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Anyone with a 12 pounder still?

babydoll22308babydoll22308 member
in October 2013 Moms
We just had LO check up and she is 12.5 pounds and 25 inches. Very tiny. DR wants her to gain more weight and beef up a bit, but isn't overly concerned. She is hitting major milestones and looks good and healthy, so she isn't malnourished or anything.

I am struggling right now with pumping. I BF and we do solids now. But I am getting barely and ounce after I pump in the morning. She still nurses every 2 hours during the day. I have to in order to make sure she is getting enough calories in a day. I have some things coming up over next couple of months that I have to leaveLO for. I am ttrying to pump now to have enough milk. I am considering offering formula for the times I am away. Doing that does make me nervous that I will confuse her.
Does anyone else do this? Did LO adapt well? Any suggestions for my pumping supply?
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Re: Anyone with a 12 pounder still?

  • SHAWNACPASHAWNACPA member
    When my supply dips, I eat oatmeal and it comes right back up within 24 hours. But I also think supplementing with formula is fine.
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  • ndmcgirrndmcgirr member
    My LO was 12lbd 13oz last week and was 6 months 2 weeks. Our Dr. hasn't expressed any weight concerns. She's happy, reaches all her milestones, and has enough wet diapers. She's breast fed and eats some solids now. There is nothing wrong with supplementing with formula-especially if it makes you feel better! Some babies are just little so don't feel pressured into formula if dr. Said your little one is healthy. Trust your instincts!
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  • jennlinjennlin member
    since you aren't leaving just yet, i'd work on upping your supply first. it does sound like that you have low supply, which may cause her being small. how have your percentiles been at the pedi? same each month? or dropping?

    i would start with nursing-vacations, mother's milk, oatmeal, fenugreak, etc. but if those don't work out, filling in with formula in between will not hurt/confuse your baby.


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  • babydoll22308babydoll22308 member
    jennlin said:

    since you aren't leaving just yet, i'd work on upping your supply first. it does sound like that you have low supply, which may cause her being small. how have your percentiles been at the pedi? same each month? or dropping?

    i would start with nursing-vacations, mother's milk, oatmeal, fenugreak, etc. but if those don't work out, filling in with formula in between will not hurt/confuse your baby.

    Her percentiles have dropped gradually. She was at 30% and is now down to 1%. Maybe my supply is the issue. I never thought it was BC she always see satisfied and STTN since 2 weeks old. I will look into trying those things to help.
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  • mrsblueeyesmrsblueeyes member

    ^^^^ lots of good info in the post above

    DS sounds very similiar to your daughter.  His weight dropped from the 30th percentile to the 2cd percentile, but he remained happy, hitting all milestones, and sleeping well so I wasn't too concerned.  When I went back to work I found out I wasn't even pumping half of what he was taking in, so yes I feel low supply has played a part in his low weight gain. 

    Now he gets 2 bottles of formula, one of breast milk when I'm at work and I nurse him when I'm home.  Also at the pediatrician's recommendation we started solids early to get him use to eating. Now he eats like a champ and I've been adding in good fats such as avocados, sweet potato fries I roast in olive oil, lentils in olive oil, etc.  His weight has improved to the 5th percentile and his length if going up too.  It doesn't have to be all or nothing with formuula and BM, just find what works for you. 

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  • jennlinjennlin member

    NRyan55 said:
    brief threadjack: @crunchymama11 you know I love you, but even you have to see how hypocritical it is to be the cheerleader for team "doctors don't know anything!!" and magically switch sides in this scenario (re your item #1).  OP's baby didn't plateau, she dropped 30 percent.  I think OP has the right to be stressed and seek other alternatives.  I see that you eventually concede in point #6 that formula is a viable option, but I just don't think it is fair for these mamas with baby weight struggles who are asking for supplementing advice to be bombarded with a dissertation on increasing supply.  It just isn't that easy for everyone.

    OP hugs to you, I think you have some great perspectives here in this thread.  Let us know how your LO does with whatever you decide.
    OP did ask for tips to increase her pumping supply....she didn't even realize she had low supply (just low pumping output) to begin with in this thread...one of the reasons why BF rates are so low is that people jump to formula before trying to increase their supply. there's nothing wrong with using formula, but if you're looking to increase your supply, and everyone around you is telling you that it's okay to use formula, especially without tips to increase supply, then moms may quit before they are ready.


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  • jennlinjennlin member
    NRyan55 said:


    jennlin said:


    NRyan55 said:

    brief threadjack: @crunchymama11 you know I love you, but even you have to see how hypocritical it is to be the cheerleader for team "doctors don't know anything!!" and magically switch sides in this scenario (re your item #1).  OP's baby didn't plateau, she dropped 30 percent.  I think OP has the right to be stressed and seek other alternatives.  I see that you eventually concede in point #6 that formula is a viable option, but I just don't think it is fair for these mamas with baby weight struggles who are asking for supplementing advice to be bombarded with a dissertation on increasing supply.  It just isn't that easy for everyone.

    OP hugs to you, I think you have some great perspectives here in this thread.  Let us know how your LO does with whatever you decide.

    OP did ask for tips to increase her pumping supply....she didn't even realize she had low supply (just low pumping output) to begin with in this thread...one of the reasons why BF rates are so low is that people jump to formula before trying to increase their supply. there's nothing wrong with using formula, but if you're looking to increase your supply, and everyone around you is telling you that it's okay to use formula, especially without tips to increase supply, then moms may quit before they are ready.

    This may sound crazy, but some moms are more concerned with their baby's weight gain than quitting BF "before they are ready".  From watching fellow O13ers go through it I am convinced it is an extremely selfless act and one not taken lightly.


    Increasing supply would help with the weight gain issue.



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  • jennlinjennlin member
    I also did not see it as a cry for help for acceptance for switching to formula...I saw how to increase supply while pumping, and that's the advice I gave.

    @Phalaenopsis‌ OP didn't realize she was having low supply, and probably had not tried any of the ways bc she didn't realize it was necessary.


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  • jennlinjennlin member
    yesthisiskim0401 said:

    jennlin said:

    I also did not see it as a cry for help for acceptance for switching to formula...I saw how to increase supply while pumping, and that's the advice I gave.

    @Phalaenopsis‌ OP didn't realize she was having low supply, and probably had not tried any of the ways bc she didn't realize it was necessary.

    Uhhhh...
    babydoll22308 said:

    :::cut::: I am considering offering formula for the times I am away. Doing that does make me nervous that I will confuse her.
    Does anyone else do this? Did LO adapt well?     Any suggestions for my pumping supply?

    I didn't see that as a cry for help or wanting support to make the switch. I saw formula as one of the options, but it wasn't difinitive, as she was looking for ways to increase output.



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  • babydoll22308babydoll22308 member
    crunchymama11 said:

    A few thoughts:

    1, Your Dr isn't too concerned so I wouldn't be either. Some babies are just really small and that's ok

    2. It is very normal for a BF baby to slow down on weight gain and even plateau at this point. DD2 gained less than 1 lb between 4-6 months (although she did grow 2 in- what has your LO's height been doing?). It is normal to drop % points.

    3. Your supply could be temporarily low for a few reasons- your period is coming, dehydration, stress, not eating enough, exercise. If you are worried about low supply you can always do a weighted feeding and see how much LO is taking in. The standard oatmeal/water/fenugreek/Cal-Mag supplement (for period) apply.

    4. Change your pump membrane/parts. This often makes a huge difference in your pumping output. Are you a SAHM who pumps a little for a freezer stash or working mom who pumps at work? If you are a WM, how are your other pumps doing? At this point in time it is often very hard for a WM to maintain her supply at work for many reasons. If you are a SAHM, your morning pump could just be getting regulated, so you would need to pump 5-10 min when you stop getting milk to tell your body to produce more.

    5. As baby continues to get older she gradually eats more solids and takes in less milk, so what you need now will change in a few months. I would wait and see how things go.

    6. You can absolutely give formula and BM. Some babies will flat-out refuse formula as long as they can hold out, some will need some coaxing (like mixing BM and formula together) and some will take it with no problem, so how easy it is depends on how your baby is. But again, I personally would wait and see how things go.

    I would get a weighted feeding, try upping my supply a bit more, add in nutritious fatty/high calorie foods (avocados, eggs made with butter, full-fat yogurt/cheese, stuff like that) and see what things look like in the future.

    These are great suggestions I am a SAHM, I will try pumping extra after milk stops coming. Her height is at 9%, that's has ripped only a little. Dr isn't concerned very much, he just wants to see growth
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  • babydoll22308babydoll22308 member
    @carriet2018‌ got it and responded! :x
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  • babydoll22308babydoll22308 member
    petdocd said:

    As a sahm mom I felt that my responsibility was to bf until at least one year (yes silly timeline set by myself). We had many struggles in the beginning (difficult latch, jaundice, gigantic hematoma on the back of his head) that caused our initial bfing relationship to be difficult. I saw a lc every single day (for 1 week) to get bfing back on track. I purchased a baby scale to make sure that my childwas gting the necessary nutrients at each feeding. Things were good for 4 months...


    Then my period came back, even though I made sure to feed him every 8 hrs every night. I pumped after feedings twice a day and fed every 2 hours. My period tanked my supply for almost 2 weeks a month. He didn't gain any weight in the 4th month and I had to supplement (with my bm stash) the 5th and the start of the 6th month in order to have him gain weight. At that time I tried EVERYTHING (oatmeal, fenugreek, mothers milk tea, higher calorie diet, water, feeding all the time etc etc, ). I guess I didn't try domparidone (something others that have continued to bf have tried jgslr). I was not comfortable with the mechanism of action of the drug.  He dropped from the 80th% to the 50%-by WHO standards, not CDC standards. He actually lost weight! I told myself from the beginning that if my milk wasn't enough I wouldn't be proud enough to let it go. I was proud of myself for making it to the 6 month mark. 

    I know you have the ebf badge for a reason, but you shouldn't be afraid to try supplementing if that will make your life and your los life a lot easier. 
    LOlI forgot I had that badge. Its been on there since I had DD1. I am proud of my BF journey-but at this point my main concern is LO growth. I want her to be healthy and happy. She isn't very mobile -like at all. Then I think maybe she isn't trying to move around BC she's so tiny. I don't know!!!!!! Its a war with my minds and emotions for sure.
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  • babydoll22308babydoll22308 member
    @crunchymama11‌ she was checked for tongue and lip tie and doesn't have that. I have been doing purees and she does like them but not always interested. I do give her food to hold and feed herself as well and she does like that.

    I don't necessarily think she needs formula, I am trying to figure it out. I feel kind of lost at the moment really. I never thought supply was an issue until recently. She has STTN since 2 weeks old. So it's not like she keeps waking up BC she is hungry. She never seems Even during the day and when she is she let's me know. However the past 3-4,weeks she hasn't been herself and its making me think it may be my supply especially since dropping in weight percentiles. I will discuss with my pedi my concerns-i am going to try increasing my supply in did ways in the meantime.
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  • babydoll22308babydoll22308 member
    crunchymama11 said:

    something that came to mind last night was how long is she sleeping at night? i know you said STTN but 7 hours STTN or 12-hours STTN? 8 hours is the magical time that can lower your supply because it tells your body you have an older baby who doesn't need as much milk. If you're going longer than 8 hours at night, pumping at 8 hours or at least adding a pump before bed will likely make a huge difference getting your supply up.

    Good to know! She is sleeping 12+ hrs a night.
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