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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

What will happen later if my newborn hasn't gained weight again?

31 replies

sedgiebaby · 02/11/2010 10:48

I'm having my HV visit today. DD (first baby) is 4.5 wks old. Born 8lb 3oz. Lost weight day 3 (10.1%) gained back by day 14 and some. Since then plateaued - actually a tiny loss from day 14. not weighed for one week now.

I think she has not gained weight possibly lost in the last week. I am absolutely dreading the weigh in I'm going to be very upset if she is still not progressing.

She is feeding lots, weeing and pooing regularly(allbeit very runny explosive poo's) I have had lots of BF problems (in order: latch, cracked bleeding nipples, oversupply, engorgement, blockage, mastitis, now thrush and an rash due to an allergy to the cream!) but I have/am pushing through them. It will be disappointing if FF is going to be imposed.

What do you think will be the advice to me. I feel such a failure not being able to feed my baby sufficiently. The thing is she feeds and feeds and I know I have enough milk so how is pushing more milk FF or otherwise going to make a difference.

The HV thinks she is pre-teething hence the runny mucus nappies and food going through her quickly(before you laugh I had a tooth at one month old so I suppose it is possible.

OP posts:
OnlyWantsOne · 02/11/2010 10:52

firstly, well done :) and congratulations

they can not impose formula feeding on you!!

thisisyesterday · 02/11/2010 10:53

if she is feeding well and having plenty of wet/dirty nappies then there is no real reason to think she wouldn't have gained weight

if she hasn't, and the HV is concerned then that doesn't automatically mean you have to give formula

i think personally, if there was no weight gain I would ask that instead of using formula immediately you get a paediatrician referral, to check that there is no reason why she is not gaining (ie, milk allergy? could explain explosive mucousy poos)

I would also say that you don't wish to give formula but that you will try and express between feeds so you can offer a top-up of ebm.

i would also see if you have a local breastfeeding counsellor who can advise you and check latch etc etc

prettybird · 02/11/2010 10:57

If you weren't weighing her, would you be worried? Is she happy, healthy and alert?

It's really not helpful to weigh on a weekly basis, as baby's weight gain is not a neat upward line - there will be stops and starts. The only reason it is smoothed in your red book is that that is the result of thousands of different babies.

crikeybadger · 02/11/2010 10:57

Poor you- the weigh in does put such pressure on Mums doesn't it. Sad

It sounds like you have got through so much already so don't be too hard on yourself.

FF doesn't have to be imposed on any one unless there is a medical reason for that. If the HV wants you to go down the formula route then ask her to justify her reasons for that. Ask her if she thinks your baby is otherwise healthy.

Like you say- you have plenty of milk and formula isn't any more calorific than breast.

Could it not be oversupply causing the explosive nappies? Have you tried block feeding for that?

Let us know how you get on won't you?

crikeybadger · 02/11/2010 11:00

Yes, good points about expressing and paed referral TiY.

Anyway, sedgie- why not wait until the weigh in - you might be pleasantly surprised and find out she has gained weight! (fingers crossed anyway) Smile

Original poster
sedgiebaby · 02/11/2010 11:01

thisisyesterday, I saw the hospital BF co-ordinator yesterday, I went about my thrush and this allergy rash to the med (I didn't know that's what it was at the time) she spent two hours with me and watched me do an entire feed and change very big pooy nappy. She found a slight tongue tie in DD less than 25% she missed it at first. DD will be referred but she was happy with how DD had latched and how she was feeding. She did show me how to improve it further. She observed baby seemed well but I'm quite sure she is skinnier and my mum thinks the same (we will soon find out)

The tongue tie may account for some of the BF problems I've had but it hasn't seemed to stop her getting nourishmet from me when looking at her pattern of feeding.

The nurse took the nappy to a pead for opinion when I left - I haven't had any feedback on it but she was happy with the colour a question only about the gel like texture. I gave up diary one week ago tomorrow. I will try anything.

I have a pump it is just difficult as DD will not let me put her down at the moment she wakes up when going in her carrycot she is very congested and flat on her back she gets so snuffly I think she wakes herself up.

OP posts:
crikeybadger · 02/11/2010 11:03

OK, sedgie so even a slight tongue tie can affect the feeding, let's hope you can get it snipped soon.

Could you pump on the other side whilst you are feeding DD?

tiktok · 02/11/2010 11:05

sedgiebaby - pressure, pressure :( :(

You need to talk to someone in real life about this - there's too many unknowns in your post :)

But it is considered poor practice to weigh healthy babies more often than monthly once they have achieved birthweight - your baby regained her lost birthweight by day 14 which is perfectly normal. What justification have they given you for this weekly weighing? It's not necessary and it is misleading and pressurising. Why do it?

If it is thought (for some reason) your baby needs more milk, then you have the milk already in your breasts! You can feed more often, inc at night; you can feed more 'sides' at a time.

The poos sound normal, BTW; bits of mucus are not unusual. But see what the HV says.

No one can 'impose' ff on you.

Ask them why she is being weighed so blimmin often....

thisisyesterday · 02/11/2010 11:06

ahh well i hope she surprises you later!!!

has she grown in length? i know sometimes they can put all their energy into getting longer and it can affect weight gain (only short term)

so she might seem skinnier because she has grown in length iyswim?

Original poster
sedgiebaby · 02/11/2010 11:11

crikeybadger The hold I'm employing to maximise the latch wouldn't allow me access or hands to express :S

I'm close to a huge teaching hospital they snip on thursdays, so will be this or next, it is so slight/far back that the nurse (referring) wants to be there to show them, it sounds so brutal I'm sad to think of her having it :'(

OP posts:
Original poster
sedgiebaby · 02/11/2010 11:14

Tiktok, yes I've seen probably the best person (subsequent post) there is more goin on to address.

TIYesterday Yes she is growing in length, were a tall gangly mum and dad actually

OP posts:
Original poster
sedgiebaby · 02/11/2010 11:15

Tiktok what do you mean more sides at a time pls?

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 02/11/2010 11:15

aww don't worry about the snip!

ds2 had his snipped at 3 weeks and he didn't even wake up!

thisisyesterday · 02/11/2010 11:15

more sides just means keep swapping. so once she has had both sides then go back to the first... and so on
if she wants it that is

Original poster
sedgiebaby · 02/11/2010 11:16

TIYest, thanks for telling me that :)

OP posts:
MoonUnitAlpha · 02/11/2010 11:33

My ds also had a tongue tie snipped at 3 weeks and barely noticed Grin I was almost in tears at thought of it, but he was just mildly irritated by the doctor poking about in his mouth, then was asleep before we'd even left the room.

jaggythistle · 02/11/2010 11:46

my DS was snipped at 8 days and was ok and feeding in minutes. It really helped him to stay latched on and his feding and weight gain got much better.

Maybe helprd that DH held him while i watched from across the room Blush

TheProvincialLady · 02/11/2010 11:47

I think TikTok means to offer one side, then swap to the other, then go back to the first, etc until your DD won't take any more.

ginger2000 · 02/11/2010 12:14

Hi - just thought you might want to hear what my GP said yesterday about weight gain(I have been seeing her as DD2 who is 5 weeks old, was having up to 12 green, mucusy nappies a day)

DD2 had lost weight last week and has stayed the same this week. GP wasn't too worried and said to get her weighed in a fortnight asweight can fluctuate so much at this age. She didn't mention formula at all and i think you should totally sidestep that if it is suggested (assuming you don't want to give formula)

I have also reduced dairy intake and have been block feeding - there has been some improvement in gassiness (Sp!)and mucus but not sure which has had the most effect!

LittleAmy · 02/11/2010 13:11

Is formula really not more calorific than breast? Then why are all the FF babies at my baby group fatty bunters?

MoonUnitAlpha · 02/11/2010 13:14

I think babies tend to take more from a bottle, especially as they can't control the flow of milk to comfort suck. It's less work to get the milk. I know my ds will chug a bottle in minutes.

LittleAmy · 02/11/2010 13:33

sigh

So is that my when I feed DD it takes 40 minutes. But when DH feeds her it takes 10 minutes?

thisisyesterday · 02/11/2010 13:42

littleamy... formula milk is based on breastmilk. it tries to be as similar as it possibly can :)

the fat content of breastmilk varies from day to day and month to month
the fat content of formula is steady. so i guess formula fed babies maybe do get more fat overall
also the fats in breastmilk are readily used by the body whereas those in formula are harder to use and (i've read) explains why formula fed babies have thicker, smellier stools

there are a couple of interesting articles on it here and here

crikeybadger · 02/11/2010 20:01

sedgiebaby - how did the weigh-in go this afternoon?

SirBoobAlot · 02/11/2010 20:39

OP how worrying for you :( I hope the weigh in went well, agree with Tiktok - once they have regained birth weight there's no need for such frequent weighing. How long does she feed from each breast - does she get enough of the fattier milk, do you think?

And no one can force you to formula feed.

LittleAmy - its easier for them to take from a bottle, harder for them to digest formula, and harder for them to burn it off.