September 2015 Moms

Baby not gaining weight...

Actually he is, but not fast enough per the docs. LO is 4 weeks old and has barely gone over his birthweight. He's a little over 8lbs now, but born 7#15oz. Docs wanted him back at that around 2 weeks. Docs are stressing me to no end with supplemting formula/pumping/BFing. I was going in every 2 days for weight checks and every time I was going in it was like a disappointment to them. Everytime I feed my baby I feel like I get performance anxiety. My supply was low for a bit and with supplementing he started gaining. In the last week he didn't gain any weight with just EBF. Apparently his latch has gotten lazy. Anyone else been harassed about baby's weight? My husband feels this is all unnecessary stress being put on me, baby pees & poops great & is a wonderful baby. What else can a mother do?!

Re: Baby not gaining weight...

  • Just wanna add, my supply returned after taking supplements & baby was gaining weight, just this past few days I've noticed supply has gone down a bit. I'm getting back on the supplements ASAP.
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  • All I can say is the health of the baby is the most important. That being said if you are committed to no supplement you may need to feed more times during the day. But know it is ok to supplement too! It doesn't mean you're a bad mom! I'm sure you're a great one!
  • I was supplementing one week, and his weight was up, the EBF the next, then supplementing again in week 4. sometimes I just wonder if the docs are being too crazy about this. Every baby is diff & maybe he's just smaller than other babies and gains slower?? Idk , anyone else in this situation & baby is perfectly fine ???
  • Can you pump and feed? If your supply is good and he's just a lazy eater, get a slow flow bottle, give him your milk to keep up your supply and maybe he will do better and the breast when he's a tad bigger and older? Just a thought. Good luck!
  • Has he been checked for tongue and lip ties from a lactation consultant? Pediatricians usually brush it off but if his latch isn't good it could be the cause.
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  • I took my little guy to the doctors and they weighed him, I nursed him, then they weighed him again. Then they had me pump to see how much more I could get. He was born 8lbs 6oz and at his one month appointment he was 10lbs 6oz. I nurse him every 1.5-2 hours and give him bottles of pumped milk while we're out. I make sure to drink a lot of water through out the day and I also eat oatmeal and drink Gatorade to help with my supply. Keep feeding him as often and as long as he wants to. Hopefully hell gain weight quickly.
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  • I went through that with DD1. I did not have a supply issue, weighted feeds showed she was getting enough milk. She was just a slow gainer. My letdown was a contributing factor (so fast that she gulped air, causing her to feel full and cut feedings short). I worked with a LC to try things to increase the hindmilk she was getting. I didn't supplement because she was gaining-just slowly. She was born at 7-11, was 8.5lbs at 4w. She's still petite, wearing 2T at almost 3yo, but perfectly healthy and smart.
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  • I'd go see an LC. Pediatricians aren't always the best source of breastfeeding advice. It's typically not part of their training. If latch is an issues, you could also check with an ENT about a lip/ tongue tie. Again, not something part of pedi's training so they might miss it.

    My LO had slow/ minimal weight gain. Our dr thought her mouth looked fine but the ENT saw a lip/ tongue tie right away. Once corrected, her weight gain picked up overtime. Before it was corrected, she's nurse until I thought she was full and sleepy but in reality she was worn out from working so hard to get such little milk.
  • My baby boy will be 5 weeks tomorrow..went for 1 month checkup on Monday and he was still not at birth weight. He was 9lb 21in and birth and is now 8lb 12ozs 22.5in only in the 16th percentile for weight (92nd for height). The pediatrician started stressing me about supplementing and increasing my supply and said if he didn't start gaining by his 2 month checkup I'd have to switch to formula and said that's why he hasn't been having regularly poopy diapers. I came home and just fed him and cried. I feel like a horrible mother because I'm being told I'm not feeding my baby enough and feel like I'm starving him or something. But he eats for an hour at a time every 2-3 hours. He's sleeping well at night and seems satisfied after he eats. My theory is that it's because he's had thrush for the past week (and has cried because it hurts him so much and he can't even suck his paci)...I believe it's affecting his latch and he's not getting as much. But I am doing what the doc wants and trying to increase my supply...using fenugreek..friend gave me some brewers yeast I'm going to try..pumping more..etc. hopefully this will help and get the pediatrician off my back!
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