Failure to thrive

BrittanyCupcakes · March 2014

DD was diagnosed failure to thrive at her 4 month appointment. She's only gained 7 ounces since her 2 month visit. She's in the bottom 1% for weight.

I've been struggling with my supply and pumping. I really thought my problem was just with pumping, and I was keeping up with her until this week when we started supplementing with formula while I'm at work. Looks like there's going to be a lot more supplementing going on. Pediatrician wants her on the 24 calorie formula.

He's ordered labwork and an upper GI x-ray. She throws up when she gets more than about 4 ounces in a feeding, so we figured that was all she needed, but he's worried about that. We're getting the labwork done on Tuesday and we have to wait for insurance authorization for the x-ray. He wants to see us weekly for awhile.

I feel like the worst mom ever. I've been concerned about her weight but didn't think it was this bad. Everyone kept telling me I was worrying too much, that it was just my anxiety, that she was fine, just a smaller baby. But every time we'd take her out and someone would comment about how tiny she was, it stung. DH still keeps trying to tell me that she's just a skinny baby, I think he's trying to keep me calm, but it's annoying.

I'm not ready to give up on nursing completely, but I know it's coming to an end. I'm going to stop pumping and she'll get formula only while I'm at work (I'm barely getting anything anyways). I'll nurse her when I'm home with her, and then follow up with a bottle of formula to make sure she's getting enough.

Here's to hoping that the labwork comes back normal and that the only problem is that my boobs just suck.

BlessUrHeart29 · March 2014

Hugs to you! This sounds very stressful! I wish I had any advice to offer... You're a great mom and you'll get this figured out!

beckybeth123 · March 2014

So sorry mama! You are not a terrible mom. A terrible mom wouldn't care about this stuff. You are doing a great job. Hugs

jennlin · March 2014

Hang in there! You're doing the best you can, not a bad mom!

CateOfChicago · March 2014

So sorry to hear that. As a mom of a former tiny one, I got a little teary reading this. She's now thriving by supplementing. Your a great mom for listening to the docs and doing what's best for your little one.

deedee1017 · March 2014

I'm sorry you've been struggling with all this. I hope all tests come back okay. Please don't blame yourself. Babies aren't shy. If your baby was still hungry she'd be screaming. You didn't so anything wrong. You're a great mama for still sticking with bf even with all your struggles. Hugs. I hope you get some answers soon.

CatieG · March 2014

I'm so sorry! How stressful. DS hadn't gained even an ounce from 2-3 months so I started him on formula. He then gained about a pound by his four month well baby but still went from 58th %-tile to 3rd %-tile. Hearing that absolutely broke my heart. Ped had us come in a week later and he's climbing on the curve again. I more or less have now completely switched to formula. DS nurses only twice a day

My question for you, is your DD alert and happy? Meeting milestones? You didn't mention any of that in your post so I assume she is all three. True FTT would mean she was lacking in all of the above, too. Personally, I think your Ped jumped the gun and slapped a label on her. I hope her not gaining well is "just" crappy boobs (join the club!) and not something more serious.

>:D<

Babyherzog123 · March 2014

Lots of hugs to you mama. Remember, you are a great mother!

Mmhodges07 · March 2014

Hugs!!! You're a wonderful mommy. Try not to think any differently!!!

DisneyMamaToBeTTC · March 2014

I hope all the tests come back clear. We've had supply issues since birth and weight is such a stressful issue. Thinking of you.

klewis888 · March 2014

You're not a bad mom. You are taking action and listening to the doc, so you are doing everything you can for your LO. Hope they figure out the issue soon. Stay strong mama.

Painterlady · March 2014

Hang in there...you're doing a great job! Big hugs!

nbcarlson · March 2014

(((Hugs))) you are in no way a bad mom. You are doing everything great. I hope everything comes back okay!

MittenJennie · March 2014

Hugs. Hang in there.

finnybooboo · March 2014

You're doing great! Hang in there momma!

hartsl01 · March 2014

You are not a bad mom! It's obvious you care about your lo by taking action. Hugs! Hang in there mama!

calibr8te · March 2014

You are doing a fantastic job and try not to worry too much. As pp mentioned if she is meeting milestones then doc could just be getting ahead of himself.

germanpickle · March 2014

Another voice asking about the label vs. her behavior...how is your baby?

germanpickle · March 2014

I'm also in a Facebook group called "thrive baby thrive" if you like to join us. My first would have been "ftt" in the USA, here in germany he was just weighed more often and everything was absolutely okay.

Chrisanna0508 · March 2014

Aw...keep up the good work. Keep focusing on the milestones she is meeting and she will get there. One of my friends has a daughter who was labeled as failure to thrive for a long time and they never really knew what was wrong, but now she is a totally fine 4 year old.

chelseyestelle · March 2014

It's obvious that you care and you're a great mom! You've got this. Hugs.

sleepy33 · March 2014

Hang in there! I am sorry you have to wait for stupid insurance to sign off on the x-ray. FX that everything is ok with her!

norbert5 · March 2014

Definitely do a weighed feeding. This can shed light on how much she is or isn't getting. It gave me some piece of mind when LO didn't gain weight for a month.

Fingers crossed the labs come back normal.

meghan7319 · March 2014

You are a great momma!!! Hang in there and remember that any amount of breast milk is great!!!

juliemay623 · March 2014

Hang in there momma! You're doing what's best for baby and that's all that matters.

edaire · March 2014

I often worry about this with my tiny LO. He also has the metabolism of a humming bird, and not very interested in food, so I'm sure we will struggle for every pound with him. Hugs to you, and way to be pro active for your LO.

BrittanyCupcakes · March 2014

Thanks for all of the support! Sorry, I didn't mean to bail last night, but my internet connection was being wonky and for some reason, my phone won't let me log in anymore.

She seems to be okay on milestones. She's active and alert, happy, and doesn't act like she's starving. She doesn't STTN, but often during the day she'll sleep longer and skip a feeding unless DH wakes her up for it. I think she's just reverse-cycled a bit.

Maybe the pediatrician did jump the gun with the FTT label, but she went from the 35th percentile at 2 months to 1st percentile, and there does seem to be a problem with her weight gain.

As far as meeting with an IBCLC goes... I have no idea how to get my insurance to cover that. This isn't a very BF-friendly area, especially with the lower income crowd, and the doctors that accept our insurance don't seem to be very supportive. I know I'd need a referral. I'll ask at her next appointment, but I don't have high hopes. At this point, my supply is tanking so much, that I think it's a lost cause. If I could quit work and stay home with LO, I think I'd notice a big difference, but even with taking fenugreek, drinking mother's milk tea, eating oatmeal daily, adding a power pumping session every night with a hospital grade pump, it's just not working.

apritchett50 · March 2014

Hugs to you!! I can't even imagine how stressed you are! T&P's you get good test results and things get better!

blathnat · March 2014

You are a good mama! It's obvious you care and want to do what is best for her. DS had weight gain issues, so I know how upsetting and stressful it is. You and your LO are in my thoughts.

AggieAsh23 · March 2014

Check with your hospital. It may be covered already or free. The hospital I delivered at includes two completely free consultations any time after delivery. After that they charge insurance, but we've never paid out of pocket and I've been probably 6 times now. Also look for a Le Leche League meeting in your area if you can't get a consultation.

At the end of the day, breastfed or formula fed, you are a great mom and are doing what it takes to keep your baby happy and healthy. We have a slow gaining tiny girl too. I know how those comments hurt even though they aren't meant that way. But you are taking action and on top of the situation... It will all work out!

BlessUrHeart29 · March 2014

Is there a WIC Office? There might be an LC there that would be low cost? When I was asking about LC's many people suggested that.

amber0529 · March 2014

JarynA said:
Is there a WIC Office? There might be an LC there that would be low cost? When I was asking about LC's many people suggested that.

This was going to be my suggestion. I don't think they would charge you anything. They're very pro breastfeeding.

vargasgurl · March 2014

Hugs! I know how stressed you must feel! I am sure your doing a great job , don't be so hard on yourself.

germanpickle · March 2014

Any chance you have a LLL in the area? I had telephone consultations and they were wonderful! and free.

taylormarie923 · March 2014

I'm so sorry. I hope that she does well and starts packing on the weight with the formula supplementation. Sit back and enjoy a glass of wine, you deserve it!

Mama2be12345 · March 2014

Hugs, so sorry you are going through this! You are a great mom and LO will be gaining weight in no time!

Inn2 · March 2014

You are a great mom. All the advice and hugs given here, I say ditto to. Hang in there and I am sure it will all fall into place. Try hard not to beat yourself up with the supplementing, look how hard you have tried and how far you made it.

wildbutterfli2001 · March 2014

You sound like a wonderful mommy with a not so wonderful situation. She loves you no matter how much BM you produce!! Sometimes our bodies can be our worst enemy

*edited because I can't spell

ajjf1026 · March 2014

So sorry! She will bounce back & continue to be happy & healthy. You're not a horrible mom at all, dont think that. Good luck with the labs & specialist. ((HUGS))

Skyjewell23 · March 2014

Your doing amazing. Don't be so hard on yourself. Hang in there momma

kablooie123 · March 2014

I'm sorry! For what it's worth, I know how it feels. My first was diagnosed with FTT and I still remember how I felt like the worst mom ever. The doctor (who had pretty much NO bedside manner) then proceeded to drill me about how often he eats and when and if I'm paying attention to his hunger cues, etc etc. Basically, I felt like she was insinuating that I wasn't feeding my child.

To sum things up, the labs results for us all turned out negative. We did end up switching to a higher-calorie formula which did help him catch back up. When he started eating solids, we opted for a lot of higher calorie/higher fat foods as well. Those things worked - he caught back up and is doing great now.

Hang in there... things will turn around.

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