Weight gain issues with my 7 week old...tips?

Blessed&Stressed

Hello, my newborn girl, baby Harper, cannot seem to be gaining weight. How can I make her gain weight. I hear a lot of tips and most about adding rice cereal to a bottle. I was told she was too young for that, so...how else can I make her gain? She has colic and we had to switch formulas and I have been trying really hard to make sure she eats and feels better but she is just getting used to the new formula, it's only been a week maybe. The doctor wants her to come in to be weighed and she has to weigh 1 lb. more. Help!!!

laurenhankey

Definitely don't put rice cereal into her bottle!  It is usually for babies w/ severe acid reflux to help them keep their food down.  Other than that it's empty calories with little nutrition so I definitely wouldn't recommend it.  How much are you feeding her?  Does it seems like she's satisfied after a feeding?  The only thing I can recommend is try putting a 1/2 oz extra into her bottle and see if she'll eat that.  Babies are all different and gain at their own pace.  My LO lost 13oz in the hospital and we had a terrible time trying to get her to gain weight but she eventually did and is in the 54% for her weight.  Good luck!

mben1119

Definitely don't do cereal. It is empty calories. Just keep pushing bottles frequently.

DavidStamps

Agree with above...

Try to increase her feedings during the day. She if she will take an extra bottle or ounce once or twice during the daytime....hope that helps. 

sadsadie

How often are you feeding? Can you try to do more frequent feedings (like 2 or 2.5 hours from the start of one to the start of the next?) Also, try to give as much as she will take (if she normally takes 2 ounces, maybe try giving her 2.5 for example).

I'm with PP, don't do rice cereal. It's completely useless and should only be given on the advice of a pediatrician. 

Blessed&Stressed

It's always different. I am very consistent with routine and what I know soothes her but literally...she can take a whole 4 oz. and burp twice get swaddled, paci, then fall asleep. Other times she starts kicking and grunting and works up to a full scream, NO MATTER WHAT! I give warm baths and we do "tummy time" all recommended by the pediatrician but she seems to just have extremely bad gas and discomfort. My other LO fed easier, more, as well as slept longer. This is new to me in many ways. I have the patience and will to keep repeating everything until she finally seems relieved but I hate hearing her and watching real tears knowing she is in pain. She will take maybe 3 swallows of the bottle then scream and turn her head and refuse to eat....(which I was told was a sign she would need to burp possibly)but then I try to burp her and it helps minimal. I am finding that if I feed her immediately without moving or talking and just hold her in almost dark with white noise is her best feeding times. Thanks for the tips!!!