Baby weight gain

annie0714 · April 2014

So, I am a super nervous FTM. I have been paranoid about LO eating enough since he was born. So much so that I bought a baby scale. This is despite him having excellent weight gain. He went from the 20%ile at his 4 day check up to 59%ile for weight at his two month visit two weeks ago. Since that visit though, he has only gained 4 oz. I've seen that weight gain is supposed to be 5-8 oz/week, I think.

This also has coincided with me returning to work. I'm having trouble telling if he is acting any different because our routine is so different now. He has been pretty fussy in the evenings, but he tends to be fussier at that time anyway. We now spend most nights nursing continuously from when I get home until bedtime. He wasn't big on cluster feeding before. I think he's getting an appropriate amount during the day. He's takes 3, 4oz bottles (we only did one bottle a day before I went Back to work). My supply also seems fine, I'm pumping 4-6 oz, 3x a day.

The other new thing is that he had been sleeping longer at night. My first week back, he would do a 6-7 hour stretch and then I would also wake him 2-3 hours later to nurse before I left for work. This week, he has skipped the MOTN feed a couple times and gone 8-10 hrs, waking up with my alarm in the morning.

Am I being dumb for worrying about this weight gain now? Would you try to change something now or wait and see what happens over the next week? Is this something I should talk to the Pedi about or just keep watching for now? I think it could be possible he is just settling out, I suppose, since he put on so fast before

Sorry this is so rambly. Thanks if you've made it this far through and thanks for any advice!

JackieP1023 · April 2014

I'm interested in seeing responses here. I'm having a similar issue- LO has gotten into sleeping 12 hours or so, only waking when we go in and wake her. LO went from 53% at 11 days pp to 25% in weight between then and 2 months. Pedi didn't seem too worried at the time , as long as she is wetting/pooping enough. She is EBF, eats 5-6 times per day, totalling around 25oz per day. (Judging by how much she takes in a bottle).

inluv4life2 · April 2014

I see an LC weekly at my lac group and she always says babies should get 2.5 to 3 times their weight in oz per day. For example- my LO weighs 11.12 so I round to nearest pound and multiply by 2.5 and then by 3 to get range.

12x2.5 = 30 & 12x3 = 36

My LO needs between 30-36 oz per day to gain weight. He recently slowed his gain so I am in the process of doing a 24 hour period of before and after weights to see exactly what he is getting. If he isn't getting at least 30 oz then I will give a bottle of expressed. milk to get him there.

Sorry to ramble, my point is that if
You are really worried you could do a day of measured feeds to see what he's getting. Maybe the adjustment has him eating too little? Even if that's the case it will straighten out in a few days.

ziggy903 · April 2014

A baby scale is nice in theory, but... Babies grow in spurts. They don't grow in a linear fashion to make a beautiful graph. It's very possible that baby is getting ready for a spurt, which could be why he's cluster feeding too. Cluster feeds tell your body to make more milk.
I recommend putting the scale away, and letting baby do his thing.

keags5496 · April 2014

I think you're fine. Like @ziggy903‌ said, babies grow in spurts not nice and steady. Also, as long as baby is growing on his growth curve I don't worry. It seems like your LO has surpassed that by getting from the 20th to the 50th.

Prime example, DS1 was about 5th percentile for weight at birth and still is. He's just a tiny guy. He never gained that 5-8.oz a week and he was happy and healthy.

I'd follow baby's cues. He'll eat when he's hungry. Enjoy your sleep

annie0714 · April 2014

Thanks everyone. I know I'm a huge worrier over dumb things these days. I'm sure if someone else posted this, I would have easily been able to see this is nbd. Thanks for the reassurance

JackieP1023 · April 2014

@TyrannosaurusLex‌ yes, we asked the pedi at her 2month checkup, and she didn't seem concerned. She basically said not many other parents would appreciate hearing that! I think if she drops much lower (percentile) wise, we'll have to start waking her up, or supplement with formula. Or search for another possible issue.

versed · April 2014

inluv4life2 said:

I see an LC weekly at my lac group and she always says babies should get 2.5 to 3 times their weight in oz per day. For example- my LO weighs 11.12 so I round to nearest pound and multiply by 2.5 and then by 3 to get range. 12x2.5 = 30 & 12x3 = 36 My LO needs between 30-36 oz per day to gain weight. He recently slowed his gain so I am in the process of doing a 24 hour period of before and after weights to see exactly what he is getting. If he isn't getting at least 30 oz then I will give a bottle of expressed. milk to get him there. Sorry to ramble, my point is that if You are really worried you could do a day of measured feeds to see what he's getting. Maybe the adjustment has him eating too little? Even if that's the case it will straighten out in a few days.

I'm not so sure this is accurate. BM changes as LO gets older so quality adjusts so quantity doesn't have to. I've seen a few LCs and read lots on Kellymom, and they seem to say the same. I know my DS1 drank only 3oz bottles every 3 hrs when he was in day care.

Ibliss · April 2014

We have struggled with LO gaining weight from birth. It took her almost 5 weeks to get back to birth weight (gain 9 ounces). I was going to a LC 3x a week to weigh her. We tried everything. I made enough milk so I pumped and tried to give her a bottle after every feeding at the breast. She still never gain the recommended amount per week. Usually she gained about 2 ounces. Then we did a week of bottle feeding expressed milk with the same results. Finally, I gave up and now I only nurse her (no bottle). I figured she will gain what she is going to and as long as there are enough poopy/wet diapers then I wouldn't worry.

So my advice is do what you have to to feel comfortable. I had to try everything before I could relax, even though some people told me to not worry. I had to exhaust every possibility before I could accept that she was just a slow gainer. *hugs* I know it is hard but know you are doing everything possible for LO.

JackieP1023 · April 2014

@TyrannosaurusLex‌ Yes, it has. I always check on her when I go to bed, whenever I get up in the middle of the night for bathroom breaks, when I get up in the morning. Luckily, I haven't woken her up yet, just checking on her. Once, her breathing was kind of weird, and I about had a meltdown.

MamaHollywood27 · April 2014

I try not to let "numbers"
Bother me but look at the baby, is he/she hitting milestones? Seems happy? I noticed my LO had seemed to out grow his 3 month cloths over night. He will be 4 months next week but was also 5 weeks early. So I think this last "growth spurt" his body focused on getting taller! I know it's hard not to worry, especially in a world obsessed w #s. but if your pedi seems ok with things I would "try" and relax of not get a 2nd opinion.

boogerbearoriginal · April 2014

NextVerseUnknown said:

inluv4life2 said:

I see an LC weekly at my lac group and she always says babies should get 2.5 to 3 times their weight in oz per day. For example- my LO weighs 11.12 so I round to nearest pound and multiply by 2.5 and then by 3 to get range. 12x2.5 = 30 & 12x3 = 36 My LO needs between 30-36 oz per day to gain weight. He recently slowed his gain so I am in the process of doing a 24 hour period of before and after weights to see exactly what he is getting. If he isn't getting at least 30 oz then I will give a bottle of expressed. milk to get him there. Sorry to ramble, my point is that if You are really worried you could do a day of measured feeds to see what he's getting. Maybe the adjustment has him eating too little? Even if that's the case it will straighten out in a few days.

I'm not so sure this is accurate. BM changes as LO gets older so quality adjusts so quantity doesn't have to. I've seen a few LCs and read lots on Kellymom, and they seem to say the same. I know my DS1 drank only 3oz bottles every 3 hrs when he was in day care.

This is ok for a rough estimate, but its not going to be accurate for long. Babies - whether FF or BF tend to max out at around 30ish oz a day and the range is 25-30oz. Big difference is BF babies tend to continue eating smaller amounts more frequently since breastmilk is digested quicker than formula, and formula amounts tend to consolidate into larger, less frequent bottles but not more overall total ounces.

Once LO hits ~14lbs it would be too much.

boogerbearoriginal · April 2014

OP - ditto Ziggy, scales can make you stress unnecessarily because LOs don't grow in set amounts but in spurts. So it averages out to .5/1oz a day, but it's actually more like same, same, same, adds 3 oz, kwim?

And baby's weight can vary by a few ounces based on last time she pooped or peed, which can explain the one ounce your LO was "off". So long as baby is eating frequently, acting normal, having plenty of wet/poopy diapers I wouldn't stress about it. And try not to weight more often than 1x a week or you'll wind up driving yourself insane lol.

JackieP1023 · April 2014

@TyrannosaurusLex‌ I would love to get one, but we really can't afford it. (Damn RE bills+ hi risk pregnancy bills) We didn't even get a video monitor, just an audio one. I have been watching craigslist/swap shop/consignment sites, and haven't found a used one yet either.

sdlaura · April 2014

JackieP1023 said:

@TyrannosaurusLex‌ I would love to get one, but we really can't afford it. (Damn RE bills+ hi risk pregnancy bills) We didn't even get a video monitor, just an audio one. I have been watching craigslist/swap shop/consignment sites, and haven't found a used one yet either.

My DD was doing 12 hours at that age. She has always been healthy and is still a great sleeper (and 90+percentile for height and weight, though she had some dips along the way).

JackieP1023 · April 2014

@TyrannosaurusLex‌ I'm in SouthEast Missouri. Almost to Arkansas. Basically the middle of nowhere (which probably contributes to the lack of available items).

@L12541‌ That's reassuring! I hope her weight percentile doesn't drop any farther by her 4month appt in June!

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