all ye women with slow-gaining babies... come and sympathise with Aitch here please...

[Aitch]

oh bloomin' heck. she's only put on an ounce and a half in 6 days.

hmmmm, am very freaked out though by dd's shorter feeds. am now needin reassurance that she isn't starving..

How short is short? How many times has she fed today? How is she when she's awake? What are her nappies like?

Ahem - that's what is she like when she's awake - alert, etc - clearly she's a baby when she's awake...!

dunno, depends. 20-30 mins but remember she's not chowing down all the time. the morning cluster feeds are calming, think the evening oes arre as well. she's sleeping for msybe 3 hours?

nappies fine, so's she. it's me that's jittery.

hi aitch and also big wave to vlc, thought you might pop up here!

Yet another "failure to thrive" here...this line in someone else's post sums it up so well... "I was demented with worry, particularly as new Mum and Fucking stupid HV (sorry about the language- but it still makes me mad) taking about failure to thrive like I was some kind of abuser."

Oh Yes. Been There.

Aitch I am far from an expert but everything sounds fine! Have you seen this thread? Very long but also very supportive.

FWIW, my 0.4th line, failure to thrive little dd has now at 10mths gone up to the 91st and I am still bf-ing her plus following your wonderful BLW advice!

The 2 things I did which seemed to boost either my supply or her weight gain or both were:
a- ditched the health visitor
b - just offered her the breast more frequently

(and I apologise for use of the phrase "offer her the breast" (more breast modom?!) but I can't think how else to say it!)

i use 'stick her on the tit', personally. [prim]

Aah that is better right enough!

Honestly my HV TOLD me, so forcefully that I almost did it, to go to the supermarket IMMEDIATELY from my appointment with her, to buy formula for dd's next feed. She had me so stressed out and hysterical that I did it. Then when I got home I came partially to my senses, called the BFN who talked sense to me.

Over the next few weeks I gradually chilled out, ditched the clocks, charts, HV, etc etc etc and hey presto dd's weight gain started to improve. I think the main thing was that I was just relaxing and feeding her more often instead of stressing out, checking top up amounts, expressing etc etc.

But they scared the bloody bejesus out of me, and I still can't see the woman without getting all panicky and teary. Grrrrrr.

Sorry, me me me

How is your wee DD tonight?

she's sneezing on dh's chest.

What is latest Aitch?
Top ups?
Exc. b/feeding?
How are you feeling about things most importantly?

exc bfing

nervously

am not convinced by my latch so am seeing bfc on wed

That's the spirit!!
Why are you nervous though?
It intrigues me that you come across as so logical and measured and thoguhtful yet seem to have so little faith in yourself. Why is that? Am genuinely interested (but ignore if intrusive obv.)

Maybe next post answered my ?

lol. confidence WRECKED by dd's preemie status, she's not even 5lbs and is 5 weeks old.

Yes, that must be a bit of a worry. My cousin just had a baby 5 weeks early. Tried to b/feed and as baby's suck was weak, MWs helpfully offered a bottle.

Bye bye all b/feeding plans.

och, shame. it does fel lliike more pressure to bf cos she's prem, while also being trickier and havin less wriggle room on weight etc.

Why do you think there is a problem with latch?

Sounds like you are both doing fine, btw. Perhaps if you could learn tiktok's post verbatim and spew it at your HV/MW next time she visits, she might start to lay off with the frightening tactics?

having difficulty getting dd to open her mouth in that really wide way. and if she does it, her hands get in the way or i'm not fast enough etc etc etc.

Oh, I thought of you today whilst sat waiting in the docs. There was a child's alphabet book with Scottish phonics in it

There were some weird and wonderful words in there I can tell you!

"Armadillos aire dancin airm in airm"

ah yes, the armadillos. the hills are fair hoachin' wi' 'em roon here.

Could that be because she's only got a wee mouth or has she become lazy at it and could do it before?

You havent been looking at photos of women with 4 month old full-termers b/feeding have you?

Absolutely worth getting it checked out anyway.

(I used to hold my boob with thumb and forefinger side on, and use my middle finger to brush own the bottom lip as I brushed my nipple down over their nose and into their opening mouth).

penguins in peenies pentin picturs

That was it!

penguins in peenies pentin picturs

That was it!

Ds never gained weight significantly - but was just a "non-failure to thrive" who didn't follow the growth cahrts, slipping form 91st centile to under the charts, following just under neath for a number of months before eventually creeping back up to the 50th. With hindsight, he was a good example of "catch down" growth, reverting to "his" curve.

I was fortunate and had fanstastic support form the Queen Mum's (made sure to avoid all HVs! ), in particular from the blessed Rosemary, who I understand has now retired. She did encourage me to give EBM - but never before a feed - it was for after a feed.

Ds also never really learnt to open his mouth properly - I had to learn to "post" my boob into his mouth.

Linda at the Queen Mum's was also a good support - but iirc, she was more senior to the "offical" tow breast feeding counsellors (althugh equally supportive).

Ds is now 8, so I don't know waht the current up is - nor what the Princess Royal is like.