Slow weight gain

Re: Slow weight gain

• Burrberrymum member

  March 2014

  Don't worry unless there's no gain at all or unless baby is losing weight. I have a slow gainer here too, she's still rather small but as long as the scale is going up we're content.
  
  Also when her doctor appointments are 2 months apart just to put my mind at ease I go 4 weeks before her appointment to this community place we have called the early years center and it's free to see a nurse to check her weight / height / milestones. This puts my mind at ease between appointments.
  
  
  
  

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• hollydawnburke member

  March 2014

  theresat858 said:

  Lowest weight - 7lb3oz.  Weight at 4mo-10lb 13oz.  115oz to 173 oz. - 58oz gain.
  Let's say 4 mo = 120 days.
  Average weight gain is 0.48 ounces/day.  This is *just* below normal, but not significantly so.  The drop in weight gain in the past 2 months is perhaps a bit more worrisome - in the past 2 months, the gain is only 26 ounces, or 0.43 ounces/day - but it's still not that far below normal.
  
  Instead of supplementing, can you do a series of weighed feedings (ideally, rent a scale and do at least 24 hours worth) to make sure that baby is getting enough milk?  That's where I would suggest starting if you are concerned. 
  Another option would be to just try to add an extra feeding daily.
  

  And actually, her lowest weight (in the hospital) was 6 lb 14 oz... We were there a week, and she plumped back up some before we left.
  
  I just ordered a scale on amazon, so I can monitor her on my own, and added a pumping session, and crossed my fingers!
  
  When we went to the LC she was so distracted while eating that she only weighed an ounce more after nursing, I think doing the weight at home will be more accurate.
  
  I really appreciate the thoughts/encouragement, it has been so stressful.
  

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• Weljadraak member

  March 2014

  I went through this *exact* same thing.  My LO's weight plateaued for a month.  From then, I worked very hard at breastfeeding, i.e. I spent more time at the breast with him, making sure he was getting the hindmilk, I drank lots of water and tried not to become overtired or overworked.  We did weekly weight checks and he *slowly* gained weight.  He is now gaining weight faster than ever.  I think it just fluctuates!  I learned to not worry unless there was something to be worried about like dehydration or FTT.  That was not the case for my LO and it sounds like it is not for yours, based on your pediatrician and LC visits. Definitely keep an eye out for any warning signs.

               
  

      

                               

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• hollydawnburke member

  March 2014

  Weljadraak said:

  I went through this *exact* same thing.  My LO's weight plateaued for a month.  From then, I worked very hard at breastfeeding, i.e. I spent more time at the breast with him, making sure he was getting the hindmilk, I drank lots of water and tried not to become overtired or overworked.  We did weekly weight checks and he *slowly* gained weight.  He is now gaining weight faster than ever.  I think it just fluctuates!  I learned to not worry unless there was something to be worried about like dehydration or FTT.  That was not the case for my LO and it sounds like it is not for yours, based on your pediatrician and LC visits. Definitely keep an eye out for any warning signs.

  Glad to know I am not alone... Especially since "everyone" my husband talks to has huge babies that sleep through the night. He swears I am doing something wrong!
  

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• cinderin member

  March 2014

  My DS was about the same weight at 4 months (though he was 6 lbs 4 oz at birth). He is in the 5th percentile and always has been.
  
  One thing I did to try and get his weight and my supply up was to feed him and then pump for 30 min after each feed. I fed him the pumped milk about three times a day (after I nursed him - usually while I was pumping). I did this for about 3 weeks and it helped us.

  
  

   
  When you've been married this long, you need a ticker to remind you.
  
  Baby Boy M - 08/01/2013 
  
  Expecting Baby Bean February 2017

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• suv75 member

  March 2014

  In same boat. 7 lbs at birth. Lowest weight was 6 lbs 5 oz. At 2 months my LO was 9 lb 9 oz. At 4 months was 11 lbs 7 oz. At 6 months was 12 lbs 9 oz. Going through a viral bug now and at 7 months is 13 lbs 2 oz. Dr was never concerned. He's just a small baby and definitely eats as much as he wants and I have a great supply. He is just a slow gainer.

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• hollydawnburke member

  March 2014

  suv75 said:

  In same boat. 7 lbs at birth. Lowest weight was 6 lbs 5 oz. At 2 months my LO was 9 lb 9 oz. At 4 months was 11 lbs 7 oz. At 6 months was 12 lbs 9 oz. Going through a viral bug now and at 7 months is 13 lbs 2 oz. Dr was never concerned. He's just a small baby and definitely eats as much as he wants and I have a great supply. He is just a slow gainer.

  I'm glad to hear that your doctor was also not too concerned... People keep telling me the doctor should be more concerned, which makes me worry. Someone on my bmb just urged me to go to another doctor because she was worried that my daughter's brain development might be compromised by a lack of nutrition. It got me all freaked out again.

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• suv75 member

  March 2014

  Well someone has to be on the lower percentiles right? When I look at my LO, he is happy, healthy, and active. His weight is zero percentile but you would never know it looking at him. People are surprised when I tell them he is zero percentile. But I also stress about it too! So much so that I do weighed feedings at least 2 or 3 times a day

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