question about 17 week olds weight gain?

[pinktinselanddollymixtures]

hi,

I have been exclusivly breastfeeding my lo since birth. She was born weighing 5llbs 12oz. 2 weeks ago she was 10lbs 9oz and today she is only 10lbs 15. And has now dipped into the pink shaded area in the baby book. (she is 17 weeks today). The hv didnt seem too concerned but wants to see her again in 3 weeks and did raise a few points. Just wanted to sound you out, for your opinions.

First- i joined weight watchers 2 weeks ago and have lost 2lbs each week, I was led to believe that this is ok. But could it be effecting my milk?

secondly, I drink a fair amount of tea (love the stuff), hv reckons it could be making baby more active so she is burning more calories (not convinced on that one)

and lastly, she said could i fit another feed in for her. Well, i feed on demand, my boobs are always here for her, usually every 2 hrs. Cant see how i can get another one in.

I told my dh and he reckons it's a sign that we should start weaning her, but am really not sure.

So what do you think?

But this is normal, pink....babies of this age slow down their weight gain, and it is totally physiological. If she is healthy, active, gaining weight, developing normally, fed when she 'asks'....then I think she checks all the right boxes

Your HV and the tea....eh? Sounds a bit rubbish to me, to be honest.

Your WW diet will not affect your milk in any way at all.

If you start to wean her, you will give her fewer calories because early solids (ie before six months) tend to replace milk rather than add to it.

I hope others will come on and say the same to you

I wouldn't worry too much tbh as long as she is healthy, happy, developing normally and active especially if HV isn't (so many would worry you unnecessarily) . dd fell off the charts too and she was about 6 lb 13 at birth. She's still pretty weeny at 5 , some kids just are especially if their parents were as kids.

to answer your questions with my thoughts.

1. No unless you are really depriving yourself of nutrtion
2. er NO to tea theory !!! but being active will burn more calories quicker and it is natural for their growth to slow as they become mobile.
3. If you can fit an extra feed in do but by the sounds of it you may not be able to . Does she still feed at night ?
4. Not in itself a sign of readiness for weaning , leave it as long as possible since breast milk is more nutritiously dense and easily digested than any solids.

Tell dh to rejoice in the length of time it takes her to outgrow her clothes lol ! hth

tik tok-

thanx, thats what i was thinking, just needed backup. obviously i want the best for my little one, just wanted to make sure i was doing the right thing. thanx again

lizs- Thanx, She still feeds at night. Anywhere between 1 and 3 times. The longest she has gone without a feed at night is 6 hrs, and that was only once. She is perfectly, perky and active.

Although she has started sleeping slightly more during the day, but she has got a cold and had her injection a couple of weeks ago. And she has only ever catnapped for 30 mins here and there during the day since birth. Which i never really thought was enough for her.

Sounds like you are doing just fine to me. Both my girls are slow growers and I drink tea for England but don't think the 2 are linked! wasn't tea invented for bfing mothers?
please don't wean her yet while she is so young. have a look at the baby led weaning stuff on here and be inspired to wait - it's soooo much easier.

Pink if your baby is happy healthy feeding well I dont think you have any reason to worry.

Weight watchers is fine for breast feeding mums, that wont have affected your milk I am sure you have told them you are still feeding I dont know ww very well but I am sure I got extra points with slimming world

Tea making her more active sounds to me like your hv is talking out of her arse same with fitting in an extra feed, if you are already feeding on demmand how does she suggest you 'fit in another one'???

as for weaning I agree with tiktok

sounds to me like you are doing fine