Still not back to birth weight at 2 weeks...

Bredins wife · December 2010

Piper had her 2 week check up today, and she is still not back to her birth weight. She started at 7lb 11oz, and was 7 lb 3oz when we left the hospital, at her 1 week she was 7lb 4oz. Today she is still only 7lbs 9oz. The doctor says if she is still wearing newborn diapers on Jan 3rd, to bring her in. She eats well, and poos/pees regularly, so I don't know why she isn't gaining weight better. Doc says he expects better progress based on how much she is feeding, but yet he didn't seem too concerned. She literally poops every time she eats, so I'm wondering if she might have an allergy to my milk? Has anyone else dealt with a no-gainer in the weight department? What did you do?

Kellina · December 2010

DS1 was not back to birth weight by 2 weeks and was pretty jaundiced as well. Then from week 2 to 3 he gained an entire POUND! He was 9.11 at birth, 9.1 when we left the hospital, and only 9.6 at 2 weeks.

I don't see how NB diapers have anything to do with it- NB dipes go up to 10 lb!! DS2 here is still in them and he's probably about 9+ lb right now!

I know the hospital told us BF babies poop 4-12 times a day, so I would think that would be ok. How often is she eating?

Carilyn · December 2010

My DS had this problem. My pedi was more concerned than yours seems to be, for some reason. I had to take DS in every few days until he passed his birth weight sufficiently. It turned out I had low supply issues. I took Fenugreek, ate oatmeal, started pumping, etc to increase my supply. I also started supplementing one feed a day with formula. That made all the difference (though I loathed giving him formula and still feel guilty about it...haha!). Once I started the formula (literally got 2-3oz a day) he started gaining like gainbusters. I'm sure part of it was it took the pressure off me as much, which probably affected my supply as well. ALso, it is normal for them to stool every feed in the beginning. If the stool were bloody, that would be more indicative of an allergy. GL!

cari12 · December 2010

DD2 was 7lbs. 15oz. at birth, and 7lbs. even at one week and she was still 7lbs. at 2 weeks. Our pedi wasn't concerned then but had us bring her back at 3 weeks to make sure she was gaining by then and she had put on a whole pound in a week. Babies grow at different rates - both my girls gain/gained weight really slowly while being BF'd but were completely healthy otherwise

I don't get what the NB diapers has to do with it. We JUST moved DD2 to size 1s last week (at 8 weeks) and just under 10lbs.

Smores730 · December 2010

I don't think it's worth your worry with her being shy of the birth weight by a measly 2 ounces. If you're still concerned though, you could always go up to the doctor's office for a weight check in another week instead of waiting 2 with the "is she outgrowing her diaper" theory. (Which by the way sounds ridiculous)

Bredins wife · December 2010

Kellina:
DS1 was not back to birth weight by 2 weeks and was pretty jaundiced as well. Then from week 2 to 3 he gained an entire POUND! He was 9.11 at birth, 9.1 when we left the hospital, and only 9.6 at 2 weeks.
I don't see how NB diapers have anything to do with it- NB dipes go up to 10 lb!! DS2 here is still in them and he's probably about 9+ lb right now!
I know the hospital told us BF babies poop 4-12 times a day, so I would think that would be ok. How often is she eating?

She eats every two hours at night and every three during the day, we are supposed to start waking her up to feed every 2 from now on ( last appoint doc said to let her go until she asked) And yeah, I wasn't sure why the diapers had anything to do with it either, I am going to call next week and get a weight check regardless.

Bredins wife · December 2010

Carilyn:
My DS had this problem. My pedi was more concerned than yours seems to be, for some reason. I had to take DS in every few days until he passed his birth weight sufficiently. It turned out I had low supply issues. I took Fenugreek, ate oatmeal, started pumping, etc to increase my supply. I also started supplementing one feed a day with formula. That made all the difference (though I loathed giving him formula and still feel guilty about it...haha!). Once I started the formula (literally got 2-3oz a day) he started gaining like gainbusters. I'm sure part of it was it took the pressure off me as much, which probably affected my supply as well. ALso, it is normal for them to stool every feed in the beginning. If the stool were bloody, that would be more indicative of an allergy. GL!

This is what I'm worried about, and her pedi mentioned that too. I get a decent amount of milk when I pump, and since we're still using a nipple shield, I can see the milk is still coming after she is done feeding, but who knows. I am going to call the LC tomorrow to get some more info/encouragement. I really don't want to have to supplement.

clayswife · December 2010

It took DD 4 weeks to gain back to birth weight. Try not to stress out. I had to wake her every 3 hours at night and every 2 hours during the day until she reached her birthweight and she's gaining just fine now- we just had a slow start.

5de5 · December 2010

It took my DD 3.5 weeks to get back to birthweight (8lbs 1oz). There was a study that was just published today, Kellymom posted it on her FB page, about how if the mom gets excess fluids during labor/delivery the baby may carry that and the birthweight is skewed. Our pedi thinks that's what happened with DD. I wouldn't be too concerned yet. and now DD is 60%for weight

LaLaaaa · December 2010

Are you BFing? My pedi told me sometimes it takes BF babies 3-4 weeks to get back to their birth weight. She said as long as the dirty diaper count is good and LO is still gaining she wasn't concerned. Maybe your pedi is just being very cautious?

StefB28 · December 2010

Your pedi's judgement of weight based on diaper size is ridiculous. My little guy is long and lean. He was 7lbs 5 oz at birth and was 7lbs even when we left the hospital. At two weeks he was 7lbs 2 oz.

At his two month appointment, he was 9lbs 12oz and 23 1/2 inches long. Tomorrow he will be three months old and we're still in newborn diapers...in fact, I can still overlap the tabs in the front. I wouldn't be surprised if he was in them for another month! (Our doctor isn't concerned about his weight at all, as long as he remains consistent.)

eb1113 · December 2010

We had this problem. DD was 9 lb 14.5 oz a birth and 9 lb 2 oz when we left the hospital. At her 1 week (just a few days after we came home) she was 9 lb 4 oz. At her 2 week she was 9 lb 3.5 oz. I was confused since she was have plenty of wet and poopy diapers. I went to see a lactation consultant and turns out she was getting just enough to hydrate herself but not enough to fill herself up and keep weight on. In addition, she is a super lazy eater and doesn't always do the work to get the milk. I ended up having to supplement 4-6 oz a day. I have been using a SNS (supplemental nursing system) which is a pain in the butt, but it does help her.

At her 1 month, she was 10 lb 5 oz. The doctor was pleased with her weight gain.

The lactation consultant did question the birth weight. She asked DH and I if either of us saw the scale. Unfortunately, neither one of us did. I had a CS and DH was sitting with me when they brought in a scale. The scale was turned away from us, so we couldn't see.

mle929 · December 2010

My DD was 8lbs9oz. at birth and was only 8lbs7oz at 2 weeks. She had plenty of dirty and wet diapers. I made sure she ate every 2-3 hours in the day. At night she would eat every 3-4 hours and I EBF. She was back up to her birth weight in no time. At her 2 month appt. she weighed 10lbs9oz and is in the 50th percentile for height and weight. I would try not to worry too much and go into for a weight check earlier if you're really concerned.

kjuliet91 · December 2010

DD was 1 ounce away from her birthweight at her 2 week checkup. It turns out that she wasn't getting enough to eat. All the lactation consultants and nurses and doctors told me to take her off the breast after 20 mins because she wouldn't be getting any milk after that. Well, not true. She is a VERY slow eater and I would still have milk left. So I was listening to them and that on top of the medicine I was taking for mastitus made my supply tank. I had to start supplementing.

I would just let her eat as long and as much as she wants to. She's still gaining weight and her output is good, so I wouldn't worry if the pedi isn't worried.

MMNelly · December 2010

We had this problem as well.. DS was 8lbs 7oz a birth and 8lbs 1oz a discharge. He was still 8lbs 1oz at 5days and 8lbs 1 1/2oz at 2wks. With only a 1/2 oz gain in 2wks I was very concerned. but pedi was pretty laid back about it. She expressed a little concern, but just advised us to return the following wk.

DS was eating every 3hrs day and night and nursed for about 45-60 min at a time. However, I suspected he was only nursing enough to keep himself happy and not enough to gain, so (per a suggestion in my breastfeeding book) I pumped after every nursing session and offered him the expressed breast milk, which he gulped down immediately (obviously not full). The following weight check was fairly successful, he gained 1/2 oz/day. As we tried new feeding methods, I continued to take him in every week for a check through 6wks - until we saw some consistency and found something that worked for us.

The nurse & pump process was becoming so time consuming, so I have since moved to EP which has been working out great - this is when I stopped taking him in for chks. I am able to track how many oz he consumed daily so I know he is getting enough. Also, DH is able to help/participate in feeding responsibilities (less stressful for me). It especially works for our situation as I am returning to work in 2 wks and will need to feed expressed milk most of the time regardless... Good luck!

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