Not gaining weight, Momma is freaking out...
srbmvp
member
I'm sorry this is going to be long.... my twins are EBF and I've weighed them once a week every week since birth to keep track and make sure they are growing okay.
Both boys have reflux, so we have had them on Zantac since 4 months and just last week upped their dosage a little. We also started them on 1TBSP of rice cereal (mixed with BM) once a day, to see if that would help with the reflux... This was all under pedi instruction. I'm pumping after they go to bed to make sure my supply isn't affected by the early start of solids....
Ben has stopped gaining weight. In the past two weeks, he has only gained 1.5 ounces total! Alex is slowing down significantly too.... gained 5 ounces last week, 3 ounces this week. They both did have really bad diarrhea yesterday and weren't feeling good. I don't know if that's part of the problem or not.
I know they are taking in milk well. After weighing Ben this morning we did a quick weighed feeding, and he easily took in 2.5 to 3 ounces. That's exactly what I would expect, considering they still eat every 2.5 to 3 hours during the day, and once or twice or more at night (the reflux makes them want to nurse more at night). When I pump before going to bed, I get 5 ounces in about 5 minutes, so I really don't think it's a supply issue.
What on earth could be going on? I'm so worried, about Ben especially.... I just bit DH's head off I'm stressing over this so badly. And of course I can't call the DR till tomorrow.
Part of me wants to quit the Zantac and quit the rice cereal and go back to square one.... but if we do that will we have babies screaming in pain all night long again? I can't do that to them...
Any advice at all? Thanks a million!!!!
Re: Not gaining weight, Momma is freaking out...
First, try not to stress, and more importantly, try not to compare your boys to each other. Between 5-6 months, as babies get more active, it's *normal* for their weight gain to slow down considerably. Is the twin who isn't gaining as well sitting up, crawling, rolling over, etc? What about the other twin? If he's still taking in 2-3oz in a weighted feed, then he's getting plenty, so the weight gain slow-down is related to something other than your supply --- most likely the increase in caloric burn that happens around this age.
FWIW, DS gained less than 2 pounds between his 4 month & 6 month well visits - a total of about 25oz, so on average about 3oz/week during that time. I don't think you have anything to worry about.
First- breathe, mama. Relax! You are doing amazing.
Second- how is Ben acting? His usual self? Enough wet diapers? Nursing enough?
What is your rationale for quitting the Zantac and rice cereal? (not snark, actual question). I would hardly consider 1 tbsp a day of cereal "starting solids" so I really wouldn't worry about that affecting supply or his milk intake.
Have they gotten more active recently? Rolling, crawling, etc? My LO slows his weight gain drastically when he hits more active milestones. That could account for the recent slow down, as could his just not feeling well (you mentioned diarrhea yesterday).
I would call the doc in the morning to see if s/he wants to see LO and rule out any possibly issues, but between now and then I would just relax with your babies, nurse often, and get them back to feeling better.
Seriously, I'm in awe of EBF twins and a 2 year old. You rock!
I know I try really hard not to compare them, but it's hard in this respect b/c they have always tracked so close in weight, within a half pound of each other...
They have both been working on learning how to sit up, so maybe it is the calorie burning.... I'll just keep an eye on it, thanks!
Thank you!!!!