Getting stressed about low weight gain

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Dd is now 2 wks, 2 days, and isn't putting on weight. In my head, I know that she was a big baby (10lb2), neither dh nor I are particularly big, and ds did the same thing - was born big, then settled onto 25th centile. She lost about 14 oz, and has put back about 2, over 9 or 10 days.

BUT I'm getting so stressed about it - the mw said she wasn't concerned, as she is wetting plenty of nappies and doing yellow poos, but I can feel myself getting worried - if she sleeps in the day I worry that I should wake her up and try and feed her, but then she is sleepy, and falls asleep again really quickly. She feeds forever in the evening, and I worry that there isn't enough milk for her. She definitely looks thinner than when she was born (though she was very chunky!) - anyone got any advice to stop me worrying? Thanks.

I've only just got over my bf'ing problems so I'm not the best person to give advice but I'm some will come along soon. In the meantime, I had similar problems a while ago a there's a thread on here somewhere called "I want to give up" where I got some brilliant advice so it might help to read that.

Hope everything works out, good luck!

Have a look at this thread.

It can really be distressing. Shut that little red book up in a drawer, and hide the key until you want to write down the date of her first smile, then lock it away again until you want to write down the next milestone date. Those centile lines are NASTY. Must dash, but will keep an eye out for any more posts. Chin up!

Sounds as though you know the reasons about why she has lost weight but are just having bit of a 'wobbly' musica. This is not at all unusual for a big baby. It can take 3-4 weeks for babies to regain their birthweight. Yellow poos are fantastic. She will start to gain weight soon. I wouldn't let her sleep longer that 4 hours during the day if you can. Is she feeding during the night? Is she latching on well? Are your nipples OK?If so, be patient and have confidence in yourself.

From memory, it took my ds 8 weeks to regain birthweight - but similar to you - he was a relatively big boy at birth (8lb 15oz) and neither dh nor I are big (and we were both skinny as kids).

But the important thing was that ds was happy, healthy and alert, wetting plenty of nappies and with the odd yellowy poo. That's all the matters.

If you weren't weighing her, would you be worried? Would your instinct be saying she was OK? Go by that and enjoy these early days with her - they are so precious.

BTW - ds is now a happy, healthy and alert 3 year old. I don't have a clue how much he weighs, but I think he's somewhere around average.

Honestly, all babies lose weight after they are born. They have lots of supplies on board - esp if they are so bouncingly bonny to start with Please don't be stressed. My ds lost weight and it worried me a LOT. He's so chubby now. Short, but stout! She's gaining now, anyway. It will all pile on so quickly now. Good luck!

Hang on in there. You are doing really well. I know it's hard but try not to stress about it.

Thanks for the encouragement. She's been less dopey today, so I've felt better about it. Mears, she feeds once in the night - we put her to bed about midnight, and then she wakes between 5 and 6. She is really alert, so I think this must just be something my babies do - be huge at birth, and then settle to something reasonable afterwards.

Thanks again!

Just to update, mw has just been, and dd has put on 60g since Monday, which isn't fantastic, but is in the right direction, so I'm going to concentrate on not being stressed!!! Ds' feeding turned into such a nightmare, I'm going to try and enjoy dd's more.

Thanks again for encouragement!