Short Story
Worried that DC4 is between the 2nd and 0.4 centile lines on the standard growth charts, following short illness. I thought she was totally healthy and she is growing well, should I be worrying ?
Long Story
Background I have three older children.
DC1 born at 98 centile line dropped and followed 50 centile line
DC2 born at 98 centile line stayed on and followed 98 centile line
DC3 born at 98 centile line dropped to 20 centile line by 6 months but that was the first time she was weighed after the midwives signed us off.
All three children happy, healthy and very different body types.
DC1 average length and size
DC2 butter ball, nearly as wide as he was tall
DC3 thinner than first two and much taller, very long in all clothes.
Then we come to DC4, born on the 98 centile line and I didn't feel the need to get her weighed until a couple of weeks ago, when she got a stomach bug and started throwing up a lot. I was worried as she doesn't have much to lose having the same body type as DC3 long and skinny.
Of course I got her checked out at the doctors who basically said she looked fine and had a stomach bug or maybe reflux but because she was at the light end of healthy to get her weighed twice a week apart at the HV baby clinic, just to check she was still putting on weight despite her sickness.
I went to the clinic the first week and got her weight but I had forgotten my red book, so they wrote it down for me and I took it home and plotted it myself and I was shocked to see she was between the 0.4 and 2nd centile lines !
The following week she was just 3 ozs heavier, however as she had a weeks worth of poo in her on the first weighing and had just done a massive poo just before the second, I reckon she properly but on more than that in reality.
She is no longer throwing up, and had I not got her weighed I would be happy but I am worried for a few reasons.
- I was worried that as she is a placid baby, that I had been putting off feeds or cutting feeds short when someone else needed me. Only by a few minutes but that could be enough to have her a feed less over the course of 24 hours, especially as she happily watches her sibling play and she sleeps very well at night as well. I am making efforts to offer much more often and when I have to interrupt a feed, making the effort to top her up asap, rather than waiting for her cues. I think she is far too laid back and I needed to take the control and I am doing so.
- I feel bad that deliberately didn't take my red book to the second weighing as I know the HV would of jumped on me as she is less than 5 centile which is the line they watch and I wanted to see if she had put on weight and how she is now she is no longer ill. In my opinion she is healthy, happy and perfectly formed just small like DC3 was, I reckon she'll move up to 20 centile line by 6 months like her sister did. But I doubt the ability for the HV to give me decent advice, especially as in the past I was told the DC1 was perfectly average for being on the 50 centile line and that I should cut back on Exclusively breastfed DC2's milk as he was too big being on the 98 centile. They don't understand that it is not a bell chart distribution chart and it is just as normal to be on any line of the chart, they think the nearer to 'average line' 50 the better...idiots.
- I feel guilty as I understand that the reason HV's check out babies in the bottom 5 centile range is in case, those babies are only there due to illness or neglect rather than natural weight and hence should I ask them to look into my baby. But without seeing my red chart and just looking at my baby, the HV's have said nothing but nice positive things about how she looks naked. Plus the doctor and I both feel DC4 is fine and know she isn't throwing up I am no longer concerned.
Should I be worried ?
PS. I will be getting her reweighed next week when the clinic reopens, regardless just to check she is heading along her line.