breastfed baby has dropped 2 centiles

[jewels38]

Hi I hope someone can advise me! My lo was 9lb at birth and was on the 91st centile. anyway long story short the last couple of times I have had her weighed she has dropped down to the 50th centile. However she is constantly gaining weight and is now 12lb 9 1/2 onz.She is a very happy baby and feeds well during the day and wakes up for one feed at night so I thought I was doing ok, but the HV says when she sees me next I might have to think about topping her up with formula ( which I really did not want to do ) She also told me that all there scales were condemmed about a month ago as they were weighing wrong! Is it normal for babies to drop in centiles and what I dont understand is how can she be gaining weight but dropping in centiles? Im in such a muddle and keep thinking perhaps Im not doing right for her and should switch to formula, hope someone can help x

Try not to worry. The main thing is that she is constantly gaining weight, happy and is developing as she should.

It is perfectly normal for some babies to drop percentiles, especially if they were on a very high percentile at birth. This simply means that they are finding their own weight gain pattern.

It's possible to drop percentiles despite gaining weight, because the weight gain isn't as fast as on the percentile graphs. Many babies do this.

I see no reason for you to give her formula milk.

If a baby is gaining weight but dropping centiles, it just means that it's not gaining weight as quickly as expected.

My baby was also born on the 91st, dropped to the 75th at around 8 weeks, and has dropped to the 50th now at 5 months.

You don't have to take your baby for weighing - it's an optional thing. If you're happy with your babies progress and you're getting plenty of wet and dirty nappies I would say there is nothing to worry about.

Some health visitors are a bit obsessive about weight and topping up. If your baby was seriously underweight, then it's something to consider, but the fact your baby is now in the 50th centile means she is average size for her age. Why on earth should anyone worry about having a perfect average sized baby?

if she has gone from 91st - 50th she has dropped 41 centiles

what was she once she had lost and regained her birth weight?

My 9 week old was over the 50th at birth (7lb 13).... but buy the time she had regained her birth weight at 20 days old she was just over the 25th. My HV takes it from centile once regained birth weight/

she is now midway between the 25th and the 9th (10lb 8) but is definitely dropping, but not dramatically.

I am breast feeding her and not giving her formular regardless of any advice i get from HV. She is growing as nature intended, happy, healthy, feeds LOADS in the day, then a dream feed and 1 wakening in the night.

like adults some babies are large and some are small.

If your mummy instinct says your baby is fine then trust it

nannyl - the OP's baby has dropped 2 centiles, not 41 :) The terminology is to do with the chart and the pre-printed lines on it - and a drop from 91st to 50th is TWO centiles, that is from the 91st to the 75th to the 50th, which is generally considered within normal for a healthy baby.

OP - centile lines trace the rate of growth. So a baby gaining weight comparatively slowly will fall down centiles . Your HV should be able to explain, but if the only answer she has to a baby whose weight is causing concern is to top up with formula you might want to find a better informed one

Your baby is almost certainly fine, OP, but if there is concern, feeding more often/more effectively on the breast is the first and easiest option.

If she seems happy, is feeding, is gaining weight and has regular wet nappies I wouldn't top up with formula.

My first started just above 25th centile, leapt up to near 75th in the first few weeks, then back down again over the coming months. Totally normal.

Thankyou all for your advice, I will carry on doing what im doing but perhaps try and fit in a few more feeds