To worry about baby's weight gain...

[Wowthisisreal]

Asking for a friend (I actually am!)

Baby was born 5 weeks ago and still not back at birth weight. Born with complete tongue tie which was snipped at 5 days. Breastfeeding, then purely expressing until last week (so she knew how much he was taking) before moving to formula in desperation.

Weight has stayed stagnant for 3+ weeks now. Born at 6lb 10oz, dropped to 5lb 9oz after birth and now at 6lb 1oz.

Been to see various GP but no real concern from them - can’t see why that’s right? Dropped three percentile points. Now below the 0.4 centile.

We are trying to take comfort from the fact that GPs aren’t moving quickly. She has a referral to paediatrician which wasn’t booked in until 6th April. Lots of wet and dirty nappies. Feeding 9 or so times a day but can only take so much before he brings it up. I think he is on 2oz a feed but can be stretched to 4oz when really hungry. Seems alert but still quite 'newborn' in my opinion.

Any ideas / experience of something like this? Should we be worried?

Lots of wet and dirty nappies is good. Alert and newborn is fine (he is newborn). But he should be putting on weight. If the appointment w paed is on 6th that's just a week to go and Id wait for that (but be really prepared w questions and would not be fobbed off at that point).

I think the bit for your friend to stress is that he's bringing his feeds back up once he's had more than 2 or 3 oz. Without being an expert I'd say that's why he's not putting weight on. Perhaps they'll investigate whether he has some sort of hernia. Does he seem uncomfortable after feeds, particularly if lying down?

Although perhaps 2 or 3 oz is normal for a five week old... I'm trying to remember how much I got when expressing. Maybe 90ml and my son would have that for a single feed. So maybe that's ok...

Maybe he has reflux which is why he is bringing up feeds. All 3 of my dds has this, only fed small amounts then vomited most back up or refused feeds. This did impact weight gain. Is the baby fussy when feeding? We used gaviscon in regular formula, then thickened formula which stays down more easily, then various specialist formulas and acid reducing medication.