Weight Gain problems, BFing MoMs please help
MaygenDL0ve
member
So my boys have been strictly boob babies. They weaned for 3 weeks due to a horrible cold, they couldn't breathe thru their noses so they didn't nurse. In those 3 weeks they lost weight. I can't get them to drink ANYYYYYTHING other than water and pumped breast milk, but I've lost supply w/ the decreased nursing.
They were in the 5th percentile most of their 1st year of life, and dropped to the 2nd. I got them to nurse at night this past week and they each gained almost a pound, so I'm convinced we need to continue nursing to help them keep the fat in their systems. Some tests showed in their poop they are not absorbing fat, it's all going thru their system into the poop which explains why they are so THIN. They are both barely 19 lbs, at 13 months old.
ANy advice out there??
Re: Weight Gain problems, BFing MoMs please help
My boys didn't have any weight gain problems so I can't really speak from experience. I kept nursing after a year but by that time they got most of their calories from food and whole milk.
I'm curious did the tests show that they don't absorb certain types of fat or fat in general? Maybe you just need to increase the amount of fat in their solid foods and offer whole milk constantly. You could also try to encourage them to like whole milk by mixing whole milk with pumped milk. (Again, haven't tried it, but could work.)
I'm also all for continuing to breast feed if you can. I would just keep nursing and I'm guessing your supply will increase.
I don't know anything about the lack of fat absorption, but I would definitely be asking my pedi for a specialist rec if you haven't already.
Nursing beyond the first year of life is beneficial for many reasons and obviously you're seeing that it helps your boys, so you're doing a great job! Don't worry about your supply--make sure you're drinking plenty of water and it will rebound as they increase their nursing sessions, just like it would when they were little. When my son was 14 months old, he was really sick with a high fever and suddenly didn't want any solids--he just nursed round the clock. Within a couple of days, my supply came back up to like it was when he was a newborn! It was incredible!
So....not really any advice, I just wanted to encourage you to keep nursing them while you look for more answers about their bodies.
Our crazy, wonderful life
My boys were always I think in the 1th percentile...or something to that effect and I was BF, but they were and continued on their own curves and stayed on them so they weren't concerned.
My boys are about 25 lbs at almost 26 months and they were def. around 19 lbs. or so at your boys age....
My guys weigh the same as yours. I wouldn't worry about their weight so much unless they are losing weight. Mine have always been slow gainers so it could just be that.
You could try high calorie snacks as opposed to high calorie drinks - full-fat yogurts, cheese, etc.
Oh and just keep nursing! You're supply should come back up in a couple days.
Thanks all. The cow's milk is suspect as the culprit for slow weight gain, and abnormal fat globules in stool. The congestion has been a chronic issue since birth, so we've eliminated cow's milk, but have been trying to get them used to goat milk and soy milk. They do eat table foods pretty well... I try as much high fat foods as possible, but it's hard when we're avoiding dairy. Lots of meat and avocado, fish, etc...
It's amazing to think my supply can go back up again, I will keep nursing when possible. Thanks gals.