Weight gain

Lhand11 · November 2013

This is my second time breastfeeding. I breastfed DS until he was 14 months and never had a problem with weight gain. DD is one ounce away from her birth weight and she is 2 weeks, 1 day old. My ped is concerned. This is a different ped than DS had.

How long did your ped give your lo to get back to birth weight before it became an issue?

drcolleen · November 2013

Once baby starts gaining you expect 30g/day which decreases to 20g/day at 3mo and 10g/day at 6mo. I would request a weight check to see how much baby is gaining, that's what I have my patients do and while they are there I will do a pre and post breastfeed weight if I can. If baby looses more than the 7-10% it can take a bit longer to regain BW, but the average does regain around 10 days so it's good to make sure LO is growing well.

Lhand11 · November 2013

We've been doing weight checks at the ped's every couple of days since birth. She was 9,2 at birth (Nov 7); 8,8 at her first appointment (Nov 11); 8,15 yesterday; and 9,1 today. Ped sent me home with a can of formula to supplement. I'm pretty upset about it. I may request a weighted feed at our next appointment on Monday. It seems to be a gain of about an ounce a day.

kjsmith9 · November 2013

It doesn't sound like you need to supplement! If the formula makes you upset, put it away and keep nursing your baby. No one says you HAVE to do what that one pedi says. Get a second opinion if concern continues, but it honestly looks like weight gain is where it should be since Nov 11.

Lhand11 · November 2013

She was almost 2 week overdue so I was induced and pumped with fluids.

ETA: I don't remember what her weight was when we left the hospital, but they said it was within the 10%

jegoffin · November 2013

Be careful with the supplementing. It looks like lo's gain is within normal. My situation has been much different than normal. It took my lo 6 weeks to regain birth weight and is still small. After multiple dr and specialist appts we determined that my supply is fine and she is eating well but has a few medical issues causing her to burn through calories faster than normal. If baby is gaining well and having enough diapers I'd wait on the formula.

cinderin · November 2013

I have had problems with ds's weight gain and both times have supplemented with my own pumped milk. Would this work for you?

sschwege · November 2013

I remember with DD she was 1 oz shy at her 2 week appointment, pedi shrugged her shoulders said, "Close enough" and that was the end of it. It sounds like you are doing just fine!

ncbelle · November 2013

My oldest was back to birth weight within 3 days. My 2nd took over two weeks. I wouldn't sweat it - she's so close! And if she's having good output, that's what counts. 2 weeks is still within normal range. Not all pedis are truly knowledgeable about and supportive of breastfeeding.

shara3333 · November 2013

We didn't have a 2 week appt, just a 1 week appt. DS was born 9.15. The lowest we saw was 9.2. Then at 1 week he was up to 9.10. My pedi said things were going fine, he was gaining well and I could even let him sleep at night if I wanted. I think your LO is gaining well also. Just bc a baby was born big doesn't mean it's going to keep gaining and stay on that curve. My LO now is in the 50th percentile.

rh10264706 · November 2013

I wouldn't supplement. My lo was 10 lbs 3 oz At birth and if took me 2.5 weeks to get him back to his birth weight. My pedi said that was fine because its not as big of a concern with a larger baby. If he had been 5 lbs it would've been a different story.