Any Suggestions for LO Not Gaining Weight?

alliapistor

My LO has been slow to gain weight from the start.  We'll have a growth spurt every now and then where he makes progress, but none of the slow constant gain.

He was 8 lbs. at birth.  Dropped to 7 lbs. 5 oz. immediately and didn't get back to his 8 lb. birth weight until 5 weeks. 

2 month appointment on 11/8 - 9 lbs. 10 oz.
11/22 - 10 lbs. 10 oz.  (woohoo!)
11/27 - 10 lbs. 14 oz
Started daycare on 11/28
12/2 - 10 lbs. 11 oz.
12/13 - 10 lbs. 13 oz.

So only 3 ounces in the last 3 weeks.

Daycare is aware that he needs to gain more weight and they have been trying to feed him every 1.5 to 2 hours if he is awake, but most feedings he only takes 1 to 2 oz.  In total, he is averaging about 9 to 11 oz. during daycare (8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) and nursing 4 times a day outside of daycare.  He's sleepy when he gets home from daycare and I have to wake him up to feed him.

Early on, I met with a lactation consultant.  His latch is fine.  He's just lazy/sleepy and I have to keep stimulating him when I nurse to keep him awake and interested.

As best I can tell, my supply is fine.  I had oversupply at first, but now it seems to have levelled off.  My milk still looks thin and watery though.

Any suggestions for fattening him up? 

I'm considering trying one or two bottles of half breastmilk/half formula a day to see if that will give him more calories in case the problem is with my milk.

pepomntpat

How often do you switch sides? How long do you pump and how much are you getting? Are you emptying the breast each time your nurse/pump before switching sides? https://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/growth/weight-gain_increase.html There is some really good information on kellymom about this issue. Hold off on the supplementing!

alliapistor

I've looked at the kellymom site.

When nursing, I switch sides when I can't get LO to take that breast anymore. 

When pumping, I usually pump for about 10 to 15 minutes and get 2 to 3 oz per side.  Right now, I'm pumping 3 times a day at work and usually have 12 to 15 oz by the end of the day.  I generally send 2-4 oz bottles and 3-2 oz bottles to daycare everyday, but he never drinks it all.

I don't know that my breasts ever completely empty.  I can always get another drop out if I squeeze.

 

kas80

I think your LO is probably getting too much of the foremilk and not enough fatty hindmilk.  When you pump have you tried doing compressions to get more milk out?  Ideally you want to pump until the milk stops coming out but I know it's not always possible to pump for longer than 10 to 15 minutes, so the compressions may help to speed that up.  When your bottles are chilled is there a thick layer of fat on the top or is it watery and more blue tinged?

Excited Mrs P

What you described was pretty much my DD. Born at 8lbs even. Went home at 7lbs 5oz (day 3 was 7lbs 3 oz). Didn't get to her birth weight until 5 weeks, etc. Once we started gaining weight, the same thing happened and she went down a few ounces. Honestly, your LO is probably growing in length and thats why not gaining as fast. But just keep it up.. I never supplemented and by 4 months my LO is no longer a tiny little girl. She was 15lbs by her 4 month appt and 26 inches long!

We went from 11.5lbs at 2.5 months to 15lbs in a month and a half. Just keep with it, and I'm sure your LO will catch up in weight! 

alliapistor

kas80:

I think your LO is probably getting too much of the foremilk and not enough fatty hindmilk.  When you pump have you tried doing compressions to get more milk out?  Ideally you want to pump until the milk stops coming out but I know it's not always possible to pump for longer than 10 to 15 minutes, so the compressions may help to speed that up.  When your bottles are chilled is there a thick layer of fat on the top or is it watery and more blue tinged?

There is a thin layer of fat on top and along the sides.  Definitely blue tinged.  How do I do breast compressions without popping off the flange (or whatever that thing is called)?