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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Newborn breast feeding advice - baby not gaining weight :(

39 replies

McDreamy · 17/01/2011 17:02

My SIL had a beautiful baby girl just over a week ago and she's so keen to breastfeed. So far she's doing brilliantly but the midwife came today and found the baby weighs more than a pound less than when she was born. (She was only 6lb 14oz at birth).

The midwife is coming back out later in the week to re weigh and if no gain she will be back in hospital.

The baby is a quick feeder, she's usually done in 8-10 minutes and then will go 2-3 hours between feeds.

My children were big feeders so weight loss was never an issue for me. I'm finding it a bit difficult to offer any decent advice.

Can you help?

OP posts:
Original poster
McDreamy · 25/01/2011 10:29

zayla I really pleased to hear your DS started gaining weight.

OP posts:
crikeybadger · 25/01/2011 10:34

Poor things McDreamy. Sad

I was only thinking about this thread last night wondering what had happened. Let's hope they get some help and get back on track soon.

PlasticLentilWeaver · 25/01/2011 10:43

How are things now? We have a fab BF support group just outside swindon and the john radcliffe in oxford has BFC on site with open clinics twice weekly.

Original poster
McDreamy · 25/01/2011 10:57

It's not brilliant, they are in hospital and have been offered tube feeding or bottle. I think they are both feeling quite upset and lacking in information/advice Sad

OP posts:
mendipgirl · 25/01/2011 11:03

McDreamy, I can't offer any advice, but just wanted to say that I had a very similar experience with my DD and whilst I did eventually give up BF, DD was completely fine, and is now such a happy healthy little girl. Your DN is in the best place and they will look after him. I really feel for your SIL it is the scariest thing I have ever been through, but he will be okay!

crikeybadger · 25/01/2011 13:31

Is there an infant feeding specialist in the hospital Mcdreamy? Or try one of the bfing helplines- difficult I know when they are in hospital. It's a shame that they are not being well supported - it's hard to push for information when you are exhausted and worried isn't it.

Have they managed to find out why she lost so much weight in the first place?

Wholelottalove · 25/01/2011 13:35

McDreamy - just pm'd you.

zayla · 25/01/2011 18:57

It sounds like they are doing a 'test feed'. They basically feed them by tube/bottle top-ups so they know how much they are getting for e.g. a day and weigh them before and after - the idea I think is to see if it's a 'feeding issue' i.e. they are just not getting enough calories into them which from a medical point of view is regarded as easy to solve, or something physiological. It's apparently a feeding issue in something like 90% of cases, so good luck.

Original poster
McDreamy · 26/01/2011 18:18

They are home and thanks to tiktok & Wholelottalove they have had some brilliant advice and a 2 hour session with a breast feeding counsellor. Ladies thank you so much. Wholelottalove SIL is going to look out for you! Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
McDreamy · 26/01/2011 18:20

That's not to say the rest of the advice on here wasn't also valuable, thank you all! Smile

OP posts:
tiktok · 26/01/2011 19:15

That's great, McDreamy.

(McD and I exchanged some PMs, away from this board).

crikeybadger · 26/01/2011 19:34

Wonderful to hear that they are home now McDreamy. Smile

zayla · 27/01/2011 10:02

Great news and good luck!

Wholelottalove · 27/01/2011 12:07

No worries mcdreamy will look out for her :)

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