BFing Slow Gain

Andrewsgal · August 2014

I just has DS 4 month appointment. He dropped from the 3rd to 1st percentile in weight. His head circumference (gained 10%) and length (gained 20%) are good and growing just slow weight gain. She wants me to supplement. The only problem is he won't take a bottle. So she wants me to start mixing formula or breast milk with cereal. We are a BLW family and usually skip cereal all together. I am at a loss. Should I just take her advice? Should I contact an LC? I just feel like a complete failure.

penguingrrl · August 2014

(((hugs))) Does he seem fussy or hungry all the time? Is he showing signs that he isn't getting enough food? If not he may be a slow grower. If he won't take a bottle and doesn't seem like he isn't getting enough I wouldn't supplement since it's unlikely to help.

And if a child is having trouble growing everything I've read suggests that introducing solids earlier is not a great idea. There are fewer calories per ounce so it will fill his belly without providing as much nutrition as he needs.

Finally, I would probably do some weighted feedings. Buy a scale and weigh him before and after he eats to see how much he's getting. It may be that he's not satisfied or not getting enough, but he may just be a slow grower. Good luck and hope you get it all sorted out quickly!

Andrewsgal · August 2014

Thanks ladies. He doesn't seen hungry he is happy, laughing and playful. He nurses every two hours during the day then twice at night. I will call the LC and see what she says. Oh and yes we have tried both BM and formula and every bottle known.

Aussie45 · August 2014

penguingrrl said:
And if a child is having trouble growing everything I've read suggests that introducing solids earlier is not a great idea. There are fewer calories per ounce so it will fill his belly without providing as much nutrition as he needs.

Finally, I would probably do some weighted feedings. Buy a scale and weigh him before and after he eats to see how much he's getting. It may be that he's not satisfied or not getting enough, but he may just be a slow grower. Good luck and hope you get it all sorted out quickly!

I agree with all of this. I'd definitely contact a LC and see what they have to say. I know with DD (I think is was more so around the first or second month) she had trouble gaining. We went to a LC, she weighed her, I fed her and we found out that she wasn't getting enough due to her inability to suck properly. I felt horrible, but we switched to EP and she started to gain again.

It sucks, but you guys will figure this out. Hugs mama!

penguingrrl · August 2014

dandelionhater said:

Thanks ladies. He doesn't seen hungry he is happy, laughing and playful. He nurses every two hours during the day then twice at night. I will call the LC and see what she says. Oh and yes we have tried both BM and formula and every bottle known.

If he's sleeping well and cheerful then it doesn't sound like there's a BF issue at all! If he were fussy a lot or not sleeping well that would warrant concern, but if he's cheerful when awake and sleeping reasonably well he's not hungry!

Aussie45 · August 2014

dandelionhater said:
Thanks ladies. He doesn't seen hungry he is happy, laughing and playful. He nurses every two hours during the day then twice at night. I will call the LC and see what she says. Oh and yes we have tried both BM and formula and every bottle known.

DD was crying and in general being fussy. If he is happy and playful, he may very well just be a slow grower. BM has more nutrients condensed into it, so maybe try the scale thing to see if he is getting a decent amount of milk (I forget how much they drink at that age).

Andrewsgal · August 2014

He is gaining about 18 oz a month. He was 6 pounds 4 ounces when we left the hospital and is 11 pounds 12 ounces now

Andrewsgal · August 2014

Yes at 3 months he was 10 pounds 4 ounces.

AKB090609 · August 2014

I had a poor gainer.

Even now at 22.5 months she's only 22lbs, she also didn't double her birthweight until almost 9 months. We followed her lead and she breast fed on demand she was just so busy moving all the time that it took her forever to gain any weight (I think between her 6 and 9 month appointments she only gained like 4oz).

My point is she is just a light weight, she's happy and healthy and was never going to be a high percentile kid, I figure some kids have to be at the bottom and I'm okay with it being my kid.

Andrewsgal · August 2014

LalaMama81 said:
So he gained 24 oz in approximately 30 days? That's perfectly fine, IMO. An oz a day is the "gold standard" but down to 1/2 oz a day can be normal.

Hmmm I seriously hope that I am freaked out for nothing. The dr I saw was not our usual. Thank you for your help.

Arnegard · August 2014

I have a friend whose son is a bit older, but she has freaked out every step of the way. His weight have been about the same as my youngest at the same ages, but my doc never said a word to me. I am so thankful for that. Dylan was 17 lbs, 11 oz I think at her 1 year appt. She turned 4 in May and is 31 lbs now. She is average height with her peers, just thin.

My doc didn't have concern about Dylan's weight until she was 12 months and I had already weened her. She advised feeding her avocados, giving her a bottle until 18 months to get more into her, etc. Her gain didn't go up when we tried, so we stopped trying and just allowed her to indicate when she was hungry.

Good Luck!

Andrewsgal · August 2014

Okay sorry I gave you wrong numbers he gained 1/2 ounce a day in the past month but was hospitalized for a stomach virus for 48 hours.

JeffandLeslie · August 2014

Our pedi wanted double birth weight by six months. Agree with others that if he's happy he's likely fine and that a weighed feeding may give peace of mind.

ToastieSimons · August 2014

If your son grew in length and not in weight, I'm not surprised. It sounds like his body burned up all his calories growing in length so there wasn't anything left for his weight to increase. I would ask for a weight check in 2 weeks and see what happens. I don't understand why the first instinct is to supplement or add solids. They grow on a curve. It's not perfect. The first step should be a weight check in 2 weeks. If he gains fine in those 2 weeks, then don't worry.

I would do a weighted feed before introducing formula or cereal. If you introduce formula you have the worry of spit up. DS2 NEVER drinks more than 6 oz or he starts barfing. We tried upping for a long time and whenever we went over he would spit up most of it.

Both my boys were FF and neither has doubled their birthweight before 9 months despite eating a good amount. And we didn't have the BF concerns.

DS1 was 8lb 14oz and at 4yo he has finally hit 30lbs. some kids just are tiny.

Andrewsgal · August 2014

Thanks ladies just spoke with an LC she said he sounds fine but she will do a weighed feeding for me at the support group on Thursday.

barnwife · August 2014

J. was a slow gainer.

Definitely see an LC. (Although, they aren't all good. The first suggestion of the first LC I saw was "supplement". And I sat there thinking "I came here to find ways to avoid that.")

I also think that .5 oz a day is fine for weight gain. There were many days J. gained nothing (but he only lost weight once).

Next, what weight charts is the doctor using? Are they they ones normed to only BF babies (from WHO)? Or is he using CDC charts?

Finally, you are not a failure. It took me a long time to get over that feeling. But I wasn't...and neither are you. You are being proactive. You are aware of a possible issue and doing what you can to make sure it doesn't become a real, true issue.

You are not a failure.

There is no way I'd be supplementing or using cereal at this point based on what you've shared here.

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