Weight gain in BF baby - should I be worried?

[Petsville]

Took DS to the clinic to be weighed this afternoon, and at 18 days old he weighs the same as at birth. Should I be worried by this? He seems to be feeding very well (I'm feeding on demand, and he's feeding loads during the day, including cluster feeding for three or four hours in the evening, and then waking up a couple of times in the night) and has plenty of wet and dirty nappies, but the HV looked worried and insists we take him back next week to be checked. Help - has anyone else had this and subsequently found that everything was OK?

My DD took SIX weeks to regain birthweight! (was a hell of top ups etc). Remember babies lose 10%ish of weight after birth (my DD lost 14% but then she was a 9.5lber!)

They say a week to ten days to regain birthweight. So it took your DS 18days not a huge deal so long as plenty of wet and dirty nappies. Is worth monitoring but try not to get obsessive about it (like i did!) I think around 100g a week gain is fine (or what they told me anyhow).

oh and the HV will probably try and badger you into formula top ups. Ignore unless that is what you want you are happy with and seek the advice of a specialist breastfeeding counsellor who will be able to advise you much better about weight in breastfed babies (bear in mind the charts were for formula fed babies in the 70's, and breastfed babies do gain slower than formula fed ones).

I don't think it sounds worrying - my health visitor told me that they look for a breastfed baby to have regained their birthweight after about 2 weeks, assuming that some weight was lost initially, as is mostly the case - babies can lose up to 10% of birthweight within first five days without it being a cause for concern. So it's likely that your son has first lost and then gained weight, which is totally normal.

The wet/dirty nappies are reassuring - everything I've read and heard seems to emphasise that's the main indicator that a baby is getting enough milk.

This is within normal, but perhaps a tad slow to regain birthweight, Petsville. I think it's reasonable to ask you to go back next week.

He sounds as if he is feeding just fine, so all should be well. But if he stays the same, then knowing he is staying the same is helpful and you should be supported to make your feeding more effective and/or more frequent. No reason at all for them to suggest formula top ups unless there is some crisis that can't be resolved by better bf.

my daughter was 7 13 at birth and at 5 days was 7 6 then 7 8 at 11 days. The HV said it was fine as she was gaining just a little slowly she just came back yesterday at one month and my daughter is now 8 pounds 8.

Thanks v. much for the reassurance - hopefully he'll have gained a bit by next week and all will be well. To do her justice, the HV hasn't yet suggested formula top-ups.

Hi - my DD lost 10.5% by day 3 and took until 3 weeks to go back up to birth weight and that was a battle. At 4 weeks she is 5oz over birth weight - bet teh same happens to you next week - best of luck xx

Thanks, Zimm - hope it does. I was feeling quite relaxed about it till we went to the clinic (having got comfortable with the breastfeeding after two weeks of struggle, and with a baby who seems healthy and cheerful) and now I'm worried!