Niece hasn't put back birthweight 2 weeks after birth - any suggestions?

[LaCerbiatta]

My niece was born 2 weeks ago with 7.16 pounds and now she weighs 6.7 pounds. She's exclusively breastfed and has been feeding with no problems since birth. I think she doesn't feed a lot, first 3 days hardly woke up at night - would go for 5 hours without feeding, usually feeds every 3 hours.

They saw the paediatrician yesterday (Db and SIL are in another country) and were told that she'll need a formula top up if she doesn't gain 150grs by Friday. SIL was told that her milk hasn't 'risen' and therefore is not enough and was given oxytocin to increase supply.

Any thoughts? I want to tell them that there's nothing wrong with SIL's milk and the paediatrician is talking nonesense but I feel this is one of those situations where advice isn't really well received - I mean, who am I to say the dr is wrong? Also was a bit surprised with the oxytocin?? Is this normal? Had never heard about it being given as a supplement...

Also, is that weight loss normal, 2 weeks in? I suppose regardless of the reasons why bf isn't being effective the baby does need the top up, or no?

Any help greatly appreciated!

Sorry, that weight is probably confusing (I only do kgs so don't even know how to write pounds!). Its 7pounds and almost 2 ounces, not 7 pounds and 16 ounces.

This is a possibly serious situation, tuga - the weight loss is not normal, and something needs to happen pronto.

I have no idea what the milk not being 'risen' is, sorry. Maybe it means the milk hasn't come in? That would be enormously worrying at 2 weeks postnatal, and I doubt that is the case. Oxytocin won't help here, anyway - the baby needs to feed often day and night and effectively....3 hourly feeding is nowhere near enough and the mum needs support to double this frequency if she can, feeding both breasts at least once each session, possibly with breast compression.

She may need formula as a temporary thing if the baby is too weak to suck and swallow efficiently, and this needs to be alongside someone who knows what to look for observing a feed start to finish and helping the mum amend her position and attachment if needed.

La Leche League are all over the world, and they may be able to help. Put La Leche League and the name of the country into google.

The paed is not talking nonsense (except maybe about the milk not being risen) but he may not be the person to fix her breastfeeding.

Hope this helps.

PS She may need to express as well.

This happened to me and DD.
She didnt regain her birth weight for over 3 weeks, got jaundice and was quite poorly. She was really lazy on the breast and didnt suck continuously so my wonderful MW told me I had to feed her every 90 minutes, day and night, regardless of whether she wanted feeding.
Within 24 hours she was getting the hang of it and within 3 days of guzzling she was back up to her birth weight again and my milk supply was brilliant.

Thanks tiktok, I'm really glad you saw this!

Yes, since posting I had a look on kellymom and this weight loss is worrying.

I don't think my SIL is too concerned in ensuring that bf works, I suppose it's mostly my concern but I don't want to interfere too much, these things are so sensitive. I told db this morning that it was probably the feeding not the quality of the milk, and he was quite receptive but he's obviously going to trust the dr on this....

I know the baby will be absolutely fine with the top ups and eventually with a switch to formula only, but db always had this thing of thinking that I'm healthier than him because I was bf and he wasn't (he's not really unhealthy, just some mild chronic bronchitis and a milk allergy when he was little) and I really wanted the bf to work....

I've just looked it up and LLL is where they are so I'm sending them the nrs now. I'll also pass on your advice.

Thank you so much for your help!