ebf 11 week old stopped gaining weight as fast - help!

[Sleepy27]

Hi, please don't be put off by the length of the message - I really want some help!

I went to have my happy, healthy 11 week old weighed this morning completely expecting to be told she was still on the 75th centile as she was until 6 weeks old, and she should now be 6 to 6.5 kg. She weighed in at 5.5kg (11lb).

The health visitor started giving me advice, which started me worrying anyway, but nothing she said helped because its stuff I'm already doing...

Feed from the first side till its finished, then offer the second (always at every feed - spend about 50 mins feeding at each feed including winding/ changing breaks)
Eat well
Feed regularly (every 3-4 hours but will offer sooner if she asks for it - usually 7.30, 10.30, 14.15, 17.00, 18.15, 22.00, possibly 2 am and then either 5 or 6 am)

We did struggle with a good latch and have worked hard to fix it and now it seems fine (since about 2 weeks ago). She had a cold last week and struggled to feed with a blocked up nose but would it make that much difference??

Please help, I thought we'd just got everything sorted and I was feeling quite smug about the whole bfing thing - now I feel like I'm doing something wrong!

Sorry for the essay!

If she's happy, that is, alert and responsive and fully of beans, and if she's recovering from a cold I'd be inclined not to worry. It's hard for them to gain weight when they have to keep on stopping feeding to breathe through their mouths.

Were you using the same scales as before?

My second child fell through centile lines once or twice. It turned out that she was just 'meant' to be a small girl, but had done rather too well in utero, and been late turning up, which meant she had started her life rather on the plump side. In fact the scan of her inside me at 20 weeks or whenever it is (I've forgotten) indicated that she was going to be small in length, but everyone overlooked that. She was as bright as a button and very smiley so I ever worried too much. But it's easier when it's your second child to be confident.

It's horrible to feel wobbly and worried about this.

Is weight the only thing the HV is concerned about?

75th centile at 11 weeks is 6 kg, not 6.5 kg - I have just checked. 5.5 kg is 50th centile. One centile space.

No big deal - perfectly normal to move through two centile spaces.

Perhaps check again with the HV that this is something to take action about?

What she has said to you about tackling it is pretty mainstream - though you don't need to think that eating well will make any difference, 'cos it won't :) Feeding frequency could be increased - but only if you/she thinks your baby needs it and if your baby is happy and being fed responsively, she'd need to convince you of this.

Thank you - that makes me feel better already. She was two weeks late so maybe that accounts for some of it. She certainly seems happy and settled. It wasn't the same scales because I went to the children's centre drop in.

The health visitor was so keen to give me advice on feeding it made me panic!

The 50 minute thing is highly ???????, too, I would say :)

Glad you're feeling better about it now.

I just wanted to offer [hugs]

DS was born on the 91st and stayed there until he was three months, then he dropped to 74th and the health visitor (who'd previously signed us off) started coming back to see us. I know she was trying to be supportive, but it just freaked me out. She came back just before Christmas and DS was still on 74th. She's coming back this afternoon and if he's still on 74th we're "okay". If not, we have to try "something else". I'm no idea what "else" she has in mind as DS won't take a bottle and has so far rejected any of our attempts to wean him!

Anyway, I clearly have no advice, but I just wanted to give you a hug and tell you not to panic. My DS is gorgeous. He has bright eyes and clear skin and spends most of his days smiling and laughing (most of his nights crying and feeding, but that's a different matter!) I had a good old wobble over his weight, but have since been convinced by my very biased DP, mother, and friends that he's the most beautiful thing in the world and that his weight is 'just right' I hope you feel the same about your DD soon.

tiktok - thanks for making me feel a bit more normal. Maybe I'll hold on for a week and see how we go post cold and if weight gain is ok next week. If not then increase feeding frequency if necessary. I'll probably be feeding her loads now anyway just to be sure she's getting enough!

I was wondering about my diet and whether to change what I eat, so thank you for for your advice on that too (though a bit disappointed I don't have to up the amount of cake)!

ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged - thank you for your support. The HV today started fussing about bottle feeding and how she wouldn't suggest it 'yet.' I found that quite annoying as the suggestion was from her, and after all this effort to bf I don't really want to even consider a formula bottle yet (maybe in a bit, but not yet!). She wont actually take a bottle of my milk from me either anyway :). I hope it all goes well for you!

"The HV today started fussing about bottle feeding and how she wouldn't suggest it 'yet.'

Big of her :)