Baby losing weight

[greenerfingers]

So my baby was born at 45th percentile and dropped as they do initially but by 3 weeks was slowly back up to 20th and then 30th by 4 weeks. And since then it's been downhill. Every month he's been dropping more and now at 4 months he's at the 7th percentile. He's tiny and often sucks his hand or rarely cries for milk. He's exclusively breastfed but I've offered formula and expressed milk. He refuses the bottle or tries for a good few minutes and barely gets out 10ml. When starving he'll get out an oz or two max. Sometimes he takes it via syringe. I don't know what to do as he's definitely hungry but also seems like he's used to it now and doesn't fuss much. I've been to check his latch etc and everyone says it's ok but I feel like there may be a lip tie. Just wondering if anyone had anything similar or some words of encouragement. I feel like a total failure and really have tried to get his weight up. He's a very tall baby too so it isn't that he's just petite.

Oh op that's so stressful. Have you been to see a lactation consultant or got any support from your health visitor? When my ds was born he was a big baby and immediately dropped over 10% of body weight and didn't gain for a few weeks. He was assessed for a posterior tongue tie so I'd recommend getting that and the lip tie checked again. We were also put on a feeding schedule of 2hrs during the day and night and initially I was told to do ten mins per side to increase supply but I found a better change in his weight when I fed from one side for a few hours then switched so he was getting more hind milk. Similarly you can pump for a while before breastfeeding to build supply and make sure little one is getting the hind milk quicker before he fills up or gets tired. If he can't get anything out of the bottle then that would make me think it's a latch issue that's been missed.

How do you find your supply? Is he particularly windy or any other issues?

You are doing fab, you are absolutely not a failure you're doing the best you can in a really stressful situation.

So a lip tie should really affect feeding but if baby has a lip tie then most likely had a tongue tie. It might be worth seeing a precise practitioner to assess baby’s mouth and oral function

Lip tie shouldn’t *

Thank you for the replies. I've booked in an appointment next week @Ilovetea42. I'm hoping they can give me some answers or guidance. I fed my first for 2 years and he was fine with both bottle and breast although I was in pain for the first 4 months or so with him. By the time I realised he probably has some sort of tie it had corrected itself and there was no need to get him checked. He was also piling weight on.

I read this @SassyPants87 but it's almost impossible to check under his tongue. He definitely has thicker skin under his lip and when he drinks he tucks his upper lip in with both bottle and breast. I try to flick it out for him to make it easier.

If anyone needs this in future, update is baby had a tongue tie of sorts. Physically it didn't look it but his tongue was extremely tight at the back with zero elasticity so it's been snipped and now we're trying to learn how to use it. Doctor said it may take up to a month for him to learn how to use his tongue as he has really poor control of it.

Wishing you luck @greenerfingers. Hope the feeding picks up soon

I feel like this needs to be discussed with a Dr and maybe referred to a paediatrician. A baby at this age shouldn't be loosing weight so you definitely need medical advice.

@Girliefriendlikespuppies thank you for the reply. I've been to see a tongue tie specialist and corrected it and it does seem to have been that. Baby is feeding larger amounts now and I'll have him weighed again in a week. I also realised his weight began to drop when I stopped doing breast compressions upon the advice of the hv. My biggest regret so far as after that the weight loss started. If with tongue tie correction he still doesn't add weight I'll definitely have to ask for him to be referred to a paediatrician.

If you can- no older children or work to manage- can you go to bed with him for the day and let him feed at will. Phone, snacks, remote control and just doze and feed and cuddle and rest. Brilliant for increasing your supply, and the rest will do you good.

Sadly no, I have a toddler too or that would have been my first point of action.

@greenerfingers :( worth a day of childcare? A holiday day for your partner if you have one?

Visit yr GP.