Advice please - DD2 is putting weight on slowly - should I express etc?

[hotmama]

Dd2 is nearly 3 weeks old and still isn't back up to her birth weight. She was 9lb at birth went down to 8.3 up to 8.9 then 8.12 and then 8.15 as of yesterday. (Dd1 took nearly 5 weeks to get back to her birthweight).

Dd2 is a sleepy baby but I am waking her up to feed - am trying for the recommended 8-12 feeds a day.

Also, dd2 was born by a c-section, her nose was pressing on my pelvis and she is very 'mucusy/snorty'. The GP has prescribed some saline drops to squirt up her nose before feeding and this is helping.

I would like advice re should I be trying to build up my milk supply so dd2 puts on weight faster? If so advice please.

Or should I just carry on as I am as dd2 is doing plenty poohy/wet nappies, seems a happy thing and is getting plumper and putting on weight although slowly.

Any advice will be gratefully received. TIA

are the pooey ones nice and yellowy ? If so then I would just carry on fedding as much as she will take.

Ah yes - the lovely mustardy/seedy ones - she can fill a nappy!

sounds like she and you are fine then - just let her have as much as she wants when she wants and she will grow in her own sweet way

hotmama, your baby is growing slowly, but she is growing upwards which is the right direction :)

yes, I would say to wake her for feeds - feed her as often as you can.

Try breast compression (google it with the name jack newman) to keep her feeding.

Sometimes, babies need a little bit of help to do what's good for them, but nothing you say makes me think you need the hassle of expressing.

Thanks Tiktok. I have got the La Leche book on BF - so I have been trying breast compression and it does seem to make a difference.

I suppose it doesn't matter that my breasts don't feel full? - I know they are producing milk but I suppose getting dd2 to feed is more effective than expressing.

So as long as she is putting on weight I shouldn't worry? She feeds more during the day and only once during the night - goes through phases of cluster feeding etc.

It sounds ok - I don't agree with the adage ' as long as the baby is gaining everything is ok' because it may not be. Very slow gaining babies may not be growing as well as they could be. I think it's good to keep an eye on these slow gainers. I don't think they are really at much risk, but the breastmilk supply can be at risk. Slow gainers stimulate the breastmilk supply less, and this can lead to a crisis in supply weeks later....note I say 'can' and not 'will' as it is impossible to predict.

A frequently feeding baby often means breasts which don't feel full - it's not really a reliable sign of anything.

Carry on encouraging her to feed :)

In case you are interested - weight gain going well. DD2 is now past her birth weight aand put on 7.5 ozs this week so is now 9.10 and a half - so I am now calm.

BF going well althougth now think that dd2 and me have thrush so going to the GP this pm.

Thanks everyone for your helpful advice

Keep up the good work hotmama. It sounds so much like my early days with DD. She lost a whole pound in first fortnight then was on the bottom line of growth charts for what seemed like an age - was down the baby weighing clinic every week! I had probs with milk supply and had to really work at it - it does pay off though (DD nearly 14months and still bf) My breasts were never "heaving with milk" and DD constantly on breast - feeding comfort. Here are a couple of suggestions I tried to help milk supply:

breast compressions (awkward but helped)
regular support and attended LLL meeting (great one to one with breast feeding councellor helped with differnet positions and latching)
expressing when can - found it difficult, hired an electric one for a short time
loads of protein snacks
took homeopathic stuff urtica urens6 (from health shop)

We also had a few bouts of thrush and need to get DD treated and yourself. We had to have 3 treatments one after other for it to eventually go.

Against my beliefs eventually gave in a did a couple of formula top ups a day

My DD is a little pudding now - she really took off when introduced solids

Hope all goes well x