Slow weight gain in EBF baby

[StressheadMcGee]

I'm hoping for some reassurance here. My DS is 8weeks on Saturday, and weighed today at the clinic and has dropped another centile.
He was born by emergency caesarean weighing 7.11, and apart from a stroppy nurse on the recovery ward, seemed to take to bf well. He had two formula top ups in hospital, but was exclusively bf by the time that we left, and his technique was checked many times (at my request)

His birth weight is roughly the 50th centile, and at every weigh in he's dropped - to the 25th, 9th and now the 2nd, and at 7+5 he now weighs 9.3. He's exclusively bf, roughly every 2-2.5 hours during the day, though he goes longer at night. I offer both sides at every feed and he seems content.

The Hv said that I should carry on and he might catch up, but I'm feeling like I'm falling him some how. Any ideas or thoughts appreciated, sorry that it's so long!

Oh, and I forgot to add, he's been quite sicky after feeds for the last few days but has been happy and smily despite this. The Hv also checked for tongue tie and is confident that his tongue isn't tied.

I can see why you're concerned, but it's good he seems healthy and developing well, and that the HV is not worried.

This is a drop down the charts, and it is definitely worth making sure he gets every opportunity to feed and to boost your supply. He could def feed more often - especially at night. He could have more sides each time - three or four rather than 2. Breast compressions (google the term) could increase his interest to stay feeding.

Maybe two or three weeks consciously making sure he takes more will get him closer to a more expected weight gain?

Could you spend a day or two in bed doing skin to skin? Allow him complete access to your breasts? Let him just feed feed feed?
Does he do any cluster feeding at all? I'm not sure dd could go that long between feeds at that age so I'd be tempted to try and feed a little more often, see if you can get any more into him?

If your health visitor is not too concerned yet then go with that. My son dropped more than two centiles and I was told to express and top up feed, but found expressing and breastfeeding impossible to manage (had another toddler too). GP said to formula feed. I ended up formula feeding and he jumped up the weight charts and is now 18 months and thriving. He's rarely ill! I don't regret formula feeding for one second but whatever happens, it has to be your decision. Good luck!

Thanks so much for the replies, I feel a little less stressed. He does cluster feed in the evenings, usually for two hours somewhere between 7 and 11 (although so far tonight he's just screamed as he's too tired to sleep...) I'll try the compressions and as much skin to skin as possible.

Thanks again for the advice.

Hope it goes well!

Thanks again for the advice so far, I've really been monitoring feeds over the last few days and offering as much as possible. However, ds has been bringing up a lot of sick, and on reflection he's been a lot more sicky for the last week (tmi, but he managed to be sick over my front, back, hair and sheets this morning!)

I was wondering if this sounds like reflux? I thought this was always present from birth, can it come on at 7ish weeks? We have his check up at the doctors on Wednesday and of course I'll discuss with them, but I do find that I have to be quite assertive so I'd like to have some ideas to suggest.

Thanks again

Reporting back to say thank you very much for the advice - DS has put on 11oz in two weeks, is rising up toward the next centile and the Hv is much happier with his progress. Very pleased mum here too!