BF 5 week old only put on 1oz in weight

[LittleDonkin]

My DD was 5 weeks old yesterday. I took her to baby clinic on Monday to be weighed to find out she had only put on 1oz. She weighed 7lb at birth then went down to 6lb 7oz and on monday weighed 7lb 14oz. We had a big weight gain of 8ozs between 2 and 3 weeks. I told the HV she has a last feed around 10.30 then can sleep through from anywhere between 3-5.30 am. The HV suggested that I wake her at around 2am to feed but I am feeding on demand and surely waking her for a feed isnt demand feeding she wouldnt sleep if she was hungry would she??? Should I be worried about this rate of weight gain?

LittleDonkin, are you saying your baby has gained 24 ounces in 3.5 weeks? Overall, this is a good pattern, yes? She lost well within normal amounts after birth so there was no initial issue.

Once babies have regained their birthweight, and are healthy, it's not good practice to weigh them more often than once a month - any more often and the information is misleading.

Your dd sounds as if she is thriving - if the HV thinks she needs more milk, then of course you should consider what she says seriously, but the frequency of feeding seems to be ok for her. It would be a different matter if she appeared underfed - but no one thinks that, do they?

Sorry - she has gained 21 oz in 3.5 weeks. Normal.

My DD only used to put on about an ounce a week, I used to wonder if she had had a big dump just before the weigh in if she would have lost weight.

She crept up the scales week after week in tiny amounts while my friend's baby (10 days apart) seemed to put on huge amounts. Today they are both very healthy 11 year olds, both active and fit. My DD is very slender and petite, my friend's daughter is much sturdier and taller.

What do your instincts tell you? If she seems OK otherwise then relax and enjoy her. Try doing what the HV suggests and if that helps stick with it.

Is that 1oz in a week after big gain the week before?

Why are you going weekly? - my HV said only to come monthly as babies do not put on evenly can have big gain one week and small gain on another.

Unless there is any other reason to be worried I wouldn't bother with waking her up.

My HV sent me away last week as it was only 3 weeks since ds was last weighed She said he didn't need to be weighed more than once a month unless there was a specific concern.

yep 1oz gained from last monday to this monday. HV said has said see you next week the 2 times I have been so thats why I keep going every week! I keep stressing because everyone keeps saying how "delicate" she is and they cant believe it when I say she is 5 weeks old they think I have just popped her out!!! I am also worried because I am only feeding from one breast as I had a reduction on one side to even me out and I have never really had any milk in the reduced breast.

Women can usually breastfeed happily from one breast only, LittleDonkin, if they have to, and some babies decide that's all they want to do :)

Thanks tiktok people keep reasuring me that she will be getting all she needs from the one breast but I still worry! Oh the joys of being a first time mum a lifetime of worry begins!!

I know of a few one-breasters :) sounds like you're doing fab.

The HV said she looks well and since birth everyone has said what a lovely colour she is we havent had any problems with jaundice and that she is very alert. Its just the HV seemed to contradict herself by saying she wasnt worried and that I shouldnt be worried and then to suggest waking her for a 2am feed.

It won't do any harm to wake her at 2am, even if it's not necessary - the HV was probably just trying to give you an option for something to do if you were worried. If I were you I'd give it a couple of weeks before you weigh her again, and if you're still concerned then add in the extra feed.