11 Week old lost weight

[asphyxia]

Since DD was born we have had problems with her weight. She was 4.25kg at birth and had lost 13% at day 9. We ended up back in hospital for 5 days and by the time we were dischaged we were topping up with 40ml ff after each bf. I worked really hard to cut down on the ff, and when she regained her birth weight at 8.5 weeks, I cut out the last daytime ff and am now managing to express enough for a top up so she has whatever i can get (I try for 90ml) before bedtime. While I was cutting down the ff she was gaining weight slowly but steadily and now that she's lost weight again I just don't know where to go from here. I've seen a bfc, peer supporter, and go to bf support group every week and everyone seems happy with her latch. I'm taking fenugreek and pumping the other side while feeding to increase my supply. I really need some help to increse her weight gain. Sorry for crappy typing - I'm on my phone. Thanks for reading.

See, you've given her the energy and raw materials to build 700g of fat, muscle, bone, nerves, brain tissue and sweet new baby smell (the most important one). Actually all she is until she starts solids is all down to you (not to put any pressure on you!)

DD3's paed told me that sometimes mums nourish their babies so well in the womb that they are born bigger than they are meant to be. This then looks like they are slow growers when in fact they are 'catching down' to their 'real' size.

Whilst I'm not saying this is always the case with slow to gain babies I think it could be part of DD3's problems with weigh gain (as well as the bronchiolitis). She was my heaviest baby by nearly a pound, DD1 was 7lb 12oz, DD2 was 7lb 6oz and DD3 was 8lb 10oz and at 12m/o was was 17lb 12oz. So 91st(birth) - 2nd (Lowest %ile)- 9th (12m/o). DD1 was 50th - 2nd (lowest %ile)- 25th (12m/o) - 75thish by 15m/o. DD1's was down to reflux so quickly corrected it self on resolution of reflux. Sorry for waffling but thought it might show you how things do work out in the end.

Here we go again. 13 weeks old now, weighed 4.36 today so been told to take her to peads at hospital again. Any advice about how to deal with them? Will be there about 4pm so begging for some advice before then.

asphyxia - I think a visit to the paeds is justified, honestly.....this needs tackling. Do you think the harness she has to wear might be affecting feeding effectiveness? Or is her condition related to her slow weight gain? I have no idea, but you could reasonably ask the paed this.

Sorry you are worried, but your little dd's weight gain does indicate a thorough assessment. I hope the paed helps you.

I think the harness is not helping. It is really difficult to feed her with it on unless we lie down but that defeats the point of the harness. Can they force us to stay in overnight to observe feeding? Judging by my previous experience with the paeds they will just say to ff again.

Just typed a whole reply and stupid phone deleted it

Long story short - the consultant we saw was great. DD doesn't have a urinary infection, and her length is on 75th centile. The consultant suggested early weaning may be a solution. Not sure how I feel about this. Was really looking forward to baby led weaning. Anyway, have to go back in a few weeks to see a dietician and discuss this further. FF wad only suggested once for if I feel empty and DD is still hungry.

Glad you and DD are OK asphyxia.

Guess you've got a couple of weeks to look in to the pros and cons of early weaning.

FWIW I did blw at 25 weeks with DS3 who had lost a huge amount of weight (off the chart) at 3 months. He's really thrived on it and I made sure I included lots of food high in fats for him. He's now following the 25th centile.

Did the consultant give you any other possible reasons for the slow weight gain?

Your breasts are never empty remember - think rivers not buckets.

That all sounds good, asphyxia. By early weaning, my bet is that the doc meant before four months....this would be unlikely to increase your baby's calorie intake because one of the drawbacks of early weaning is that it replaces milk rather than adding to it, but this is something you can discuss with the dietitian.

His suggestion that you top up when you feel 'empty' or your baby seems hungry would not fill me with confidence about his knowledge of bf, but he will be an expert in child health and development, so if he is unworried about your dd from that point of view this is very reassuring :)