DP is very keen to canvass the wisdom of Mumsnet and asked me to post this dilemma (nc).
We are very lucky to have a beautiful baby who arrived by unexpected emergency C-section at 31 weeks. The baby has had no significant medical problems - breathing independently from day 1 - but stayed in SCBU for a while due to prematurity.
We were discharged home exclusively breastfeeding after trial rooming in when reasonable weight gain meant the feeding tube was removed.
In the first week home we were visited for weighing and I was told there was a very small gain but 'not enough'. At the SCBU follow up clinic a doctor observed & commented on how well baby is doing, alert, good latching on, tone etc. Then a few days later I had a phonecall from the nurse saying she had miscalculated and there had in fact been a small weight loss not a gain.
At a second visit for re-weighing yesterday there had been a definite gain calculated at 12.5g per day but apparently they want to see 20g per day so I am under a lot of pressure to start supplementing with formula.
The nurse said she would 'allow me' to wait for HV visit on Thursday and not insist on going back to the clinic today which she wanted me to do. I don't know what might happens if the baby fails to put on the desired weight by Thursday (DP is worried about this). Meanwhile I am doing all I can to encourage more and longer feeds and increase my milk production.
Am I being too stubborn or am I right to resist supplementing at this stage?
I'd be very grateful for pointers to any evidence or research as well as anyone's experience or opinion.
I don't want to be dogmatic when my baby's health is at stake but equally I don't want to be pushed into something which isn't really necessary.
The baby weighs approx 2kg and I would be 36 weeks if still pregnant.
Please or to access all these features
Please
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AIBU?
to persist with exclusively bf low weight gain preemie?
95 replies
fightingnun · 14/01/2014 14:52
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