Baby still not gaining

kmr8904 · April 2012

Lordy, lordy! Miss Reece was born 2 weeks ago and a whopping 8 lbs 8 oz.

Wt check at 1 week: 7 lb 7 oz.

2 week appt: 7 lbs 9 oz

Pedi said she should be gaining around an ounce a day. Oops!

She's eating great. Every 3 or so hours. At night, she eats around 10, and sleeps until between 3-4 am. That is her longest stretch without eating.

They're talking about maybe supplementing her with formula starting next week if there is no gain at her weight check. While I'm not totally aganist it, I'm not totally for it either. I have a boatload of milk pumped and frankly at $20+ a can for fomula I'd rather just use my pumped milk.

Of course, I'm going to do what is best for her, I'm willing to try anything.

Anyone told they should supplement and didn't and had success?

SteelCity44 · April 2012

If baby isn't gaining, I wouldn't let her go more than 3 hours, 4 max without eating. While the nighttime break is nice, her job is to eat and gain weight. Good luck.

ADub09 · April 2012

We had this same problem and we had to go on a feeding plan. DS had to be woken up to eat every 3 hours and we had to breast feed, feed with formula and feed a bottle of pumped ~ each feeding took over 1.5 hours it made for some long days and nights but was worth it he was back up to his birth weight at 12 days after birth. and he had lost 13% of his birth weight. I was also put onto a prescription to help my milk come in. Don't be discouraged you need to do what is best for your baby to gain weight!!

sometimesalwayschaotic · April 2012

I would start feeding every 2 hours during the day and only let baby have one 4 hour stretch (max) and night. All of the other feedings should be 2 hours apart at night. This will help give you a better supply and get the baby back up to weight. If you need to supplement, you can use pumped milk to supplement. I would really push the feedings because supplementing will not help your supply in the long run. Your body makes what the baby needs and if your body isn't told that the baby needs more, it won't make more to feed the baby so you'll always have supply issues. I hope you have good numbers at the next appointment!! I know how nerve wrecking it can be since DD1 was always a slow gainer.

irish625 · April 2012

My DD was having the same problem, but it was because my supply was low. I agree with PP to feed her more frequently and watch for her hunger signs. I was feeding DD every 2 hours, even at night for a little while. I would supplement with the BM since you have a lot of that before going to formula.

dubs3 · April 2012

My baby lost about 9% by the time we left the hospital, mostly bc it took a bit longer for my milk to come in due to my c-section- but we began supplementing formula at every feeding (only about 10-20 ml), then every other feeding, now at night we give her about 30 ml of formula, as my milk has fully come in now, but she's still a few ounces away from her birth weight (she's 2 weeks old today...I agree with all the other posts- no longer than 2 hours between feedings, and one 4 hr stretch a day, max.

For me, it was a little bit difficult emotionally to giver her formula- i felt like my body wasn't giving her what she needed- but as she fed more, my milk came in more, and now things are going great! Also- it helped that I feed her at any sign of hunger- and some days that means me feeding her every hour, with only a few breaks- but it gets better and is worth it!

vtwd40 · April 2012

I agree with everyone else. My LO took a bit to start regaining weight too. Until she got back up, I woke her every 2 hours during the day to eat and every 3-4 at night. If it starts to kills your poor nips, give her some pumped milk, you can keep track of what she actually eats then. Hopefuuly the weight will pack on quickly.

pensparade · April 2012

I am in the same exact position as you and I am getting real emotional about it. I successfully ebf DD for 10.5 months so I can't understand why DS isn't gaining weight. I know I'm functioning correctly and he eats every 3 hours (or less). So frustrating and we keep having weight checks. He was 6-8 at birth, 6 when we left the hospital, 5-12 at 4 days old and then 5-14 a week later. He gets checked again tomorrow and if he hasn't gained more I don't know what they will say. I can't believe I might need to give formula. It doesn't even make sense to me bc I am functioning here! I can't believe that he is barely 2 weeks old and I even have to consider formula. And yes, the cost sucks.

HeatherAA10 · April 2012

LO is 6 days old and has lost over a pound. our ped has a lactation specialist who
1) taught me how to latch him better and how to tell if he's swallowing well
2) is having me feed every 2hours
3)having me pump because if I get enough he can eat extra breast milk and if I don't get enough even the pumping will help increase my low milk supply
4) supplement with 1oz of formula if I can't supplement with pumped milk

Honestly, I am a bit disappointed in my body for not producing enough milk yet, but thinking about it, I am happy we have a plan set and I know that LO will be getting what he needs. Plus, DH was more than excited that he just got to feed the baby...I think he was getting boob envy!

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