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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

BF baby not gaining weight

17 replies

tattyteddy · 26/03/2011 14:17

Hello,

Just wanted a bit of advice and others' experiences.

My little girl is two weeks old today and was born weighing 8lb 10.5oz. I have been bf exclusively since she was born (apart from three ff on day 5).

The first weigh in for baby was at day 6 and she'd lost slightly more than 10% so they weighed her again at day 8 by when she'd put weight on. However the next two weigh ins have seen her lose a little more weight again, Tuesday and Friday gone.

They're weighing her again on Monday. I'm feeling really worried that she's not putting weight on. She seems alert and feeding well so can't understand why there has been no gain in weight. Could I not be producing enough breast milk?

As anybody experienced this? What will the midwives do next if she continues to gain no weight?

Any advice/experience very much appreciated.
Thanks xx

OP posts:

ShowOfHands · 26/03/2011 14:23

Does she wee and poo regularly?

I think you need to see somebody qualified to help. Has somebody observed a feed/checked her latch? Have the given you any advice on how to help your baby gain weight? Do you have helpline numbers for breastfeeding counsellors?

Are the same scales being used each time with a naked baby? What did the scales say?

Original poster

tattyteddy · 26/03/2011 15:21

Hello show of hands and thanks for the reply,

She does wee and poo regularly and the midwives think my latch is fine. They haven't given any advice yet apart from don't let het go more than four hours without a feed, which she rarely does.

I don't think they've used the same scale each time, because quite often a different midwife comes to visit and yes they do weigh her naked. The scales have given the following weights

Birth weight 12/3/11 3920g
18/3/11 3520g
20/3/11 3630g
22/3/11 3590g
25/3/11 3560g

She was two weeks overdue, I wonder if that makes a difference? I have been in touch with the bf peer support coordinators is that the same as a bf counsellor? xx

OP posts:

crikeybadger · 26/03/2011 15:26

If it's a case of simply getting more milk in to her (ie. there's no underlying reason for the weight loss), then here's some suggestions of how to do this.

Keep DD close to you and feed at the slightest squeak. Don't feed to a routine such as every three hours, just as often as you can.
Feed from one breast, then offer the other when she comes off the first side by herself. You can go back to the'first side' again and switch as often as you want.
Take DD to bed with you and just snuggle up skin to skin.
Equally, make sure you feed lots at night.
Make sure your latch is as good as it can be, otherwise she may be finding it hard to get enough milk in. Have a look at Dr Jack Newman's site for good latch videos.

Did the mws give you any advice?

kellieb7 · 26/03/2011 15:34

Hi, I had a very similar experience although my DD was premature. I did exactly what Crikeybadger is advising and literally offered the breast everytime DD stirred and if she didn't wake I would wake her. Things very quickly improved for us and her weight gain is now fantastic so stick with it, best of luck and I really sympathise with what your going through.

vintageteacups · 26/03/2011 15:37

What crikeybadger said (making sure you co-sleep safely).

Is she jaundiced at all? If yes, then she may be reluctant to feed as often which is why it's important to let her feed often - don't stick to any routine and just keep feeding.

vintageteacups · 26/03/2011 15:39

I regularly hear people who are supposedly feeding on demand say "oh, they're crying - well it can't be because they're hungry - they aren't due for a feed for another 2 hours."
Or "I only fed him 30 mins ago - he can't be hungry".

On demand means on demand - trust your instinct and I'm sure she'll quickly put on weight.

crikeybadger · 26/03/2011 15:44

One more thing- has she been checked for tongue tie?

Original poster

tattyteddy · 26/03/2011 16:28

Hello ladies,

I have been bf as soon as baby wants it and haven't set any time intervals. The MW has said the baby looks well and is not jaundiced, I haven't asked about tounge tie but will on Monday and see what they say.

Thanks for all the advice I shall try all the various things you have mentioned. At night time I do feed her lying down, which is nice and means i can get some rest whilst bf.

Thanks again for all the advice, it's much appreciated. xx

OP posts:

kellieb7 · 26/03/2011 16:34

One more thing - I had to offer the breast in the early days even when DD wasn't rooting/mouthing, sometimes she would take it, sometimes she wouldn't.

vintageteacups · 26/03/2011 16:37

Sounds like you're doing all the right things tatty - hope your LO has put on some weight next time you have her weighed.

crikeybadger · 26/03/2011 16:51

Agree vintageteacups.

You can also google breast compression which keeps interest going if she tends to get sleepy during a feed.

Have a relaxing weekend tatty and just feed,feed,feed.

japhrimel · 26/03/2011 18:47

Positioing as well as latch can affect efficiency of feeds. TBH feeding lying down is great but DD still struggles to get a deep enough latch to feed efficiently in that position and she's 15 week old!

Groovymoves · 26/03/2011 20:31

Some great advice already.

Do lots of skin to skin with her and feed, feed, feed.

Do you let her come off the breast herself? The highly calorific milk is at the end of the feed and it can often look like baby has stopped feeding. They will do little fluttery sucks, the milk is harder for them to get out, think sucking butter through a straw! Leave her on until she falls off. If she has nodded off gently squeeze your breast, this will send a spurt into her mouth and encourage her to start sucking again.

Original poster

tattyteddy · 26/03/2011 20:58

Great suggestions, I do normally let her roll of the breast herself rather than take her off, as per mw suggestion.

When she feeds lying down she does seem to get a good feed but I'll keep an eye on it. I will also try the squeeze when she slows down and see if that helps.

Thanks again for all your help and adcice. X

OP posts:

DownyEmerald · 26/03/2011 21:06

Everyone has said great things - I found the Jack Newman site really useful. And also kellymom.com.

Just wanted to add my sympathy - I've been there - sounds like you are doing really well. Hoping for some weight gain here too.

MoChan · 26/03/2011 21:13

My daughter was like this, but there was never anything wrong with her. She only really started to gain after about the three/four week stage, and then the gain was really slow. She was absolutely healthy, though, and bright, and very nappy-producing, if a bit skinny... she suddenly started gaining weight v. quickly around 4-5 months, ended up looking like a little Buddha by 6mo.

Original poster

tattyteddy · 27/03/2011 11:42

Thanks ladies, hopefully she'll gain some weight soon xx

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