Slow weight gain, referred to paediatrician, any advice?

[001001]

Hi,

My DD is was born 12 weeks ago weighing a hefty 9lbs. I have been EBF and her weight gain has been slow, she has now dropped from above 75th centile to just above 9th. I actually don't worry about these sort of things as you can see by looking at her she is healthy and strong, but she has now been referred to the paediatrician to discuss how to encourage weight gain. Should I just get on with it and start topping up with formula?

She feeds every 2/3 hours during the day and sleeps for 6/7 hours in a stretch at night. She has a bottle of EBM every couple of days of around 3.5oz as I find it hard to pump any more than that in one go. She is very active and is rolling over already and kicking loads, could this be responsible for her low weight?

We have just had 12 week check with doctor who said she is very healthy and strong and that apart from the weight issue, there is nothing to worry about.

I am not adverse to giving formula, DS was FF but thought I was doing well. Just a bit fed up that what I thought was best for baby has resulted in her not gaining weight and possibly having to have formula anyway when I have been killing myself (ok slight exaggeration, but it has not been easy until the last few weeks) trying to BF, wish I had done FF from the beginning!

Any advice while I wait for paediatrician appt?

TIA

[tiktok]

OP, it sounds as if all is well, and if the paed confirms this, then you will be able to relax :)

In the meantime, the easiest way to try to help your dd gain more weight is simply to feed more often - she may refuse, of course, and that's ok :)

Feed at least both breasts every session, and increase the feeds from what is probably 7 times in 24 hours to 10-12.

Giving formula is pointless, if all she is thought to need is more milk. You have the more milk in your breasts, so why use something else?

[001001]

Thank you. I feed her on demand and also pump when she is asleep in the morning to keep supply up. She falls asleep on the breast in the evenings when cluster feeding which I know is normal but I have a 3yo who needs sorting too, so can't sit on the sofa with her all night! Yesterday I offered milk after 2 hours if she hadn't asked and she usually took it, hopefully this will make a difference.

Could her level of activity be responsible for the slow gain? I feel like I have plenty of milk and she feeds well so am clutching at straws but would like to be able to give myself a reason why she is not putting on weight.

On the plus side, we are getting more use out of our 0-3 babygrows

[tiktok]

OP, you ask for a reason why your dd is slow to gain weight.

The usual reason for babies' individual weight gain pattern is physiological - that is, this is their own individual growth rate and it comes from how they are 'programmed' to grow. This is not the case if a baby is being somehow overfed, and stuffed to burst like a prize marrow, or if the baby is being somehow underfed because his needs are not being responded to, or if there is some underlying reason (illness) for slow weight gain.

It doesn't sound to me as if any of those apply here :)

Maybe your baby is extra active and is using extra calories as a result - who knows?

You are offering extra breastmilk and this makes sense as there is no way you can overfeed with breastmilk (given the baby is 'in charge' of how much she has) - this is not the case with formula given as an 'extra' .

Hope you feel reassured soon.

[001001]

Thanks. DS was a bruiser who put on weight fast so I never had to worry about him! Anyway she is healthy and happy so will not worry