Failure to regain birthweight in 15 day old - can anyone help? Tiktok?

[yomellamoHelly]

Dd was 4.09 kg when born on 17th. Weight went down to 3.74 on 22nd and stayed same on 25th. Then rose to 3.78 on 28th, but had fallen to 3.71 today.
She also has an infected umbilicus (but doesn't look too bad now and doesn't smell).
Got sent to hospital because of these two issues today.
They're unconcerned about her umbilicus, but wanted to admit her and put a tube down her throat and watch me feed her for 24 hours and top her up via this tube until she starts putting on weight, then review the situation.
I managed to put them off 'til tomorrow. (Have 2 dss who I need to sort out for that length of time.)
My issue though, is that she looks healthy, produces plenty of wet and dirty nappies, is settled, alert for decent chunks of the day and sleeps well. My gut is telling me she's fine.
I'm bfing her (third one) on demand, but don't let her go longer than 3 hours and feel the feeding is going well. Plenty of milk. Boobs okay. A few good feeds each day (both boobs and over an hour in total). Cluster feeds in evening. She does throw up after big feeds, but I feel it's the overflow (looks like just excess milk coming back up and is straight after a feed).
They took bloods today to confirm she's not dehydrated (would be surprised looking at her).
My question is how do I avoid this tube down throat thing? I feel it's an over-reaction and consultant didn't have a plan as to when they would top her up via this tube. Just "when they weren't happy with how the feed had gone".
Have been on kellymom website and have been following their tips for about a week now, but no real change.
Dd was overdue FWIW.

Weighed on the same scales each time? Baby naked? What sort of scales?

Bumping for you for a bfc Have you thought about ringing NCT, LLL or ABM?

First set of scales was in hospital. Others different ones by different community nurses. All the same type (electronic).
All with naked baby.

Good idea The2nd... Will go look for a number

0300 330 0771 nct
0845 120 2918 lll
08444 122 949 abm

should have put em in first message

Gosh, it sounds like an over-reaction to me. Some babies who are born big, 'catch down' in weight.

Different scales can be calibrated slightly differently so it matters. Also if one of the readings was recorded incorrectly (not uncommon) it gives a false impression of what is going on.

Did they ask you sensible questions like 'how many wet and dirty nappies are you getting per day?' 'how long are the gaps between feeds?' 'how often does she feed at night?'

Will someone sit with you in hospital for a day to watch you feed her? I doubt it.

If you want to compromise with them suggest that you fill in a feed log for 24 hrs /3dys/ a week whatever. (there is a good one on Kellymom)

yes call a helpline first before proceeding.

It is very important to weigh on the same scales, naked baby, and I also think at the same time of day if I'm not mistaken. If she's not dehydrated I don't understand the tube feeding but I'm not medically qualified.

Have a look at Jack Newman's site:

www.nbcionline.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23:is-my-baby-getting-enough-milk&ca tid=5:information&Itemid=17

If you must go into hospital couldn't they just observe you and baby whilst breastfeeding and not bother with the tube?

What about a second opinion from another Consultant? Was this a Lactation consultant you spoke to?

I was told once I had to stop bf my dd1 immediately because I was prescribed steroids. I phoned the hospital up in tears the next day, as I couldn't just stop cold turkey with my 1 yr old, and spoke to another doctor who told me that my steroid dose was so low that it would not cause a problem.

Try and talk to another Consultant.

Good luck.

Foxytocin - Have you a good description of catch-down? (Can't ind anything sensible from google search.) Yes they did ask the sensible questions. They said it didn't stack up with what the scales were saying. And no bfcs to observe dd feed over the w/e. Will do the log though.
Toodles - Will ask for second opinion tomorrow if it comes to it!

With what you are saying about her being well in herself and wet/dirty nappies etc it would seem to be an overeaction on their part.

Can you ask to see how things go over the bank holiday and then bring her in to be weighed on the same scales as before? keeping a feed diary and nappy diary if needs be?

15 days doesn't seem to be a huge amount of time, I thought the average was 10 days so 15 days doesn't seem terrible

you sound like you are doing a brilliant job

if you search MN archives with Tiktok and 'catch down' you will find her talking about it.

Consider what they size of your other babies are like and you and your dh (build as well as weight and height) when they consider how big your baby is supposed to be.

yomella, can you discuss your options with the hospital before they do this invasive investigation?

Extra feeding is the easiest intervention - you can routinely respond to every feeding cue (three hourly is not enough for most newborns) and offer both sides (at least) each time, switch nursing so your baby gets maximum volume.

Without any clinical symptoms of under-nutrition, any treatment of your baby with tubes or top ups needs to be clearly justified and explained to you.

You can still be under midwife care, too; perhaps they will support you in seeking a dialogue with the docs.

Good luck.

Thank you all for your advice. Also spoke to a bfc this pm and between you all have got my head round a few arguments for no intervention for now. Have started logging feeds and nappies etc and will be setting my alarm clock for tonight for every 2-3 hours (though half of me thinks I must be mad to be doing this!). I'll post tomorrow (I hope) to update.

Good luck.

Love your posting name btw, always have.

How are things?

Aww, I'm sure your doing just fine.
Hope everything has gone ok, looking forward to an update :D

Well we all got back at 4. Hurrah! (Dd and ds2 then both had meltdowns as overtired from a day in the hospital but are now safely tucked up.)
They weighed dd this am (on yet another set of scales) and she'd lost another 20 grams. Without even coming to see dd or talking to me consultant told nurses to stick a tube down her.
Thankfully the sister was sympathetic and listened to everything I had to say and in the end we walked back to a&e (where she was weighed yesterday) to discover by that set of scales she'd put on 90g (had just had a massive feed by then!). The sister then talked again to the consultant.
So the registrar came our way (eventually) and agreed that apart from the weight and her infected umbilicus she's fine and kept saying that as her parent it was my choice as to what we did next. (Not the impression I got from the consultant yesterday - she was really forceful.) At which point I started picking up all ds2's toys and saying right we're off.
Felt really emotional on walking out, but hugely relieved now.
Thanks for helping me get my thoughts in order everyone.

You did an amazing thing standing up for what you believed to be right for your child. Yay to you!! I hope DD continues to thrive.