Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Please help, 5 week old baby lost weight, very worried first time mum

29 replies

bumbley · 27/02/2008 16:30

Hi, I haven't posted before, but have often read various posts for helpful advice. My DS is 5 weeks old, and has dropped 5 1/2oz in the last week. The HV sent me to the Dr yesterday and he told me to supplement with formula (I am BF so far). Also, after regualr dirty nappies after every feed, we have not have a dirty nappy for 24 hours (but lots of wet ones). Until now DS has fed very well, & I am desperate not to give up bf. What do I do? I have been expressing milk and bottle feeding to give me peace of mind that he is taking something in, this has now backfired as he now won't take my breast at all, he has always been a bit lazy, but he won't even try now, just screams. To top it off, I have spent the entire day trying to express milk, and am beginning to think I don't have enough milk, as I only manage 1oz at a time. Everybody around me is telling me to ff and I really don't want to. What do I do, I have another visit from the HV tomorrow. Has anybody else had this experience, any advice gratefully recieved. (Sorry if this is a bit long).

OP posts:

hunkermunker · 27/02/2008 16:38

Oh, sweetheart

I think you need some RL support - can you ring one of the helpline numbers - all listed on the right-hand side here?

You need someone who knows about bf - a lot of HVs don't, necessarily.

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 27/02/2008 16:39

Bumping this so someone more knowledgeable will help bumbley.

Not being able to express isn't a good indication of not having enough milk though. Some people just can't express much.

MamaG · 27/02/2008 16:39

Bumbley, do ring one of the helplines. HVs have a scary habit of making new mums feel they are doing something wrong at times - I'm sure you aren't.

Good luck

LittleMy34 · 27/02/2008 16:39

Hello, there are some really good people on here who can give you more expert advice, but I wanted to offer you some support in keeping bf - it's really hard when you're getting pressure from all sides to ff but do stick it out as it sounds like it's important to you. Have you tried calling La Leche League for some advice?
www.laleche.org.uk

On the expressing, don't worry about only getting a little as you won't be able to get nearly as much as the baby does, especially at the beginning. And if you're feeling stressed out that can affect how much you can get out when expressing.

Sure someone with much more experience than me will be along in a minute to help, hope this bumps for you

LM x

Jojay · 27/02/2008 16:41

Someone who knows much more than me will post in a bit, but breast feeding councillors can be a huge help. They can help you get him latched on and feeding again.

Google NCT, or La Leche League, and you'll find numbers to call, or your hospital may have one.

Expressing isn't a good indication of how much your breasts are producing - babies are far more efficient at getting milk out than pumps, so try not to worry about this. They do need frequent stimuation to produce milk though, so do keep encouraging him to feed.

5 1/2 oz is a fair amount to lose in a week though - has his weight gain been good up until then? Is it just a 'blip' week or has it always been slow?

If it is purely a feeding issue - that is, there's no other underlying reason why he's losing weight, then if you get the right help in the form of a good breast feeding councillor, you should be able to carry on breast feeding.

But do something about it now. Call one of those organisations and ask for some urgent help.

Remember though, that while it is worth seeking help to continue bfing, if you do decide to try formula, that doesn't make you a terrible person and you will still be a fab Mum just the same.

HTH and best of luck

Martha200 · 27/02/2008 17:00

No advice as such but just wanted to let you know hang on in there if you want to bf and as mentioned call an organisation soon!.. HV coming tomorrow.. has the dr written in the red book you should ff?, because if they haven't I wouldn't necessairly tell HV that it was something you were told/must do.. and instead focus on the help (hopefully an organisation can give you to the HV.

My HV nearly blew my confidence completely yesterday with bf as the weight had been plotted incorrectly and I was upset/angry by her approach as she told me his weight gain was 'poor' if we hadn't noticed I would have left in a bad way, because until then she tried to rip me apart for what reasons the loss was and as for the expressing it's true.. babes are MUCH better at getting the milk than when we express.

Hope you get the help/advice you want

hunkermunker · 27/02/2008 17:01

Skin to skin will help - let him lie on you, naked (but for a nappy). He may latch on spontaneously like that - try to keep as calm as you can. Or you can try having a warm bath with him - again, let him nuzzle you.

Original poster

bumbley · 27/02/2008 17:08

Thanks everyone, I will call one of the helplines, we were doing so well until now, and was shocked that he had lost so much weight, weight gain after his initial drop had been ok, but not huge:

Birth: 8lb 1/2oz
2 weeks: 7lb 10oz
3 weeks: 8lb 1oz
4 weeks: 8lb 6oz
5 weeks: 8lb 1/2oz

Obviously the main thing is that he gains weight, so I will ff if I absolutely have to, but I have got this far with bf and I really want to carry on. Thanks again.

OP posts:

hunkermunker · 27/02/2008 17:15

Bumbley, has he been weighed, naked, on the same digital scales each time? This is very important - if the bag on spring balance type scales have been used, they're not reliable weights, ditto different digital scales, ditto if he's been wearing a nappy/nappy and vest/full on sailor suit.

LIZS · 27/02/2008 17:15

Not wanting to be pedantic but isn't it 4 1/2 oz less than previous. Was it same scales, clothed/unclothed etc . Definitely get some local help and advice from a b'feeding counsellor re technique, position, latch. Did HV/gp check him over, he might have tummy ache or perhaps thrush affecting his feeding ? btw expressing is not a good indicator of supply and you feeling under pressure may inadvertently become less successful.

tiktok · 27/02/2008 17:15

Bumbley - my antennae are twitching.

It is so unusual for an apparently healthy, thriving baby to lose weight like this that I am very suspicious

has the weight been plotted correctly?

-were the scales calibrated properly?

was your baby weighed naked each time?
were the scales digital?
has the weight been translated correctly from metric?

It is very, very bad practice just to tell a mother to give formula. If your baby really has lost this amount of weight, then he could be ill; if he is not ill, and just short of calories, then you have the calories, in your breasts All baby bumbley needs is more of them! He can have more of them by feeding more often - at least both sides every time and if he'll take three or four, then go for it!

A breastfeeding counsellor will take a good history - she'll ask you what he was feeding like, and wanting to hear he has been feeding often (at least 8-10 times in 24 hours), day and night, and both breasts at a time. If this hasn't been the case, then there is time to turn things round, starting now

hunkermunker · 27/02/2008 17:16

I'm sure you can keep bfing, if you just get in touch with someone who knows what they're talking about. Keep posting and well done for getting this far! His weight gain looks great for the first four weeks, so it may well be the scales, not him.

tiktok · 27/02/2008 17:17

Liz, her maths are right - 8 lbs 6 oz and now 8 lbs and one half ounce.

I am highly suspicious - when babies lose this amount in a week they are usually ill.

hunkermunker · 27/02/2008 17:19

Tiktok, LOL at your bf spidey sense - same tingles here!

beansprout · 27/02/2008 17:19

Ds2 is also five weeks old (congratulations! ) and I haven't even tried to express yet as I don't think I would get much out at this point. Please call one of the numbers that HM/Tiktok are suggesting (they really know what they are talking about!) and see what other support you can get. I really hope this works out for you.

Original poster

bumbley · 27/02/2008 17:33

Thanks again, DS had been feeding really well, regularly, and did not mess around, he got straight down to business and winded well too. He has had ciolic symptoms for the past week, but this has eased a bit now, although still colicy some evenings. With his colic, he still produces plenty of wind, so I was recommended and have been using colief for the last week. He is well in himself, he is bright eyed and alert, although not quite as content this week as he had been for the first 4, ( he was very laid back and content) but I had put this down to colic. The HV checked him over, including his tummy and mouth. The GP didn't check him, just asked if he had had diaorreah. He is always weighed on electronic scales, naked, his last 3 weigh ins have been taken by the same HV, on her scales, as she has been coming to my house. She tried the scales 3 times yesterday, on different surfaces too, the same reading every time. She thought that the DR might want me to go to hospital with him. She called me this morning for an update, and she is due to come here tomorrow lunch time.

OP posts:

tiktok · 27/02/2008 18:00

bumbley, I am still suspicious about the weight (are you sure it translated correctly from metric to imperial?) but concerned if it is a genuine weight loss that your baby may be poorly - sometimes a urine infection or some other 'hidden' illness can cause it.

Whatever - giving formula does not address the issue

Perhaps you can ask the HV if she thinks he needs formula urgently, and if he doesn't, then working on getting more breastfeeds in would be the way to go.

Original poster

bumbley · 28/02/2008 11:36

I have checked the weights and they are correct, and my DH checked them last night too. Last night was better DH had a calming influence when he arrived home to find me in a state of despair. We then managed to bf only for a little at a time to begin with, and a good feed later on from the breast in addition to some expressed milk. I have called a helpline this morning, and they gave me some more useful tips, some that had already been mentioned by you guys. This morning we have had a good 15 mins of bf first thing, followed by some expressed milk. I think that stress was affecting me yesterday, as I am expressing much better today, about 4 oz each time. HV due in half an hour. DS much happier today, and producing healthy nappies too. Thanks for all your help last night, I really hope there is nothing seriously wrong, I'll post again later. hmm

OP posts:

tiktok · 28/02/2008 11:40

bumbley, that all sounds good.

Any expressed breastmilk you give your baby needs to be in addition to direct breastfeeds - don't give ebm instead of a breastfeed, in partciular, not in order to lengthen the time between breastfeeds, as this will reduce your supply (the shorter the gaps, the more milk you make; the longer the gaps, the less).

Hope the rest of the day goes well

tiktok · 28/02/2008 11:41

I still think it would be useful to weigh your baby again today ....I am still mightily sceptical about the weight

Jojay · 28/02/2008 12:55

How did it go with the HV Bumbley??

Original poster

bumbley · 28/02/2008 14:10

Gained 3oz so now 8lb 3 1/2oz HV coming back to weigh him on Monday, feeling a little better now, DS is much more contented. So far today, I am expressing milk to get me going, then bf for as long as I can get him to stay on for which is about 10-15 minutes and then feeding expressed milk until he has had enough. I am feeding about every 2-3 hours, as and when he demands. Does this sound ok?

OP posts:

hunkermunker · 28/02/2008 14:32

3oz in a day?

Ring the helpline again - I'd be very tempted to stop faffing about with EBM, but you need a confidence boost from a voice in RL before you can do that, I expect.

Original poster

bumbley · 28/02/2008 14:41

Two days, he was 8lb 1/2oz on Tuesday. I didn't post on here until the next day sorry for confusing you.

OP posts:

tiktok · 28/02/2008 14:45

He sounds fine, bumbley, and share the same feelings as hunker about the ebm....but agree you need to speak to someone.

A gain of 3 oz in 2 days is as much as most babies could manage

Flip

1 2