Tiny baby and slow growth

[MrsF111]

Just looking to see if anyone has had a similar experience. My baby was born at term, 37 weeks and was tiny 2.5kg. We’ve had problems with breastfeeding as he struggled with latching and have had a few ups and downs with his weight. We were on the very bottom percentile at birth and have fallen off it now. We are going to be admitted for a few days so the hospital can observe him and try him on special formula. He’s 9 weeks now and is only 3kg. Currently breastfed with a top up after every feed. Has anyone else been on this position, did you tiny babies catch up? Im small and my husband is average height so he was never going to be a big baby. Everything else seems fine, he’s smiling, focusing well, seems content, just so tiny and they have started talking about genetic issues causing the lack of growth and linking it to previous miscarriages (rainbow baby after 4 losses)

My DD was tiny, born 1.6kg at 36 weeks. Took her a long time to catch up but she’s still small. Shes almost 4 and around 25th centile for weight but 2nd centile for height. She’s small but mighty!

Cant really offer any advice but I’m sure he’ll catch up, it does take a long time though!

That must be so worrying for you. I think the first thing to rule out is Tongue Tie?

Have you spoken to a BFC or a Lactation Consultant about how you can continue to BFC with formula top ups? Assuming that's what you want to do?

@CadyEastman yes he has tongue tie cut at 2 weeks and we are working with a breastfeeding specialist, he can only latch at the moment with shields but we keep practising without. I’m finding the doctors all give me different feedback, I see them every week but never the same one

@MrsF111

My DC fell off the bottom of the growth charts, was under paediatrics, looked about 3 months smaller than they actually were for most of the first year of their life.

We spent months doing 2-hourly feeds (BF) with a couple of formula ones in there ao I didn't collapse with exhaustion.

For us, it was a severe CMPA. The small amount in my breastmilk triggered a major colitis which meant their gut couldn't absorb nutrients properly for months afterwards (I was vegan from DC being 7 days old).

Tiny babies can catch up though, if there's a resolvable cause. DC is just 2 now, and on the 75th centile for height. They're still on a lower weight centile but they're active, robust and happy.

Here if you want to chat

@Scirocco thats really interesting, my husband has colitis. Did your baby show any other signs of cmpa? I hadn’t thought it was that as he seems content/settled after a boob or bottle (after he’s managed to burp if it’s the bottle he’s fussy and uncomfy I’m he’s buried but boob he’s happy the whole time) and he has regular baby poos

DC didn't have the classic symptoms but probably because it was caught so early. If your husband has colitis, it might be worth asking the paediatrician if that could be a contributing factor somehow? Even today, DC can have erratic poos, very dependent upon what they eat.