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January 2013 Moms
littlebean4
member
Sad
littlebean4
member
We had our 4 month check up today and my daughter has only gained 1 lb since her 2 month check up. I just don't get it, she looks like a chunker and even my ped was shocked. I had a feeling something was up though bc her eating has changed drastically in the last month. At around 2 months she started going 3 hours between feelings, then around a month ago she dropped to about 2 and a half hours. And within the last 3 week or so she pulls off one breast sometimes after maybe 4 mins and I've squeezed I and there's nothing left. Also when I pump I get barely 12 ounces unless its the first morning feed, then I can get a little more. It's just all so strange bc she sleeps through the night great too. Well they basically informed me that my child is hungry and we need to supplement after every feeding, they seem to think she'll down in. And on top of it, she's refusing the bottle, she used to take it, but she won't lately. I'm just sad that I can't provide for her and she's hungry, I just hope my supply doesn't entirely diminish, I don't think I'm ready for that. And on top of it my usually super supportive husband just doesnt get it and is making me upset with his, she'll be fine, we'll just give her formula comments. Sorry for the rant
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Re: Sad
And the lactation consultant at the office also told me she should be going 3 to 4 hours between feedings. 4 hours for an EBF baby seems like a long time, are any of your babies going that long. I mean I know something is wrong bc she's only gained a lb. in 2 months, I guess I'm just really bummed that I may not be producing enough
DD just started going 4 hours at night but still wants to nurse every 2-3 hours during the day. I'm sorry you are having problems. Maybe start supplementing, pumping more and using lactation cookies to try to up your supply so maybe she won't have to be on formula forever if your goal is to BF longer. You're doing the best you can though and good luck!
If I were you I would get in touch with a good lactaction consultant ASAP. The thing is, from what you've said, you might not actually have problems. I mean, you could, but maybe you don't. It's really hard to say. Additionally, if your LO seems satiated and is STTN and is developmentally on track, their weight gain isn't a good indicator of whether they're getting enough to eat. Babies grow at different rates. If they're concerned it's a good idea to keep an eye on things for sure, but jumping to supplementing might not be the best course of action.
Obviously I'm not a medical professional, but if I were you I would contact a LC, and not the one you talked to at the ped's office who said your LO should be going so far between feedings. Especially if they think she's not gaining enough weight or you may have supply issues. WTF?
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So basically she had a huge growth spurt and then it leveled off, or his scale was wrong the last time, or possibly she was full of poop that day.
Honestly, I wouldn't jump to supplement. It doesn't sound like she's acting hungry, and if she's alert and sleeping well at night, she's probably not hungry. I'd say to check in with an LC and possibly schedule another weight check in a few weeks. My DD was 5lb, 13 oz at birth, then gained 2.5 oz in the first month before my supply regulated, and her weight gain then slowed to about a pound a month. So her percentiles went something like 10%, 25%, 15% and she's fine. And definitely don't try to stretch out feeding! That would be the opposite of helpful.
I went through something very similar lately. My LO was perfectly content, STTN, and looked healthy. However she was not gaining great. She dropped % and was down in the 6%. We spent a week supplementing with freezer milk after her feedings - we blew through so much milk! It proved to us that despite her being content she would eat more if she had access to it,
We did make the choice to supplement and our LO went from the 6% to the 15% in just 2 weeks time. I was really opposed to formula at first. But honestly - I feel that LO needs to eat and needs to be able to have as much food as she needs to grow. I am working hard to get my supply up, but at the end of the day if she needs a little bit of formula - I would rather her brain and body get the nutrients she needs.
What we do is give only breastmilk during the day (I pump 15 oz a day and she has three 5 oz bottle while I'm at work and she never wants more then that and sometimes takes less. At night and on weekends when she is breastfeeding we offer her a 2 oz bottle of formula after she eats and I pump while she has her bottle in hopes to boost my supply. Some days she takes formula after every breastfeed (some days she even takes 3-4 oz of formula after her feeding). But many days she doesn't want any of the formula after she eats. She communicates if she is hungry and needs more food or not. Babies will not overeat, so I just listen to her cues and feed her as much as she will take. We honestly waste a lot of formula, because most days she only takes 1 of the 2 oz. supplements bottles. But I really don't mind wasting so much formula, and I hope that soon she will refuse all the supplement bottles and be back to EBF. I just think that you shouldn't necessarily think of formula as a bad thing - if baby is hungry they will eat it and their body will use the extra calories to grow. If you are making enough then your baby will not need it, but I feel like we would have never known unless we tried.
A content baby who STTN still may be a little hungry. My doctor said that some babies are just content, and they may not always communicate they are hungry. Hope this helps!