Formula top ups

[NickyEds]

Took dd to be weighed today and I'm a bit disappointed about how it went. Dd is 3 weeks and 4 days old, she's bf except for maybe 4 occasions where she had a tiny bit of f (less than 1 oz). I thought bf was going ok but the hv has suggested f top ups (or ebm top ups but I've no idea when I'm supposed to express). Dd weighed 3.05kg (6lb12) aat birth, lost 2 % by day 5, went to 3.1kg on day 10 then was 3.54kg (7lb12) today.
I feed on demand and I think her latch is ok. I offer both boobs at each feed and she comes off herself. We've had lots of wet nappies but no poo for 24 hours now. I'm not even sure how I would top her up- we tried a bit of f a couple of times and she just didn't really want it (she took a tiny bit- so little we've stopped bothering).I think I'd struggle to get f into her after a feed so it would have to be inbetween/instead of feeds rather than as a top up after feeds. I'm a bit gutted tbh. Any advice on her weight would be helpful-also any ideas on how to top up.

The local bf buddies group is closed for the summer- it re starts mid September. Dd has been feeding very frequently today. The trouble is when she feeds frequently I worry I don't have enough milk, when she's fussy i worry about the latch, when she goes a few hours I worry she's not taken enough milk, when she sleeps well I worry she's sleeping through hunger.... I suppose I'll see tomorrow when she's weighed.

The hv came this morning and dd has gained weight, she has put on 8 oz since last Wednesday (so 3.05kg at birth, 3.54kg at 3weeks+4 and now 3.74kg at 4weeks+2). Hv said she'd like to see her back at her birth centile but not to worry (she was born on 25th and is now 9th). She suggested comfort milk top ups if she's unsettled. I think maybe she's just small?? She said to get her re weighed in two weeks so I figure she would ask for more frequent weighing if she was worried??

Nicky, I am still puzzled by your HV! That's great news that the weight gain is fine - and 8 oz is fine, and the very top end of what anyone would expect in 5 days, so no worries at all there. In fact it's 7 oz, so again we're with the dodgy metric/imperial translation thing!

"Hv said she'd like to see her back at her birth centile "

WHY?

There is nothing magical about a birth centile.

Anyone who understands about these things knows not to place any significance on the birth centile.

In fact it is misleading to do so. If you're feeling brave, ask her why the birth centile is so significant for her.

"She suggested comfort milk top ups if she's unsettled."

WHY? Why top ups? WHY comfort milk?

" I think maybe she's just small?? "

Not especially - the 9th centile is a perfectly fine centile to be on :) In any case, I don't think she is reading the chart properly. She's only a shade under the 25th centile anyway.

I don't know. I had to go for weekly growth scans whilst pregnant as dd was tracking just under the 10 th centile (so just where she is now!)until 36 weeks and now this-I feel like I've been worrying about my perfectly healthy baby's weight forever now.
I've been amazed by dd's breast feeding. I think she's been a little star, she just seemed to know what to do! It's been completely different to the very difficult start to bf I had with ds. I'm tempted just to ignore everything except "she's gained weight"! This particular hv has a thing about comfort milk, she advised my friend to ditch bf altogether in favour of it her dd was small.

As others have said it doesn't sound like there is anything going wrong in your situation and your HV advice is bizarre. I learnt that many HVs don't know that much about BFing so you do have to be careful. Best to speak to a lactation consultant or BF support group if you have to.

I thought I would post this link as it may help others in this situation. Your DD sounds absolutely fine. Well done.

themilkmeg.com/have-you-been-told-to-supplement-8-crucial-steps-to-take-after-a-recommendation-to-supplement/