AIBU To go to A&E/Urgent Care with my baby?

[MyBabyIsntGainingWeight]

I have a 5 week old that has gained less than 7oz since birth. She is ebf and feeds all the time. Will go 2-3hours at night but literally feeds nonstop the rest of the time. If not feeding is crying /screaming. I took her to be weighed yesterday AM and she hadn't gained at all in a week. She's fallen off the chart. I managed to get a GP appointment in the evening and didn't really get any advice, just told to try topping up. But not how much or how often. No mention of monitoring weight. They said they would refer to paediatrician but not given any indication of how long this would take. I'm really worried and want her seen asap. WIBU to go to hospital? So as not to drip feed there is a big family history of food allergies. DD1 ended up on prescription formula and reflux meds and baby is suffering with silent reflux.

Go. I'm usually the first to say don't bother with A&E for non emergencies but you've already tried the appropriate route of a GP appointment and got no further.

I'm not sure what A&E can actually do for you re allergies or whatnot but they'll have a paeds department so you can see a paediatrician possibly. Either way I don't think anyone will blame you for wanting your mind put at rest with such a tiny baby. Go!

I also would normally say not to go to A&E for something that is ongoing, but you have exhausted other channels and got nowhere. Perhaps the pediatrician there will take the lack of weight gain more seriously than the GP has.

As horrible as this is for you OP, I really don't think it's an A&E issue.

Ring your HV and GP first thing tomorrow and get an appointment.

There are walk-in centres were I am (albeit on certain days) for things like weigh-ins.

I'm surprised whoever weighed her most recently hasn't passed you over to someone who can help? We saw a HV who specialises in feeding when DC2 slipped from 25th to 2nd centile.

Would go too. You'll get seen by a paediatrician (deffo if your hospital has a emergency children's department). Good luck!

A&E waiting rooms are a cess pit of filth bugs and viruses do not take a baby there!
See GP again today be more assertive or call your HV. Ask/demand second opinion.
If you're able to find someone to accompany you for support at GPs it might help.
It's not an emergency.

It's the HV who told me to go to A&E if I had no luck with the GP. They can't do anything other than advise

You’re feeling very anxious, you know your child. I’d go. It’s better to go and be told you didn’t need to than not go and your baby become poorly. I’m not one to use emergency services when unnecessary. You are doing this under the advice of a health practitioner.

Ps take plenty of food and drinks for you.

Have you tried formula yet? Get HV to advise but I'd suggest bf first then gave a few oz after you've bf - my children out last add if weight on combi feeding

Really difficult situation for you.

Normally I would not readily advise a&e, but given the lack of advice elsewhere, and the suggestion of your HV I would go. I think you need to be assured that your little one is fully assessed and you get the best advice available (which often would come from the hv and gp, but not in this case by the sound of it!)

Best of luck.

I know you're really worried.
If you want to go to A&E then go but keep your baby away from other people there and keep her covered up. Don't let people handle her or cough over her etc remember many people go with flu bugs, noro virus etc.
Or return to GP and refuse to leave until they take you seriously.

Ask your H.V if there is a breastfeeding specialist on the team or support group nearby, if she is feeding all the time and not gaining it could be a latching problem or tongue tie which can be really hard to spot.

Sorry reread your post.
The GP did advise he said top up with formula. Your HV can advise on amounts that's their job.
Regards monitoring weight also HV will monitor.
And you've been referred to a paediatric team.
There's nothing wrong with this except you want things done now ( don't blame you by the way ) so go to A&E

Are there any breast feeding clinics near you? I had problems with ds gaining weight and found them really good, lots of practical advice plus watched me feed and altered the latch. There was a hV and a trained lactation consultant/midwife, you could take other children and a cup of tea with other mums and lots of reassurance. I cried non stop the first time I went as I had had such bad experience feeding but the lovely ladies literally saved my sanity and over a few visits solved my problem. Hope you get some help op x

Sorry but I think ywbu to go to A&E unless baby is actually ill.

Problems with feeding and weight are not an A&E issue and IMO, unless baby is also actually lethargic/I'll in some way, they would rightly refer you back to your HV and GP.

Your GP has advised you - top up. They can't tell you exactly how much or when because there is no right amount. Your hv should be able to discuss this with you further and also monitor baby's weight.

You need to see a breastfeeding specialist, not a midwife or health visitor. Baby in the meantime probably does need a top up, this can be ebm, it doesn't need to be formula. If you already have a baby with allergies, then could this baby have a dairy allergy?

Go to a and e if you think it will help. I would also go to a bf group. Are you also making sure you are eating lots , I'm not saying it's a supply issue at all but if baby is feeding all the time you need to eat lots and lots of good healthy food to keep up the supply and your energy levels. Try lots of porridge it's excellent for milk production, I notice a fuller supply within 24 hours of eating 2 bowls . Hope you get it sorted .

I'm sorry about all your worry but going to a&e with a tiny well baby wbu .after hanging around a lot of very ill people you will be seen by a very inexperienced doctor when what you need is a feeding specialist. Contact the HVs first thing and make sure they understand how urgent this feels. There are other resources you could try such as la leche depending on local availability.

Just switch to formula. Problem solved. It's not poison, you know.

Don't go to a&e. Buy some cartons of ready made formula. Your baby is small so just give small amounts, say 50ml, every few hours to prevent puking etc. Look up a lactation consultant and see them asap. If you are near East Herts I can recommend someone. Good luck. If you can feel milk in your breasts then it is almost certainly a milk transfer issue, a poor latch, tongue tie or weak suck. The LC can help.

tableshack helpful

Oh and your HV is shit, they should have examined your baby properly and helped you come up with a feeding plan. This isn't your fault, they have failed you.

Has your baby been checked for tongue tie?

Can you try an independent breastfeeding consultant? Contact La Lethe league this morning.
They can help rule out latch/let down/supply issues. They are also brilliant at checking for tongue and lip ties.
They will also be able to advise you about topping up.
It's very unlikely that staff in a&e will be able to give you a quick answer.
The paediatrician referral should be quick though. I would expect you to hear something before the weekend.

op is she still on her line? in your red book? on her centile?

Has se regained birth weight plus 7oz? If so that’s not so bad. How many wet/dirty nappies are you getting?

Has she been checked for tongue tie (by an expert?)

Try some formula - just 1oz after each bf to start and see if it makes any difference.