FTM baby weight gain

[RaeRaeMama]

Hello ladies

I have got myself all worried and I can't seem to snap out of it.

My baby girl is six weeks this coming Thursday and I am worrying about her weight gain

I feel so clueless and keep wondering if I'm being stupid but I can't shake the concern.

My baby is exclusively breastfed she is happy, alert and has plenty of wet nappies. Then usually 1 or occasionally 2 dirty nappies a day.

She lost 4% of her body weight but recovered this really quickly plus some. But from then she has only been gaining 100g a week on her last to weigh-ins.

I don't understand the percentile thing but she's so far followed the 50th. But everything I've read says she should be gaining more than that a week. She weighs 8lb14 as of the 12th March so 4 weeks of age, that's when she was last weighed.

She feeds a lot, like most hours she has a fed through the day, then at night slightly less (thank god so i can sleep a bit!). She usually falls asleep on the boob and sometimes the milk just dribbles out of her mouth like she forgot to swallow it?

Am i being stupid or should I be concerned?

I've been discharged by my midwife now, she didn't seem worried. Health visitor isn't coming until the end of the month. I'm considering buying some scales but I don't want to add to my anxiety unnecessarily.

Please please give me the benefit of your experience!

Sounds like you’re worrying because you’re not sure what’s normal, and whether your DD is within that normal range.

It’s great to hear that she seems happy, alert and well in herself - that is a good sign! That said there are a few things you can look out for if you’re worried about how much milk is going in and therefore how much she’s growing, and some simple tweaks you can make to how you’re both positioned that can also help get the most milk to her.

Here’s a helpful link from La Leche League GB which explains more about what’s normal: www.laleche.org.uk/is-my-baby-getting-enough-milk/

You mention she sometimes falls asleep while feeding. How are you finding the feeds generally - are they comfortable for you, short/long in duration?

I think if she's tracking along the 50th centile you've absolutely nothing to worry about. If she's dropped off the curve next time she's weighed the health visitor will discuss your options but if she's alert and happy and lots of wet nappies I think she's absolutely perfect!

With weight gain it's important they track a percentile not how much they weigh.

It sounds like she's doing great so I'd not get her weighed too often now.

Be aware that their weight can fluctuate and it's only a concern if they drop 2 percentiles.

Any time she has a growth spurt or when she learns to crawl / walk, her weight might go down a bit. This is normal as she's using more energy to learn / grow.

Thanks so much everyone, feel reassured.