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Infant feeding

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

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Poor weight gain

37 replies

FCase15 · 13/12/2022 19:23

My daughter is 7 weeks old and has only gained 1lb 1oz from her birth weight.

She’s EBF but has been having mysterious feeding issues on and off since she was 2 weeks old. She’s been super fussy when feeding, loosening her latch, unlatching after a few minutes of feeding and at times pulling of crying. It doesn’t ever feel like she’s getting full and she is constantly showing hunger cues regardless.

We’re working with various health professionals to get to the bottom of this but I am so worried about how this with impact her development.

Doctors and the health visitor both say despite her feeding problems that she is meeting the milestones expected (smiling, holding up head etc.)

Our health visitor has been so concerned about her and has been coming out to weigh her weekly. It’s been stressing me out a lot too.

Does anyone else have experience of such slow weight gain? I didn’t think we’d have to worry about something so basic with her. :(

OP posts:
PritiPatelsMaker · 13/12/2022 21:39

Has anyone checked your LO for Tongue Tie @FCase15?

Original poster
FCase15 · 13/12/2022 22:13

Yes, she’s been checked multiple times now.

OP posts:
PritiPatelsMaker · 14/12/2022 06:43

You might find this article from Kellymom helpful then.

I take it that you're getting some RL support @FCase15 if the TT has been checked multiple times? What's been suggested so far?

Original poster
FCase15 · 14/12/2022 07:54

Sorry @PritiPatelsMaker, I can’t see the article.

We’ve been to the A&E twice, have seen an Infant Feeding Advisor and the Consultant Paediatrician at the hospital (who we also have a follow up with). The only issue that was found at our last appointment was that she has oral thrush so we have been given treatment for that and we’re going to assess how much that helps the situation. However, her feeding problems began weeks ago before the thrush became an issue. I’m sure she’s only got thrush recently as a result of being rundown from not eating in the first instance since she had been checked (including her mouth) at various appointments and nobody had said anything.

The Infant Feeding Advisor recommended doing a lot of skin to skin and Biological nurturing which I am still trying but haven’t found much success with in terms of getting her to feed. She’ll find the nipple and latch and unlatch the same as she would otherwise while feeding.

Past that I don’t think they know what to suggest.

OP posts:
MNHQ
DawnMumsnet · 14/12/2022 11:24

Hi OP, we're moving this thread to our Infant Feeding topic and giving it a bump to get it back into active conversations. Hopefully some more Mumsnetters will be along soon with some advice and support.

AnnaTortoiseshell · 14/12/2022 11:33

I’m sorry OP this sounds so stressful. What is your supply like? Have you tried formula top ups after feeds?

PritiPatelsMaker · 14/12/2022 16:39

So sorry @FCase15 the Kellymom article is here.

I still think there's a good chance that it could be Tongue Tie though. None of the HCPs that have checked yet are known for reliability with TT. Have a read of this article from Milk Matters and see if any symptoms seem familiar.

Are you getting any RL support too? La Leche League have a good reputation.

PritiPatelsMaker · 14/12/2022 16:40

Forgot to ask, does LO have a Lip Tie? It might be worth googling pictures of a lip tie as they are rarely present without Tongue Tie Flowers

Fleur405 · 14/12/2022 16:48

My daughter was a bit like this. I am lucky that we have an NCT lactation consultant who runs free weekly sessions and I also did a lot of research re breastfeeding/lactation - despite doing everything possible to make sure we had a good latch and feeding on demand, I eventually concluded I just didn’t have enough milk and that’s why she was getting so fussy at the breast. Her weight gain got worse over time and she kept slipping down the centile scale. So we introduced formula top ups at 9 weeks and her weight gain (and general mood!) improved dramatically.

I found this video really useful for working out when she was actually feeding well rather than just appearing to be latched on.

Hatscats · 14/12/2022 16:53

Have you seen a proper IBCLC qualified lactation consultant and tongue tie practitioner - I wouldn’t trust anyone else! So many issues get missed by people
not well qualified in lactation.

PritiPatelsMaker · 14/12/2022 16:55

Have you seen a proper IBCLC qualified lactation consultant and tongue tie practitioner - I wouldn’t trust anyone else! So many issues get missed by people not well qualified in lactation

This^

Wish I had a pound for everyone MNer who's LO had been missed over the years.

Goawayangryman · 14/12/2022 16:58

Yep ditto. My baby's was missed by breastfeeding supporters, health visitors, midwives and a paediatrician. Posterior, harder to spot. Sorted by an IBCLC who knew about tongue tie.

PritiPatelsMaker · 14/12/2022 17:03

I'll add you onto my "Wish I Had a Pound List" @Goawayangryman GrinFlowers

PritiPatelsMaker · 14/12/2022 17:46

When you BF, does it look like this video?

Juicylychee · 14/12/2022 17:47

Is she taking bottles of formula?

whataboutism · 14/12/2022 21:26

Hug for you and baby.

Original poster
FCase15 · 15/12/2022 12:07

Thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
FCase15 · 15/12/2022 12:15

@AnnaTortoiseshell My supply had significantly dipped for a time but now seems better which is encouraging to me that she’s probably taking more than I think. We had been trying to give her a bottle of formula a day but when she was at her worst she wouldn’t take breast or bottle. Eventually she began to accept the breast more so but still wouldn’t take a bottle at all. The hospital then recommended that I try at each feed to offer breast first the top her off with a bottle but she just won’t take it. At this point I’m worried to reintroduce a bottle incase it throws of what feeding she IS currently doing and she goes back to not eating at all like she did a couple weeks ago. I said this to the last doctor we saw and she agreed that now probably isn’t the time to reintroduce bottles for this reason. Just feels like I can’t win either way.

OP posts:
Bigtom · 15/12/2022 12:26

Just to give you a bit of reassurance … my baby had v slow weight gain, she was born on the 91st percentile and dropped over time to the 2nd percentile! We had weekly visits to the hospital to measure her progress. It was incredibly stressful at the time and I had loads of (often contradictory) advice thrown my way. Through it all I stubbornly continued to breast feed (and had the full and unwavering support of my husband). She did have a tongue tie which was cut but I’m not convinced this made much difference.

Anyway, the point of this is that she’s now 9 years old and a perfectly normal weight and height (about 25th centile for both). I think the 91st percentile she was born at was what threw everyone - possible caused by her being being born 18 days overdue and following an induction. She is excelling at school, so no developmental impact at all.

I wish now I hadn’t worried so much and had trusted more in myself. I wish you the very best of luck.

Original poster
FCase15 · 15/12/2022 12:32

@PritiPatelsMaker Just looked at the Kellymom article and a lot of that definitely sounds like my girl. Where would I start with finding the right professional to check for a TT though?

Also, sorry but I’m not sure what ‘RL’ stands for.

OP posts:
ChocoFudge · 15/12/2022 13:01

Any signs of CMPA? Slow weight gain was the most obvious symptom with my DS

Mummy2C · 15/12/2022 13:41

Could be CMPA. Maybe cut out milk from your diet for a couple of weeks and see if there is a difference. Wouldn't harm trying. Some useful links and person to follow. Read up on CMPA. - especially non-ige. GPs etc are well known fornot recognising it.

www.instagram.com/p/CY18vIAMUM6/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

www.instagram.com/p/Ca5R8hQseT-/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Juicylychee · 15/12/2022 13:55

www.tongue-tie.org.uk a register of practitioners

PritiPatelsMaker · 15/12/2022 19:39

You can find a Tongue Tie Practioner here. Some are free and some charge a fee.

RL is real life. If you're having difficulties you might need some RL help like a BFC (Breastfeeding Counsellor).

I hope you manage to get some support Flowers

Original poster
FCase15 · 15/12/2022 19:55

@PritiPatelsMaker Oh ok. I’m in the Glasgow area and see there is a practitioner not far (although expensive). I’ll see about getting an appointment.

I’ve contacted a BFC too now so hopefully can get seen to with that too.

Thank you for your advice! Have just felt totally lost with all of this.

OP posts:
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