Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

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

Flip

Original poster

So... my breastfed baby is 8 weeks and dropping 2 centiles. Do I worry?

13 replies

usingapseudonym · 13/02/2012 21:45

Baby 1 was born at 9lb10, HUGE and ended up on the 9th centile at the end of the first year (I had to look in the book as I remembered her being petite but hadn't twigged it was quite the dramatic!) However as she had whooping cough badly and then crawled very early before getting a chance to get chubby noone worried and I was happy she was happy etc.

However this one is only 8 weeks and already dropped 2 lines from the 2 week measurement. (It would be more if they did it from birth, 9lb 14, but they start at the 2 week mark). She is also very long (98th percentile) so she probably "ought" to weigh more to match her length.

I wasn't actually worried until my HV rang me after a weighing clinic, and then a home visit today. Should I be worried? What will they do? Are they going to suggest formula?! Baby one was ok....

OP posts:

loopydoo · 13/02/2012 22:03

Perhaps if they do suggest formula, you could simply say you would really like to carry on breastfeeding and ask how to increase feeds to help your baby.

Only health professionals should be giving you advice/information on your babies weight gain because of the obvious implications of someone giving you the incorrect info for your baby.

You just need to question if you don't understand and query if you think you are not being listened to. If they do suggest formula, ask why they think that's necessary and ask them to look at the whole picture, not only weight gain.

Ask about easy ways to increase your supply (feeding more frequently) without formula feeding.

crikeybadger · 13/02/2012 22:23

I think a drop of two centiles is usually OK- if it's any more then they start to get a bit concerned.

Agree with loopy that formula does not have to be an option - there are plenty more ways to increase milk intake if it's necessary.

What did HV say?

Original poster

usingapseudonym · 13/02/2012 22:34

Thanks for the replies. Don't worry I'm not going to completely take advice from the internet... just wanting to know in advance what I ought to be thinking through if that makes sense? The HV is concerned and wants me to weigh again in 2 weeks. I asked what that would lead to and usually its a doctors visit then. I didn't realise it was even a problem to be honest, I just thought all babies were different!

I have a huge let down/ oversupply so was trying to block nurse to help with that, although I still get the huge boobs and still can provide enough milk to feed twins at least. I also feed at least every 2 hours (even at night) which makes me a little worried if there is something wrong with my milk :( There is a lactation consultant at the local breastfeeding clinic but I can't get to that in half term so would be 2 weeks away.

I don't think there is anything wrong with her to look at etc but she does feed a lot and isn't gaining enough which now the HV has pointed it out is niggling away. She is very supportive of bf and I said that was what I'd prefer todo. I think she might just be following protocol so I thought I'd come on here and ask for people's experiences too!

OP posts:

crikeybadger · 14/02/2012 07:56

You may find this useful- particularly the bit about catch down growth. It might be worth giving the NCT helpline a ring too to chat things through.

Don't worry about something being wrong with your milk.

Has she been checked properly for tongue tie?

Original poster

usingapseudonym · 14/02/2012 08:58

The bf counsellor did find a tongue tie last time I went but she didn't think it was interfering with feeding (possibly as I have so much milk just "spurting" out?) It was cut a week ago though to be on the safe side. Can't see much difference in feeding.

A bit torn between the advice I'd had to feed twice on each side to try and reduce the oversupply and the suggestion on the nct sheet to switch nurse!

I'm far to tired to think clearly and finding it all a bit complicated. She's a happy baby at the moment as far as I can see. She was quite fussy in the first few weeks and at week 9 seems to be calming down.

OP posts:

GeekLove · 14/02/2012 09:10

My DS1 was a lot smaller 6lb 13lb at birth and he had catch down in that he went from the 25th to the 2nd. He was and is a healthy boy.
You say your baby is happy which is a good sign. As long t
As there are plenty of wet and dirty nappies I'd say that everything is fine and your doing great!

Original poster

usingapseudonym · 14/02/2012 09:13

Thanks :) I'll stop worrying about it and just go along in 2 weeks and see what "they" say!

OP posts:

crikeybadger · 14/02/2012 09:25

If you've got oversupply then the usual advice is to block nurse.

It sounds like she's just doing the same thing that your first baby did.

It's good that she's happy so there's obviously no need to press the panic button. See how you get on in two weeks.

loopydoo · 14/02/2012 09:27

Yes, the HV will be following protcol because if they didn't, they might miss babies who have underlying problems.

They're not trying to catch you out/use formula is you don't want to etc; they just want to make sure your baby is putting enough weight. When you get there, they will assess her using all the info you give them so try not to worry.

EmmaCate · 14/02/2012 09:36

Isn't there something about potentially not getting enough of the fatty hindmilk when an oversupply is present? I am envious - hardly had any milk myself and DD1 also almost 'failed to thrive' - I had to top up from about a week old and never managed to establish bf, but I did loads of research when I was trying to do so.

Here is the article about fore/hindmilk

loopydoo · 14/02/2012 10:26

The term fore and hind milk is kind of misleading; there is more watery milk at the start of a feed and fattier milk as you go through the feed but there is fat in differing amounts during the feed.

As long as the op feeds a good feed on one side at a time, there should be adequate fattier milk that the baby is receiving.

Don't forget as well, that mother's milk is made especially for that baby and is constantly changing to adapt to her needs so she is getting all her nutritional needs met.

Original poster

usingapseudonym · 14/02/2012 19:56

That's a bit where I'm confused - should I switch nurse to get "more" by feeding on each side or continue to do twice on each side to stop the oversupply and get the fattier milk!? Or a half way house of just one side at a time...?!

OP posts:

crikeybadger · 14/02/2012 20:57

My gut instinct would be not to switch nurse. Your supply is already in overdrive so to speak and switch nursing would just up it even more.

You will get a definitive answer from one of the helplines though , or if tiktok's around, she'll know for sure.

Flip