on till he pulls himself off. I would try pumping and giving him a little extra by bottle but I just don't pump enough. No time and I don't get too much when I do. I've started eating oatmeal everyday and I guess I would consider fenug. if I have to but I don't even know if I have a problem. Also he is generally a very smiley, happy guy. Would he be like that if I was depriving him?

itsmyangel

The nurse at the hospital told me that if he's able to lay in his crib content then he is fine.  However that said, my ped recommended that i supplement with formula here and there as his height and head circ are in 50th percentile but weight is only in the 20th....and this kid seems hungry ALL the time...unless he's asleep lol.  So sometimes if i have been feeding him hour after hour and he's STILL hungry i'll go ahead and give an ounce or two of formula....but like pp said...check with your doc or lactation consultant at the hospital where you delivered if they offer one?

GypsyEsq

Please check your LO's growth on the WHO growth chart which takes into account the growth rates of breastfed babies versus the CDC chart (used by most Pedis) which only takes into account formula feeding.  Formula fed and BF babies grow at different rates and the differences in growth charts alone could account for the percentile drop.  If it doesn't I still wouldn't worry.  Focus on wet and dirties, nurse as often as he wants, offer if he doesn't initiate and see if that alone bumps his weight up.   Head circ is often out of line with height and weight ranges -- just in reference to the pp -- so your focus should really be on just the appropriate increases from your LO's relative normal.  If that makes sense.  It's so easy to get obsessed with growth charts because they are a metric we can all refer to, but remember that the way your LO is acting in his environment is a better indicator of how well he's thriving.  GL Mama!

GypsyEsq

Dochas:

I'm freaking out a little about Daniel's growth. He was born at 8.13 and gained his birthweight back by 1 week. At his 1 mth he was 10lbs and grew half an inch and was in the 50th percentile. Mth 2 he gre another inch but was only 10lbs 6oz and is in the 25th perc. The dr. said he's doing great. But I'm breastfeeding and worry he's not getting enough. When we're out everyone seems to say "he's so tiny" and my dh is afraid he's starving and his growth is being stunted. We don't go back for a checkup until 4mths so I'm afraid in 2 mths we will find out there is a problem. He fusses at night sometimes and now I'm always worried he's still hungry. I BF and we've never supplemented but everyone is telling my dh that their surprised we haven't given him formula, that I deserve a break, he'll sleep longer if he gets a bottle at night etc. I don't know what to think. Is it bad that he's in the lower % and that he dropped from 50?

Also the bolded part?  BS.  People are surprised because frankly so few women are still exclusively breastfeeding by the point you're at now and the sleep thing is a myth.  If he is satisfied and not hungry he will sleep.  But breastmilk is "perfect" baby food in the sense that it is almost completely and easily metabolized so of course he will wake up sooner and want more as opposed to sleeping through the digestive machinations of digesting formula.  Formula can be great, and may even be indicated in your instance if the pediatrician were concerned, but since he's not these comments are just not helpful and are only planting seeds of doubt.  It sounds like you're doing great.  Honestly. 

 

Here's a great article about why growth charts are alarming for BFing moms.  Hopefully it will allay your concerns.

muppet.fan

Ditto the pp about asking for a weight check -- it's an easy thing that might make you feel more confident in your supply. Also, remember when they're that little, a few ounces is all the difference there sometimes is between percentiles.

Do you have a LC group where you'd have access to a baby scale? Elizabeth has always been small and it was very reassuring in those early weeks to go to weigh her, nurse, and then weigh again to prove to myself that she was in fact getting plenty of milk!

 

Dochas

Once again, you've saved me.  I was mostly worried about the drop from 50th to 25th.  According to the WHO chart, there hasn't even been a drop in percentage between 1 and 2 months.  I guess that's why the dr. wasn't at all concerned and said he's doing great in all categories.  I think breastfeeding is the only variable now and it's the first thing we look at when we decide there is something wrong!  I still have this image of a chunky baby being a healthier one.

I know formula isn't poison or anything but I'm afraid it's a slippery slope.  Once I start with it I'm afraid I'll just throw in the towel.  On the plus side I've really been having my doubts about continuing BFing and this shows me that I really am more committed to it than I realized.  I'm not jumping at the "chance" to give it up so I feel a little better.  I also don't want to just give him more than he needs out of fear.  His dad had a huge weight problem as a child and we DO NOT want that for him.   sigh.  It gets a little easier right?  I think I'm going to look for ways to up my supply anyway just in case.  THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

epphd

Chiming in with another "don't worry."  Sam was in the 40th percentile for weight when born, then started slowing down with weight gain and was in the 25th, now 20th percentile.  On the weight for height charts he was in the 2-3rd percentiles.  He's just slim - he's still in the 20th percentile but doing awesome. Not all babies need or should have the Michelin rolls - they're just built differently!

As for BFing, don't take BFing or feeding advice from someone who has never BF   You, and your LO are doing great!