Slow weight gain but very long baby

[flossie75]

My DS is 8 wks and since 6 wks the HV has been concerned about his weight gain. He's very long and lean - 99th centile for length but now just below 9th centile for weight. He's dropped through 2 centiles on his weight so I've been advised to see the doctor (apt booked for later in week). He is gaining weight, but slowly (since 1st wk when he lost 11%).

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

I'm exclusively BF on demand, and always till he's completely satisfied on one side so I think he's getting plenty of hind milk. We've tried giving an 'extra' dream feed with ebm but this just pushed back his next feed suggesting he wasn't starving hungry.

He wants to feed about every 2hrs in the day and goes 5/6 hrs for the first part of the night then every 2hrs.

My DH is 6'5'' and I'm 5'10'' and we're both pretty slim, so he looks like he's simply got our body shape. He's also really active (kicking loads) and engaging - loads of smiles and eye contact. In fact on everything else he's 'by the book'. The HV has said the doctor will probably suggest topping up with formula but I've read doing this can mean they're less hungry, demand less bm and that then affects your supply. Is this the case?

Sorry for the long post, but I'm being made to feel there's something really wrong but everything in my gut thinks it's all fine and just wanted to know whether anyone else has dealt with this. I don't really want to FF but I might just be being over sensitive?

If you have milk in your breasts then you don't need formula! If the GP/HV thinks it's a case of getting more milk into him then you can do that by offering at least 2 sides, preferably more, at every feed, and offering feeds more often.

How long is each feed lasting? Is his latch good/are you comfortable?

What centile was he born on?

Thanks RitaMorgan! I do offer the next side - but most of the time he's not interested. Occasionally he keeps going.

Feeds vary from 10-20 mins and the latch is really good. We've seen a BF counsellor and she said it was spot on. I feel really lucky as I've never had any discomfort.

His weight was on the 75th centile when he was born. They didn't measure him till 6 wks but everyone commented on him being long from day one, including those he didn't know how tall his dad is.

I'll just keep offering him a feed everytime he even looks like he might be hungry and hope that he makes some progress over the next few weeks.

75th to the 9th is a fair drop, so it makes sense to have the GP check him over to make sure all is well. If he suggests formula though make sure he's clear why he's recommending formula milk over breastmilk - as far as I know it doesn't have more calories and isn't more nutritious.

DD was 25th when born, tracked for a week & then gained only small amounts so she dropped to the 2nd, never lost any, just small gains. I don't do the clinics, but when she has been weighed since, 8 month check, popping her on the Wii she has tracked the 2nd.

My Health Authority didn't do length checks, but when I did it myself she was about 50th each time.

At 6 weeks old she looked like a skinned rabbit, but was full of energy, constantly moving & loads of smiles.

HV raised concerns, as did GP & both wanted me to 'top up' with formula, I refused until I received any help with BFing - I was having problems. Never received any help, never fed any formula. Paid to see a private BFing Consultant.

The week after the 6 week check I was visiting family & remember feeding her constantly, as most of the town can verify & she put on a tiny amount.

DD is now 21 months old & still weighs less than 9kg but is constantly on the go.

Thanks MrsDimples. It's always good to have some reassurance. Saw the doc today who isn't that concerned. He's prescribed some infant gaviscon as DS might have some mild reflux (he's sick quite a bit a while after feeding) but just said to get him weighed again in a few weeks to be sure he isn't losing weight.

DS did himself (and me) proud at the docs as well by looking all around, kicking and smiling - demonstrating that everything was in working order.

DD wasn't quite so long, but she tracked the 2nd weight and 50th length. No-one measured length in the UK, it was only when we moved the US.

Generally she would put on 2-3oz a week but was clearly fine, as such, not a single HCP ever raised any possibility of FF. She even dipped off the charts when she started walking (but that was 8.5 months so quite early)

Once we'd ruled out reflux, TT etc. we just went about our business

Well done flossie75 DS good to hear you have a reasonable Doc.

I remember asking the HV after another visit of banging on about formula top up & concerns about the miniscule weight gain, "if the energy used in building new bone & tissue etc could be why the weight gain was so tiny?". DD had shot up in length since last visit & HV even commented on it, to be told, "not to be so worried about it" . . . . errrr I'm not, you are

Good luck with the reflux