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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

How serious an issue is VERY slow weight gain in an exclusively bf newborn?

47 replies

Olihan · 16/02/2007 21:04

DS2 is now 7 weeks old and although bfing seems to be going okay, he's hardly gaining any weight. |He was 10lbs 2.5oz born, went down to 9lbs 9oz at 11 days and didn'tget back t his birthweight until almost 6 weeks and is now 10lbs 8oz at 7 weeks. The most he's put on in a week is 4oz but usually it's 2oz.

He's been poorly with bronciolitis and still has a stuffy nose and cough so I'm wondering if that's affecting him. MIL also said dh was very slow at gainng weight as a young baby (& toddler) so I'm wondering if it's a genetic thing (ds1 and dd were both ff by 4 weeks so can't compare them).

What I really need to know is whether I should be worrying about this or just avoiding the scales for a bit. He's very content between feeds, has lots of wet nappies, does a couple of bright yellow poos the consistency of ready mix kids paint every day, is alert, smily and only really cries when he's hungry so in every other respect the bf appears to be going well. I saw a bfc when I was having problems a couple of weeks ago and she adjusted his latch a bit so I think that's okay too.

Any advice would be appreciated!

OP posts:

moondog · 17/02/2007 09:19

Aitch,thanks for that.

It sounds like a lot of things conspired against you eh?
Must have been very distressing.
I'm amazed that you were able to keep the breastfeeding going for so long actually.

That must be a huge source of comfort for you.

I had a hell of a time with breastfeeding.
My salvation was the two community midwives who came to see me for weeks, both of whom are b/f counsellors.

I bloody love those women,and feel quite emotional every time I see them.

AitchTwoOh · 17/02/2007 15:36

see, i really think the fact that dd was born just before christmas didn't help, as it meant that i never, ever had the same midwife or HV twice. and if i complained, which i did volubly, i was told 'well it's christmas, what do you expect?'

AitchTwoOh · 17/02/2007 15:41

btw i don't think my kind of story is that uncommon on MN. i know that in the general population ffing is popular, but not on here, which is why i find a lot of the BF/FF battles so bizarre. off the top of my head i know that lisababe and twinklemegan had utterly shit times too.
i was obsessed, though, and i'm actually not sure how healthy that was for me really. my sis took the piss out of me for it the other day and i burst out crying, much to both our surprise. i think i have post-traumatic issues to resolve...

moondog · 17/02/2007 17:49

Sorry for being mean to you before.
I really didn't intend to be.
I was caught up in the heat of the moment and didn't use..thoughtful language shall we say.

Most unsisterly of me. Mea Culpa.

Do you know what?
I had the same m/w form the first booking in until my final appt.Also had the same one for my second child from start to finish.

I really agree,that consistent approach and rleationship you build up with someone who has seen you through it all has massive implications.

I'm sure things will fall into place next time (if you are planning a next time?)

bigcar · 17/02/2007 18:06

My dd3 was the same, even now at 11 months she hasnt doubled her birthweight of 9 9. We got refered to the dietician, paed etc. All have said shes fine, she was put on infatrini when she actually lost weight, but is gaining well now. The dietician told us that the growth charts in our red books that hvs love so much, are based on ff USA babies, bf babies put weight on much slower which she told us is actually healthier in the long run. Keep on going its worth it!

tiktok · 17/02/2007 18:41

Great your dd is fine, and officially so, bigcar!

The dietitican is wrong about the charts, however - the UK charts are based on UK data. Breastfed babies tend to gain faster at first and then slow down (in comparison with ff babies). Each individual baby should, of course, be assessed individually.

RubyRioja · 17/02/2007 18:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AitchTwoOh · 17/02/2007 18:46

ach don't worry about it, i was in a very sensitive place at the time. still mix-feeding and pumping and realising that as hard as i tried, dd preferred formula cos it was easier. so i could feel it all slipping away at the time. and i'd love another, and i'll be much better informed next time thanks to MN.

but whether or not it'll happen is another story, as i had two ectopics before dd and only have one tube. so in part that's why if i look deep into my conscience there will always be a part of me that blames myself for not being prepared enough on the BF front.

having had my losses i didn't overly research what happens after the birth cos i wasn't completely convinced that i would actually get a baby at the end of it. so i was uncharacteristically willing to believe Mrs M Stoppard that it might be difficult in the beginning but would work out okay... hopefully it will all work out if there's a next time, though.

AitchTwoOh · 17/02/2007 18:48

anyway moondog, as i recall you were having your own fun and games to contend with... didn't it become apparent that your dh had broken his back? so neither of us was on top form at the time it's safe to say.

moondog · 17/02/2007 18:48

Fingers crossed eh?

I didn't have a clue about anything really with first.
Remember asking permission to hold her!

AitchTwoOh · 17/02/2007 18:49

sorry for the hijack, by the way olihan. you sound like you're doing a great job btw. and loo how informative your thread has been, i've learned that if i have another then dd will be getting colostrum on her chips.

moondog · 17/02/2007 18:50

Well,yes,that was his diagnosis in Turkey and when he came home it was discovered that he had previously undiagnosed spina bifida which although it sounds awful,wasn't near;ly as bad!

He was a pita when unwell though.

I have him home for a week before he disappears to Tajikistan...

Original poster

Olihan · 17/02/2007 19:17

He he Ruby, you'll find me sat in front of the Gorilla cage at Bristol Zoo, showing them a thing or two .

Aitch, don't worry about hijacking, stories like yours make me wonder how anyone brings up a child without MN. I know ds2 would probably have been on formula for the past few weeks if it wasn't for everything I've read on here.

OP posts:

bigcar · 19/02/2007 09:13

Thanks for the correction tiktok, will keep that in mind!

Original poster

Olihan · 21/02/2007 15:14

Don't know if anyone will be interested but I'm telling you anyway!!

DS2 has put on 9.5oz this week.

9.5oz in 7 days .

I did that! I actually gave him enough breastmilk that he piled on weight!! Wow!

OP posts:

LIZS · 21/02/2007 15:15

AitchTwoOh · 21/02/2007 15:22

you little beauty, olihan. well done.

Original poster

Olihan · 21/02/2007 15:23

Cheers Aitch and LIZS.

OP posts:

shonaspurtle · 21/02/2007 16:18

moondog · 26/02/2007 22:16

Trawled through stuff to check on progress Olihan.
Bloody brilliant.
Delighted for you!

RubyRioja · 26/02/2007 22:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Jillyadoodledoo · 26/02/2007 22:22

I love a happy ending
Pass the tissues someone?

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