EBF baby not gaining enough weight

[muzmum]

My DS is now 12 weeks old. He was 8lb 12 at birth and on 91st centile. He dropped to 75th centile after 6 weeks or so and then levelled out around 85th until this week - he has dropped to 40th.

I am stumped. I have no supply issues. He feeds until he's satisfied. He goes for up to 3 hours between feeds and has one long stretch of about 4-5 hours sleep at night. He is a happy little soul but apparently too skinny.

No idea what to do and have very little faith in the health visitors here. Anyone had any experience of this?

If they carried on gaining at the same rate they'd all weigh about 5 stone by the time they were one!

I dont know how much truth there is in it but my HV told me that around the 4month mark weight gain often tails off a bit leading people to think babies are ready for weaning when its not really the case.

I am not sure how old your baby is Writer, but is it worth trying to analyse exactly what you are worried about? I think he's somewhere between 3-4 months if I remember you correctly as being a bit ahead of me?

I suppose what I mean is, presumably your worry isn't really his weight, it is that, for whatever reason, he's not getting enough to eat. You know that, until now, he has been. And the HV doesn't seem to be worried now. Healthy, happy, vocal babies don't tend to suddenly not take in enough calories - they tend to let you know pretty loudly if they are hungry. Is this maybe a hangover of any problems you had in the early days (when, of course, weight can be a big issue, particularly if they are slow to regain birth weight or there are tongue tie/latch/supply/whatever issues?

Hijacking a bit but my worries about weight are definitely a hangover from the early days, we had all the problems you mention there Penguins! My HV said thats why she was telling me about the potential stall so I didnt panic and worry when there was no need to.

He's is 15 weeks penguins and you are probably right about it being a hangover problem. I think it's because I've had so many negative comments from my family about BF and how I should give formula, that his low weight gain and centile dropping is proving their point. I can almost hear them all saying, "I told you so!"

I know that's ridiculous though and I shouldn't let their comments and thoughts have such an impact on me but easier said than done sometimes

So don't tell them! "How did the weigh in go?" "Fine, she says don't come back for a month". Job done.

Out of interest, why do they think you should give formula?

Also, bear in mind that quite a number of people feed bottle fed babies to an amount, not an appetite. Of course, there are many very responsive bottle feeders. But it's also very tempting (and very common amongst the older generation) to try and encourage them to finish a bottle, or to try them with it again 30 minutes later if they didn't finish it earlier. Breast fed babies will feed to appetite (think about how we'd eat without social conventions and emotional issues. Some days loads, some days less). I'd love to know whether there have been any studies on whether this translates to more variable weight gain or not.

They think I should give formula as in their minds breast milk alone can't sustain a baby's growth. Previous comments I've had include my breast milk being what causes his colic, reflux, diarrhoea and any other small issue he may have. Apparently I'm also in the wrong because I won't give him water. I have also been questioned about how I know he's having enough and that with formula I can monitor that. I have also been told that my breast milk is probably mutated, lol.

Mutated? And how the hell do they think humankind survived to invent formula if bm can't sustain a baby?

Sorry, I am sure you love them and normally value their opinions, but they sound bonkers on this issue. I find it harder to ignore people who are 'nearly right but not quite'!

Writer, this is NORMAL.

Coming back in 4 weeks to the clinic is NORMAL - the recommended frequency for a baby who is giving no concern whatsoever, beyond the newborn(check your red book, I think it says something like this).

It would be highly unusual for a baby of 15 weeks to be gaining at the same rate as he did at the age of 5 weeks.

Sorry, writer, I didn't intend to sound irritated!! I'm not. It's not a good feeling to worry about weight, but it honestly does not sound as if you need to:)

It's ok Tiktok [smile ]

But I promise to put it to the back of my mind and never again shall you see me mention weight or centile charts