DD not gained enough weight

[duzzlightyearsmum]

So DD almost 16 weeks has dropped almost 1.5 centile lines since birth. 8lb 7oz born and at last weighing 2 weeks ago she was 13lb1oz. Health visitor was a bit concerned and so I have to take her to be weighed again on Monday. She is ebf and still feeds pretty much every two hours day and night. She is very active, can roll and sit up and 'chatters' non-stop. If there are still concerns about her weight gain what do you think will be suggested? She is a total bottle refused btw xxx

[cantmakecarrotcake]

Sounds a bit like my DD1. If your DD crosses a 2nd centile line the HV will most likely want you to see your GP and maybe a paediatrician to rule out some things (eg, coeliac).

But mostly they'll take the 'wait and see' approach given you'll be introducing solids soon and that may change things.

Take comfort in that a baby who is BF will take what they need and that trying to force a bottle on her will probably only result in her wanting less breast milk. Your DD might just be finding her own centile and will track it nicely (although not all babies track the curves in the red books!)

I think I'd wait and see, personally. Weaning will tell you a lot about DD's appetite that you won't know from BF as you can't see what's going in.

[Rockchick1984]

If you hadn't put her on the scales, would you have any cause for concern? With DC1 I went to baby clinic every month to check he was gaining properly but with DC2 I realised that my instincts are the best way to see how she is doing - healthy, happy, feeding lots and hitting development milestones.

Only possible suggestion from what you have said - how long is each feed? If she's feeding every 2 hours she may only be getting the watery foremilk rather than the fatty hind milk. Make sure you are feeding until she unlatches herself each time, and see if you can delay the next feed slightly so she's hungrier (I mean by 10/15 mins, not a lot). Also try offering both breasts each feed.

[Phoenixfrights]

If she is otherwise well I would not worry and wouldn't be rushing to supplement with anything. Best thing to do if more calories are needed (and that's deffo not certain here) is just feed her more often. Some HVs are keen to push formula or weaning but neither are first line strategies ...

[duzzlightyearsmum]

Thanks for your replies.

I'm not massively concerned myself my only worry comes from the hv being concerned. She is a very healthy happy baby.

Her feeds last between 10-30 minutes and she always unlatches herself.

DS dropped one centile line but this was explained by a traumatic and sudden end to ebf due to me being suddenly very poorly. However neither me or DP are particularly big in fact I am on the small side and DS is perfectly healthy but on the small side for his age so I'm not expecting her to be huge and am not hugely surprised that she's dropped a little.

Just wondered really what anyone thought the hv might suggest as a solution to the slowing down of weight gain

Xxx

[Phoenixfrights]

If you're both small, and her sibling is too, then it is very likely catch-down growth I would think. Generous birthweights are thought to be related to placental function IIRC.

The HV may want you to see a GP just to check there' nothing untoward but in my experience GPs tend to do nothing unless your baby is plummeting. The HV may suggest switch feeding or feeding more often if they are informed about BF and have a concern, but they may go straight to 'how about some formula?'... hard to tell.

Whatever the HV advises it's really only advice and you don't have to take it. If you're afraid she will 'force' you to give formula, then advice would be just smile and nod, smile and nod . Whilst inside saying to yourself 'no thanks, I'll do it my way'...