Centiles

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My 5 week old DD is EBF.

I went to have her weighed today and was pleased to see she’s gained weight on the last 3 occasions she’s been weighed (she initially had lost weight after birth for a couple of the weigh ins).

I was actually feeling happy that she was now gaining weight (albeit she’s still 6g off her birth weight).

I had thought to myself that if she had gained again on this occasion that I’m no longer going to get her weighed and just look for what the GP had described as a clinically well baby (happy, alert, wet and dirty nappies etc).

But, the HV has said that as she’s dropped “centiles” she will have to be weighed again next week.

However, DD hasn’t dropped centiles. She was on the 25th centile and is now between 25th and 9th.

DD has her 6 week review with the HV next week and then a 6 week review with the GP 2 days later. I really want to skip the the HV review and just go to the GP review. Are the HV reviews compulsory?

I feel we take 1 step forward with BF and then 2 steps back. It’s really getting me down. I feel I can’t enjoy breastfeeding as it’s become so “target driven”.

Any success stories of baby gaining weight slowly/dropping centiles and everything being ok and still continuing with BF?

My dd was bottle fed, but like yours she was born on 25th centile, dropped to between 25th and 9th. At 12 weeks she was on 9th so was weaned early. Last check she was back on 25th.

Should've added she was weaned at 5 months. No advice sorry, just support cos I've been there. Id say keep both appointments. They might recommend mixed feeding.

Thank you for your response

DS was on the 50th centile when he was born, and by 6 weeks had dropped to between the 9th and 25th. The HV at the clinic was very concerned and advised formula (DS was ebf), but when I saw the GP at his check a week or so later she was unworried and declared him well as he was alert, producing plenty of wet and dirty nappies and has grown in length. GP pointed out that DH and I are both tall and slim and DS was following suit. I stuck with BF (exclusively until 6 months, stopped when he was 18 months) and DS has stayed around the 25th centile for weight. He’s 8 now and built like a whippet! DD saved us the worry by being born on the 9th and staying there.

HVs are often great, but can be a bit obsessed with centiles. I’d go to the HV review but be prepared to smile and nod and wait for the GP’s opinion.

@mrsfrumble thank you so much for your response. That’s really interesting. DH and I are both tall and slim and I can see a noticeable difference in her length from her babygros and from when I’m feeding her rugby hold.

I never thought breastfeeding would be such a struggle. I keep waiting for it to click into place and it just seems to be setback after setback