Help and advice needed re 4month breast fed baby off the scale

[Dinker]

Hi wondered if anyone can help my sister. Her 4month son was 5 12.5 born and is now 10.5lb. He's been on the 2nd centile since birth and has just last week dropped off the scale.

he's bright and alert, the right length but just not putting on weight.

My sister has breast fed since birth except for a formula dream feed since October. The HV is now pushing for more formula which my sister is reluctant to do.

He's started waking up twice a night for a feed but is reluctant to feed during the day. During the day when he's hungry he will latch on but then pull off staight away crying and then goes on again and pulls off again.

My sister is concerned she's not producing enough milk. Any help and advice gratefully received

Dinker

Dinker, I can't make out your figures....you're saying he was 5 lbs 12 and half oz born, and is now 10 lbs 8 oz or 10 lbs 5 oz? Has he been weighed naked and on digital scales?

Either way, your sis needs to speak with somone who can go thrugh everything that has happened and is happening now, without pushing for more formula. For instance, the reluctance to feed during the day needs investigating. A breastfeeding counsellor would ask her all about what went on at the birth and afterwards, and explore feeding frequency and efficiency and so on.

She can phone any of the helplines, or else find out if there is someone suitable locally, either from one of the vol orgs or on the health service payroll.

Hi thanks tiktok. Sorry for the delay in replying. I have just called her and told her to contact a breastfeeding counsellor. The figures are 10lb 8oz. Should she be worried?

I dont want to alarm you, but yes, she should be worried.

Did her dc have any health probs at birth? i.e low apgar score, janudice etc?

I would second the advice about seing a bf counsellor you can ring them anytime - see your local phone book - it may be that he is not latching on well and due to his poor weight gain is too tired to feed effectively.

Good luck.

Well no health problems but was breech and born at 16 days over due date by c section

I had a fairly similar situation when i had a baby. Unfortunately we saw a bf councillor, and the little monkey once he started he just couldn't stop - just like pringles. To cut a long story short, he now is 7 years old and still on the breast. Its a massive tie.

dinker......I've no advice I'm afraid, but there is a support threadhere

She should speak to a BF counsellor and see if she can get some one to one support.

Good Luck for her.

what, really, barbara? really?

Thanks everyone. She has called the helpline and feels happier now. She also had the wrong chart in her red book

tripp trapp.....

Barbara you are either a troll or very oddly linking help from a breastfeeding counsellor to your choice to bf longer than most people do.

Which is it?

Dinker - wrong chart???

Well the growth chart for formula fed babies not breast fed.

She's been advised to feed 2 hourly and generally just reassuredthat he is fine. She saw a diffrent HV who said sometimes you have to look at the baby not the chart and that he has put on a pound in a month. He was weighed yesterday and in now 11ib something

No such thing as a formula fed chart, despite the myth that the standard chart is for formula fed babies and based solely on them (see my posts on charts over the past x years!!).

Totally agree about looking at the baby and not the chart, whatever chart it is, and good news that your friend is feeling as is she's getting good support and info

Oh OK. Will re-educate myself although this is what the HV told her.

Thanks for giving me the right information so I could advise her accordingly Tiktok. She is much happier and less stressed