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Infant feeding

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

5WO demand-feeding but not gaining weight - help!

2 replies

FrauFrau · 10/12/2007 16:39

Any thoughts from all you knowledgeble MNers gratefully received on my BFing issue...

My 5WO DD has been breast feeding since day 1 - I have felt as though it is going OK apart from the odd cracked nipple, and a couple of MWs told me early on that the latch is fine. But in 5 weeks, DD has only gained a total of 5oz/ less than 200g (from a 7lb 13 start - she regained her birth weight in 2.5 wks), and in particular has only gained about 10g in the last week. This is starting to worry / depress (not in a clinical way!) me as I seem to spend my whole life feeding her . She always spends at least 25mins on each breast, and feeds about every 1.5-2hours during the day (with one longer period early pm when we go for a walk) and every 2-2.5 hrs at night. One thing I have noticed is that my right breast is much fuller / spurtier (if that's a word) than my left, and when she is on the LHS she swallows much less, and seems less satisfied after , in particular at night when I want her to go to sleep afterwards.

Saw HV today, who was actually quite supportive in that she didn't say immediately that I need to top up, but she also didn't offer much practical help. She's coming back next week, and I think she may well want me to start topping up then if no improvement. Any tips on stimulating supply / improving weight gain very gratefully received!

OP posts:
tiktok · 10/12/2007 17:33

FrauFrau, if all that's concerning people is her calorie intake (and she's not ill or anything) then the answer is to give her more breastmilk

You might find it possible to feed her more often by holding her closely and responding more quickly to feeding cues - she's feeding often but not extraordinarily often, and maybe she'd have some more if it was on offer

Sometimes, intake improves with attention to a 'deeper' latch and it would be worth getting this checked by someone who knows what to look for.

Her weight gain is a bit slow, but of course it may be fine for her.

Hope this helps.

FrauFrau · 14/12/2007 20:05

Many thanks Tiktok - DD is well and alert, so I think it is just calorie intake. I suspect the latch is the most likely problem - I'll try to get someone knowledegable to help me with it. Meanwhile I just have to keep the HV off my back (now suggesting one formula top-up per day...)

FF

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