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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

EBF baby short feeds and dropping centiles

10 replies

scrabbledabbl · 07/12/2022 15:33

Hi all

My 5 month old who refuses to take a bottle and is EBF is dropping down the charts and I don't know what to do to help him because he always has short feeds (5 mins max) and no matter what I do won't suck more if he's decided he's done. At first people told me he is just an efficient feeder but clearly he isn't if he's dropping down the centiles I got him measured yesterday he had only put on 700g in 2 months!! He seems happy alert and content in himself but I'm just so stressed. I've tried early weaning but he's not interested....

Has anyone else had an EBF baby who refuses to take a bottle dropping down the centiles and what did you do please tell me it turns out okay ;-(

OP posts:
PritiPatelsMaker · 07/12/2022 21:55

What centile was he born on @scrabbledabbl and which one is he on now?

Original poster
scrabbledabbl · 07/12/2022 21:59

@PritiPatelsMaker thanks so much for replying he was born at 25th and is now 2nd :(

OP posts:
PritiPatelsMaker · 07/12/2022 22:03

Ok so I can understand you being concerned. I think if I was in your position I'd talk to a BFC. Have you got the numbers for the Helplines?

One thing that helped us when DD was dropping centiles was to offer every 2 hours in the day and doing breast compressions.

Original poster
scrabbledabbl · 07/12/2022 22:09

@PritiPatelsMaker I have spoken to helplines and seen a consultant but honestly he is very very headstrong almost he knows when he wants it and how much and no matter how many times I offer he wont take unless he wants it. Maybe breast compressions might work is that when you press your breasts to make sure they get more milk? The thing is he regurgitates often and I think that's cos he can't handle too much milk and voms a bit. Why is having a baby so stressful :-( xx

OP posts:
PritiPatelsMaker · 07/12/2022 22:20

Dr Jack Newman has done a good video on Breast Compressions here

But if he's vomiting that much, has he got any food sensitivities?

This article on increasing a babies weight might help too Flowers

Stuckundersleepymoon · 08/12/2022 02:13

My almost 4 month old has been going through a fussy phase. She has also dropped on the centile chart slightly. She is exactly the same, only latches for a few minutes and then shows no interest, easily distracted etc. What I find works is feeding her lying down in bed with me. I know not ideal when you're out and about but I will always lie on the bed before we leave (sometimes she can feed for 20-30 minutes) and as soon as I get home I do the same. Basically spend all my time at home in bed which isn't ideal but it's the only place she'll feed a decent amount.

Another thing that work a bit for me is walking around whilst feeding-the motion seems to help. I also attended a LLL group as was concerned I had a fast let down and that was causing issues, maybe have a look at the signs of that if you haven't already.

Sorry that you're finding it hard... I know exactly how you're feeling, I was left feeling unsupported by HV and can now see I've been obsessing about her weight which is really not good for me or her, it's had a major effect on my MH. I hope you can get the support you need.

Original poster
scrabbledabbl · 15/12/2022 10:57

@Stuckundersleepymoon thanks for your reply it's really reassuring he too only feeds lying down but even then not very long sometimes when he is dream feeding I can get 15 mins out of him but otherwise during day he is very distracted Hv said start solids but he's not that interested I've started doing block feeding in the hope he will get more of the fatty hindmilk when he does feed why is this so stressful :-(

OP posts:
Notanotherusername4321 · 15/12/2022 11:05

Same :)

if you looked at my dc red book the chart was a series of “steps”- they’d gain a lot, then level out and start dropping centiles, then have a big gain, etc…

at 5 months they dropped from just below 25th to just above 0.4th.

key point is how is he? If it wasn’t for the numbers would you be worried? Active, meeting milestones, interacting as you’d expect? If so I wouldn’t overly worry.

with mine it was a bit of a pre- weaning slump. We started solids at 5.5m and they were fine from there.

then I stopped weighing (on HV advice!). and all the problems went away 😂

Original poster
scrabbledabbl · 15/12/2022 13:25

@Notanotherusername4321 omg thanks so much for your reply that's made me feel so much better he seems happy and alert otherwise so it's so disheartening when you are told they aren't growing how they should - how did yours take to solids? Mine isn't that keen at all I thought he'd love it but he kind of just spits everything out even puree!

OP posts:
Hessington · 27/11/2025 15:54

scrabbledabbl · 15/12/2022 13:25

@Notanotherusername4321 omg thanks so much for your reply that's made me feel so much better he seems happy and alert otherwise so it's so disheartening when you are told they aren't growing how they should - how did yours take to solids? Mine isn't that keen at all I thought he'd love it but he kind of just spits everything out even puree!

How’s your DC doing now? My DD is 4 months and for the past 4 weeks won’t feed longer than 5 mins 4 times a day. She’s put on 150g in the past month and is now between 2nd and 0.4th centile and I just feel sick with worry. But like you, don’t know what I can do

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