Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

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

Original poster

H/V advising to start giving my, EBF 20 week old dd, solids due to slow weight gain, any advice?

28 replies

DreamingAboutSleep · 17/02/2011 15:09

The H/V has been out every week/2 weeks since the begining of Jan to weigh my DD as she dropped to the 25th in Dec. She has continued to gain slowly since then. H/V has previously advised topping up with EBM/FF but DD won't take a bottle (whole other thread) so I've continued to EBF on demand and try and watch cues, feed her before she cries in hunger etc etc.

Any way H/V has just weighed her again DD has gained a bit and is just on the 25th centile H/V basically said if I wanted she would refer DD to a dietician or I could start her on solids now or just continue with EBF Confused

I'm not sure what I should do, on the one hand H/V is saying not to worry too much about charts as long as DD is gaining she is ok, on the other she asked if I'm topping her up, do I want DD to be referred to a dietcian and is coming out to my home every 2 weeks to weigh DD.

So any advice about slow weight gain or starting solids earlier would be great!

OP posts:
MoonUnitAlpha · 17/02/2011 15:11

What's wrong with being on the 25th centile? Does you dd seem healthy and happy?

Original poster
DreamingAboutSleep · 17/02/2011 15:28

I didn't know if there was something wrong with the 25th centile? DD seems fine, she seems to be eating fine, is alert and happy when she's awake and is meeting all her developmental milestones. That's why I'm a bit confused by the advice, I thought she would either be doing ok or not by now but I can't seem to get any clear advice from H/V.

OP posts:
MoonUnitAlpha · 17/02/2011 15:36

A quarter of babies are smaller than your DD, so surely just being on the 25th centile isn't a problem...

What centile was she at once she regained her birth weight?

I thought it was bad practice for babies to be weighed more than once a month at most anyway. If your dd is gaining weight, alert, content etc then I don't understand the HV's concern.

Lynzjam · 17/02/2011 15:40

My DD is on the 25th too. Was born on the 50th. My HV isn't concerned. What do you feel you should do?

EdgarAleNPie · 17/02/2011 15:44

if you want to start solids, try mixing baby rice wth EBM and spoon feeding it first. cuddle baby to feed, kissing near their mouth to make them make licking motions. 20 weeeks is not particularly early in the scheme of things.

if not, then don't.

Piffle · 17/02/2011 15:46

as if baby rice and fruit/veg purees have more cals than milk?

More milk is the bets option,
I say this as my dd went from 50th at birth to 0.4...
Where she still is aged 8
So long as height and weight are basically the same and baby is happy healthy and otherwise thriving, try to relax about it

Original poster
DreamingAboutSleep · 17/02/2011 15:49

I know, I'm not sure I understand either. There was some confusion around her birth weight, the hosp weighed her at 6lb 13 but she had gained almost a pound at her two week check so they said the hosp must have got her birth weight wrong and that her weight put her on the 75th centile.

Then a couple of H/V checks/clinics were cancelled due to the snow and the GP didn't weigh her at the 8wk check so she didn't get weighed again till Jan when it looked like she had dropped from the 75th to the 25th centile. The H/V has been out 4 times to weigh her since then!

I just want to know if I should be worried or not, I wouldn't think to start her on solids early if there hadn't been this focus on her weight as she seems to be healthy, happy and eating fine but I don't want to think that she is hungry or not getting enough milk!

OP posts:
FannyFifer · 17/02/2011 15:55

My DD has put on weight slowly as well, was 8lb8oz born so quite big but has been around the 25th percentile since a few weeks old.

She is now one, eats like a horse and is still a petite wee thing, only just reached 20lbs and is about 40th percentile for height.

No need to introduce solids, sounds like she doing well.

PenguinArmy · 17/02/2011 15:55

I think your HV is unusually fixated on weight. By the sounds of it, her centile has been stable ever since the HV got involved so what's the problem?

Look at your baby, ignore the weight and decide if she's OK or not. A drop 75 to 25 is within normal range.

plasticspoon · 17/02/2011 15:59

My ebf ds dropped from the 25th centile at birth to just between 2nd and 9th now and my hv did go overboard weighing him for a bit (which I found stressful, she did him every week for a month!) but she's now agreed he's just small. Take heart and carry on! You are giving your dd the best food available.

Original poster
DreamingAboutSleep · 17/02/2011 15:59

Sorry last post was response to MUA as I hadn't seen the others!

I probably wouldn't start her on solids for a little longer as she really seems fine and is feeding regularly and it feels like she's getting enough.

I'm just getting a bit stressed trying to work out if this is a problem or not so thought I would see what others thought and hopefully feel reassured DD is in fact ok despite all H/V visits (don't think it helps that I never saw a H/V with DD1 so I'm just assuming this must be a problem as they are visiting so regularly!!).

OP posts:
CMOTdibbler · 17/02/2011 15:59

is there a possibility that they weighed her wrong at her two week check ? Sounds like she was on the 25th at birth and has stayed there tbh. Which is no bad place to be

TittyBojangles · 17/02/2011 16:05

Not sure weighing every 2 weeks but without any decent advice about whether there is even a problem is much use. Could you see someone else? Or ask your GP?

It does sound like everything is fine, but obviously that is difficult to tell on here. Personally I wouldn't be weaning early, and I'd want the HV to be clear about why she feels the need to weigh more often. If she's worried about the weight then she needs to tell you why, and how to change it. If weight is a worry then the first port of call would be to feed more often rather than introduce formula, expressing or weaning. And I agree that weaning early is less calories than bm so a bit backwards.

I thought 2 centile drops was ok anyway? I really think you need to speak to the HV and get some clear answers and if you don't then speak to someone else (and tell her you are doing this). It's not fair for you to be worried about this when there may not even be anything to worry about.

PenguinArmy · 17/02/2011 16:06

Mine was born 25th and a few months ago was 0.4th. I reckon she's off it now and no HCP has ever raised an issue with it. Mine you she was walking at 8.5months and has always been very active. :)

TittyBojangles · 17/02/2011 16:08

Also, you don't actually have to see the HV you know.

TittyBojangles · 17/02/2011 16:10

If they are being no help I mean. Of course you need to make sure there is no actual problem with your DD first. I'm not advocating ignoring HCP advice completely, but HV advice seems to be so often a bit Hmm that maybe you need to bypass it?

MoonUnitAlpha · 17/02/2011 16:27

Sounds more like they weighed her wrongly at the 2 week check if her weight has been so consistent other than that one blip!

And even if not, my ds was born on the 75th and then went down to the 25th. None of the HVs I've seen have suggested it's a problem.

VeronicaCake · 17/02/2011 16:36

You are understandably concerned about your HV's abnormal behaviour. It is hard to say whether this is healthy or not because all HVs are different. Some like to weigh and measure babies frequently whilst others are more keen to reassure and avoid causing anxiety. With HVs (particularly if this is your first HV) you have to learn to trust your instincts.

More seriously it sounds like your DD has been gaining weight consistently and is happy and responsive and normal. And you probably know that because she's your second child.

So give the HV a call and ask exactly why she has been weighing your DD so frequently given current guidelines are not to weigh more than a once a month. Ask her if she is actually concerned and ask her to spell out her concerns precisely. If she can't give you a coherent answer make an appt with your GP and ask the same questions. And if you still aren't satisfied ask for a referral to a paediatrician.

I'm just wondering if your HV has misunderstood the situation and is actually trying to reassure you with the frequent weigh-ins (and make up for the earlier cock-ups!). The fact that she isn't actively advising you to do anything different unless you want to sounds like she isn't personally particularly concerned.

Original poster
DreamingAboutSleep · 17/02/2011 16:40

Thanks everyone, it's good to know it's not an uncommon thing and I've been so concerned that I might be missing something or somethings wrong I forget to go with my feelings on how DD is doing!

TBJ - I think your right about bypassing some advice and H/V just isn't clear when I try to pin her down! She keeps saying she isn't worried and there isn't a problem, but still wants to visit regularly to weigh her and still suggests I top up or express before each feed to ensure she is getting lots of hind-milk etc etc

My gut feeling is as there doesn't seem to be a health issue, DD seems stable on the 25th (and that probably was her centile at birth) and happy I will just continue to do what I've been doing. If her weight drops any more then I'll see the GP and get a second opinion.

OP posts:
japhrimel · 17/02/2011 16:46

So she's been on the 25th for at least 6 weeks? Sounds fine to me! And afaik at 20 weeks, you really shouldn't be having 2 weekly weigh-ins if LO is generally healthy and happy - monthly is recommended.

What they drop after birth almost doesn't matter if they then stabilise to a centile line and follow it. My DD was born at the 50th centile but had loads of issues and dropped to the 2nd in the first 10days. She then stabilised near the 9th centile and has stayed there and everyone is happy with her weight gain (GP, HV, etc). She's only 10 weeks but we only get her weighed every 3 weeks now despite everything.

japhrimel · 17/02/2011 16:46

Sorry, x-posted

itsatiggerday · 17/02/2011 16:53

Don't let them stress you. I had similar with DD, she dropped from 50th at birth to below 2nd over first 4/5 months. She's still little and eats well, she just is. I started solids from 21 weeks but very slowly and it was fine, but I'd recommend doing solids because you think it's the right time rather than because of weight - it takes a fair while to get to the solids contributing a significant calorie input to them.

FWIW, HV eventually referred me to paediatrician for her weight who could not have been less stressed. They did monitor her because she'd been referred but also looked at her more holistically in development and were happy that she was healthy, growing and doing all the things she was supposed to. One made an aside that HVs are trained to focus on the weight charts - implying that it's sometimes at the expense of a more complete view of the child's health. I just wish I'd heard more of that during the earlier months of stressful conversations and lectures from HVs.

DillyDaydreaming · 17/02/2011 17:09

Hello Dreaming, I'm a HV too and I think your HV sounds a bit over worried about the whole weight issue. Obviously I am not your HV and don't have access to your DD's records but being on the 25th centile for the past six weeks sounds fine especially as in your OP you say your DD is happy and contented.

Others here are correct - new guidence published two years ago recommended weighing babies once a month at most - any more than that and you pick up normal fluctuations in weight which on their own are nothing to be concerned with.

A quick question? If your HV was not weighing your baby and you'd never been to any clinics would you be concerned about your DD? If not then it sounds as though she is fine.

Personally speaking I find babies which start solids early lose weight rather than gain it. Solids are bulky and not usually that calorific - so they fill the stomach with not alot of calories. In that situation I find babies have static or little weight gain. More milk is the answer if weight is an issue but from your OP I have to say your DD's weight sounds fine.

Oh and the centile line babies are born on often bear no relation to the one they follow at 1 year.

Ask your HV to clarify her advice as you are confused (and I am confused by her advice too but then don't know your DD or any history).

EdgarAleNPie · 17/02/2011 17:27

piffle baby rice mixed with EBM does have more cals than BM. Avocado has more cals than milk.

see here

note they have rather uselessly quoted the cal value of baby rice when mixed with water, so you add the two (rice and EBM) together..

TimeWasting · 17/02/2011 17:59

I would definitely approach this as though the two week weigh was incorrect.
In which case she's been following the line fine.