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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

failure to thrive in newbirns, advice please

9 replies

pmgkt · 14/01/2013 18:32

My 3 week old has only just got back to his birth weight, having only gain 2 oz in the last week. Hv is happy to give us another week before referring us for failure to thrive. He has 2 bottles a day and bf every 3 ish hours during the day. At night after the bottle he goes 5 hours then 3 hourly again. He does lots if wee and poo, and although he sleeps a lot like any newborn he does have awake time, is strong in his arms and legs and screams loads having his nappy changed. Any advice or experience to share please. I an happy to ff rather than bf,, if that is what it takes

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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LynetteScavo · 14/01/2013 18:37

When does he have the bottles, and how much?

Would you consider b-feeding him every 2 hours during the day?

Original poster

pmgkt · 14/01/2013 20:05

he has one in the morning and one at bedtime. he has about 110 ml but does bring some up. i am thinking of doing an extra bottle at lunchtime but not sure if its not going to just be easier to stop bf as introducing bottles just messes up my supply. if he cries i do feed him early and also if i know he has had a shorter feed i will put him back on a bit later

OP posts:

LauraPashley · 14/01/2013 20:15

I would maybe post this in the breast and bottle feeding section? Lots of good advice re feeding to be had! My dd had weight gain issues when she was tiny but I never bottle fed so slightly different, but basically I just had feed her at least every 2 hrs and made sure latch was correct etc so milk supply was definitely being stimulated. I took domperidone for a while, not sure whether it made a difference tbh.

narmada · 15/01/2013 00:14

When you say 'if he cries I do feed him early'... Do you mean that you are using a routine?

The quickes qnd best way to fatten him up is to breastfeed far more often than every 3 hrs in the day. Routines IME do not work with such tiny babies.

Original poster

pmgkt · 15/01/2013 02:33

I mean that I know he needs feeding on a regular basis and 3 hourly is a guide for me to know roughly when he will feed again, but if he cries earlier I feed him so I don't worry about 3 hourly being strict just a guide.

OP posts:

narmada · 15/01/2013 09:49

3 hourly is not useful as a guide even - ditch it and you may find he puts on more weught.

I would offer breast at least every two hours whether crying or not. crying is a late sign of hunger.

SeeYouSoon · 15/01/2013 14:24

I would say feeding 3 hourly at 3 weeks isn't often enough if he's not gaining much weight. Try feeding much more often, also offer one side, then the other, then back to the first again etc.

Flisspaps · 15/01/2013 14:29

YY to forgetting about a 3hr guide at 3 weeks. DS fed every 90 mins or so at that age and until about 6 months

I'd offer the breast at every opportunity tbh, if baby is awake, offer a boob. Forget the clock, forget 3 hours. Feed, feed, feed. The more you BF, the more your supply will build up too.

ZuleikaD · 15/01/2013 17:25

Yes to ditching 3 hourly as any sort of guide. I would latch him on at least every two hours and preferably more often. Be prepared for some days spent in front of the TV. Have you had your latch checked, too?

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