dropping centiles

[GetDownYouWillFall]

DS is 16 weeks and has dropped centiles the last two weigh-ins (one month apart). He is breastfed exclusively, and I thought it was going pretty well, but now I have lost a bit of confidence.

He is still just under 50th so am not too concerned, but HV said he should be staying around his birth weight one (which I think was around the 75th).

What can I do to increase his intake ? I think my supply is ok, but he doesn't feed for very long during the day (5-10mins per feed). He feeds much longer at night, and I think maybe part of the problem is in the day he gets distracted. I can't force him to feed though, he gets really worked up and screams if I keep trying and he doesn't want any more.

I feel so pleased to have bf this time round (with DD I stopped after 3 weeks) and I was planning on carrying on till 6 months. I really don't want to be pressured into formula or early weaning

The usual rule of thumb about 'when to be concerned' is if a baby drops two centile spaces and your baby hasn't - 75th to 50th is one. It's not usually a worry if the baby is developing well and is in clear good health, anyway, even if the two centile spaces have been dropped. There's no 'should' about it, anyway, despite what your HV says :(

If you and the HV think he would benefit from more milk then he can be offered a third or fourth 'side' at each feed...but if he doesn't want it, then he doesn't want it :) It's often easier to go with this flow, than to try to 'make' a baby feed when he doesn't want to....even if he is making up the volume at night.

Maybe get some further reassurance from your HV, to make sure that this is not really anything you need to 'do' something about? On what you say here, there's no reason for weaning or formula, that's for sure :)

Thanks very much tiktok sorry for not replying sooner, finding it hard to get on the computer, DS is hard to put down at the moment!

I think he has dropped two centile spaces as he's now below the 50th (although only just). He does seem to be well and happy though, so I guess I need not be too worried.

Today he has actually fed for longer per feed and so I feel a bit better. Hopefully all will be fine I tend to get anxious over any weight related issue because I had a terrible time with DD losing weight when she was a baby.

My DD was born on 75th centile and dropped to 50th pretty early on. She then dropped to just below the 25th and has stayed there. I grow decent sized babies but they grow up pretty skinny.

HVs can be a bit number obsessed I feel.

thanks eglu yes I think you're right. HVs seem to expect them to pretty much follow one line from birth, but that's unrealistic for many babies. My DD was a bit of the opposite - 25th at birth, dropped down to something like the 0.4th! Then by her 2 year check she was on the 95th for both weight and height

Thats the kind of thing that will then having HV telling your baby is too fat and is going to be obese.

One line from birth???

My DS was born on the 75th, within two weeks had dropped to about the 9th and sort of followed along between the 5th-9th for ages. At age 1 he was at the 25th, and now at age 2 he's nearer the 50th.

I found the solution was to stop taking him to be weighed. I can see he's healthy and growing out of his clothes, and we're both much happier.

yes eglu for some reason they don't seem as concerned when babies are on the upper end of the chart Even though being overweight and obesity has a lot more serious consequences long term than being underweight...

Yank I agree, not going to weigh-ins any more would probably help my neuroticism concern!

My DS2 had dropped from 50th to 9th centiles (was EBF then mixed and now formula), he is just destined to be small no matter how i feed him. He's happy, alert and content.

I also think 'if i do not go to weigh ins, and remove the bloody chart from the red book (wouldn't but tempted) then would i be concerned about any other aspect of his development..............nope!

My only regret was not realising this before i ditched breast feeding in panic at his slooooow weight gain.

Saw a health visitor today who had common sense and has reassured me loads, the last one I saw had me panicking beyond belief!

forgot to say he's 14weeks

my DS is EBF, also 14 weeks, hes dropped from 25th to 9th, to just below 9th. HV suggested top-up with formula, I told her to get lost! As I understand it, topping up with formula would only decrease my milk supply further? Tiktok you seem very knowledgable - should I top up with formula? No other concerns about baby health / development.
Thanks!

Glad I read this thread, am currently having a sulk about HVs and that bloody weight chart. My DD (16w) has dropped two percentiles in the space of about 8 weeks, I am trying to decide whether or not to introduce formula, wake her for a night feed, start her on baby rice etc. She has not put any weight on in 4 weeks. She has had a cold though, and is still coughing a lot. And the last time I had a panic over her not gaining much, I took her again the week after and she'd gained 8oz. So will just have to struggle through this week, and hope she puts something on before HV refers us to the hospital.

sorry to hear that appleyeverafter that sounds stressful It's normal for them to lose weight if they are a bit ill isn't it? I think they normally gain it again quite rapidly after they get better. Don't feel pressured into giving formula or early weaning unless you really want to. Is there a bfeeding clinic you can get to?

gondolo- you may find that you'll get more responses if you start a new thread about your situation. But in short, the simplest way to get more milk in to a baby is to feed more frequently and offer at least both breasts at each feed. You're right that formula top ups can undermine breastfeeding.

Appley- hope your LO is better soon and her weight picks up. Fwiw, I don't think baby rice will help your situation as it tends to fill them up with something less calorific than breastmilk. Again, you'll get more suggestions if you start another thread.

Op. My 16w DD2 is exactly the same as yours! I had the hv angst a couple of wks ago so staying away for a while. I can't force her to feed anymore than she does. She screams at me! Just wish she wasn't taking all her calories at night....

She's developing so much and getting taller so I guess fat stores have taken a backburner for a while.

If baby seems to be developing fine apart from dropping centiles I wouldn't worry (easier said than done lol). Has your lo become more active recently? Is he still gaining but just slowed down weight gain or actually losing weight? If he's more active that could explain a decrease in the rate of weight gain.

If you want your lo to take more milk in the day it might be worth taking them to bed/lying with them in a dark room in the afternoon and give the opportunity to feed without distractions. Doesn't always work but it's worth a try :)

If you supplement with formula yes it can decrease your own supply. Don't let anyone try to talk you into doing something you don't feel comfortable with. Once you start down the formula route it can be hard to turn back so be sure if that is what you decide.