My DS lost 3oz this week :(

[supercherry]

and I'm gutted. I'm breastfeeding so I feel like I'm doing something wrong. Up until 10 weeks his gain was brilliant then last 2 weeks it dropped to 5oz and now he's lost 3oz. DS has seemed very fractious the past week, not at all like the settled baby I thought he was. He doesn't seem to be poorly but I think he might be teething (Dribbling lots and mouthing his fist). He spending the same amount of time at the breast but it never feels like he's had a proper feed, it's almost like he's sucking for comfort. Last night I woke at 2.30am with my breasts engorged so I think I am right in thinking he's not feeding properly. I don't think it's a supply issue but I'm not ruling anything out. The HVs have said to try putting him into a 3 hrly feeding routine during the day so he gets hungry and feeds properly- that I should teach him that the breast is for feeding at and not a pacifier. I hardly think a 12 week old baby would understand the concept! Any advice please. I would really like him to put some weight on next week!

supercherry - I can understand this concern, but really, your HVs are showing a very poor understanding of bf

Increasing gaps between a baby's feeds does not make them 'feed properly' - all it does is upset the baby and reduce the milk supply. How does that impact on weight gain, I wonder?

It may be your baby was weighed incorrectly - with HVs giving out rubbish advice like that, it would not be a surprise. Was he naked? Were these digital scales? Was it converted from kg to lbs and ounces correctly?

Even if it is correct, minor fluctuations in weight are on the normal spectrum for all babies, which is why weekly weighing is not a great idea. Your surprise engorged breasts could simply be the result of an increase in supply brought on by his more frequent feeding. Feed him as often as he seems to 'ask' and you will make enough milk for him. If you think he needs more than he is asking for, offer the breast even more often.

Suggest the HVs do some training to improve their understanding of bf, too, if you are brave

I seem to remember someone on an earlier thread saying that 3oz is one big poo. It's such a small change that it's not worth stressing over.

Perhaps the issue here is that he's not "feeding" but is doing plenty of sucking? That would mean plenty of foremilk going in but perhaps not so much hindmilk? I have read lots of foremilk can make babies a little restless and unsettled.

IMO it is possible for previously well attahced and positioned babies to get lazy and not latch on properly. So my advice would be to concnetrate on atachment as though he was a newborn - don't let him get away with lazy latching. If he seems to be nibbling rather than feeding take him off and re-attach. Are you offering both breasts a feed?

Tiktok- I think they got the weight correct as they checked it twice (naked). Really hope it's just a minor blip then. What if he loses weight next week? Or, wouldn't you take him to be weighed next week? If the feeding on demand is OK then I wonder why he seems so fractious at the moment? Hope it's not his personality developing as he is getting older because he has been really hard work this week! You're right about the HVs lack of BF knowledge- I got the distinct impression that they were grasping at straws during our little chat.

Gagarin- I use nipple covers so he doesn't have to latch on- he just sucks on them like a bottle but it really does seem like he wants to be at the breast but can't be bothered to suck properly.

Nipple shields cause huge problems with breast milk supply (I think tiktok would agree?).

Initially they can solve problems but I would really advise you to move him onto the actual breast asap.

supercherry - you mean nipple shields? is there anyway you could work towards not using them? They may be reducing the milk flow.

It's up to you whether you take him to be weighed next week or not. Will it make you feel better or worse?

Babies do have fractious weeks - it's not a sign of personality normally, just, um, that this is what they are like at the moment

I've heard that about nipple covers. I have tried a few times but he really struggles to latch as I have been using them since day 3. I don't think its a supply issue- breasts were engorged last night and I expressed 4oz from the left and 1oz from the right (leaving enough to feed him when he woke for his night feed) but I could be wrong.

Supercherry - I was in exactly the same position as you last week.

I did choose to get DS weighed again this week, to put my mind at rest - he'd gained again so I felt better.
Don't know what I would have done if he hadn't have tho.

But saying that, I kinda knew he would had gained, you know whether your baby is ok i think. Often these hv's do little but knock any confidence you have (hopefully not intentionally).

He'd also sprouted a tooth!!

I have decided not to get DS weighed weekly as i think if I had been getting him weighed monthly/fortnightly, I would never have known he ever lost weight in the first place.

My DS has been thru a few fractious weeks. The worst one was the week before he started sleeping from 10pm - 5am so it could be a sign of good things to come!!

Sorry bit long but have found Tiktok et al on here WAY more helpful than my hv so far. Tho the one I saw this week did seem more 'with it'.

supercherry, expressing is not an indication of what gets into your baby, though - he could be having twice as much as that or half as much, who knows?

Nipple shields are sometimes a short term answer to a latching issue, and I have known mums feed with them for ages and ages without any negative effects (apart from the fact they are a nuisance!).

There is no doubt about it, though, that they have the potential to affect production and availability of milk to the baby, in the medium and long term. It might help you to speak to a breastfeeding counsellor, super, to talk through all this, and to see if there are ways to reduce the use of the shields.

I do think it's unlikely that this 3 oz weight loss is significant, though, so no panic

Thanks Blondie- I will get him weighed next wk and fingers crossed he doesn't lose any but after that I'm going to get him weighed less frequently.

Tiktok & Gagarin- how do I get him off nipple shields?

Thanks Tiktok- so not wanting to seem stupid, but how do I get in contact with a BF Counsellor?

There are several helplines which lead you to a breastfeeding counsellor, supercherry - I think if you search mumsnet archives with the words breastfeeding line numbers you will get a list.

NCT bf line is 0870 444 8708 but there are others

Thanks Tiktok.

and a support thread for you

supercherry, my 1st DC was slow to gain weight and the weekly weigh-ins were very stressful and not at all helpful. One hv ordered me to come back with him 2 days later and he had to have gained x amount. I'm sure my milk was affected by it all. As a first time mother, I certainly was. My 3rd DC is 16 months now and I don't think I've had her weighed more than twice. She's very happy and healthy (all 3 DCs are) and so am I