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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

weight gain in BF 5 wk old?

14 replies

AuldAlliance · 20/05/2009 17:49

DS2 is 5 and a half weeks.
He weighed 3.4 kilos at birth and at his one-month check-up he weighed 4.6 kilos, which I was told was too much (and I couldn't plot it on the chart in his medical booklet). The paediatrician told me I was feeding him sometimes when he just wanted a cuddle, and to try and feed him less, and give just one boob at each feed.
He has now (in the space of 2 wks) put on another 800gr.
Today he has been asking to feed every 2 hrs, and is currently manically screaming for another feed. I'm trying to space the feeds, but it is hard. It is also hot now (26-27°), so I'm worried he may be thirsty.
Any views/advice would be appreciated, as I'm a bit lost.

OP posts:
tiktok · 20/05/2009 18:00

Oh dear.....

What a way to mess up someone's confidence

I don't know what the paed is worried about.

So I don't think anyone here is able to comment on his advice, except to say it is unusual and that most babies who gain weight unusually fast or unusually slowly are fine unless they show other signs of something not being right.

A call to the paed to say 'why am I being told to do this?' and 'what do you think might happen if I follow what my baby seems to be wanting?' will help.

Original poster
AuldAlliance · 20/05/2009 18:08

She suggested that it was the possible reason why he is sick/spitting up so much. That was why she told me to feed less.

I can't really call her to discuss it, she's a consultant at the hospital and impossible to get on the phone...

Thanks for your reply tiktok.

OP posts:
tiktok · 20/05/2009 18:35

Ah, I see. So there are no concerns about the weight per se, then.

You didnt say about the sicking up in your first post....it may well be helped by feeding on one side only at a time, and his weight gain is so magnificent you need have no concerns about the effect on your supply or his intake

I think suggesting you feed him less, rather than responding to his needs, is unjustified on the info you give here, as this upsets him.

hangoninthere · 20/05/2009 18:45

tiktok, just curious, why would feeding on one side help?

Original poster
AuldAlliance · 20/05/2009 18:48

I'm afraid that my initial post didn't give the whole picture.
Sorry. I was posting a bit distractedly with a screaming baby beside me.
I've been feeding on one side at a time for a fortnight, it doesn't seem to make a difference to the sicking up or to his weight gain (nor, indeed, to my copious supply ).
She did seem concerned about the weight gain, as she said that his feeding 7 or 8 times a day was too much, and that I should try and feed him less often.
I have another appointment next month so will doubtless find out more then about what she thinks about his weight.
Thanks again tiktok for answering my rambling question!

OP posts:
Castiel · 20/05/2009 18:53

How much weight is that in old money?

My dd put on 1lb a week at least for weeks and weeks and rocketed from 50th centile to above the top line very quickly indeed. She fed every 2 hours day and night until 7 months. Exclusively bfed, turns out she's just destined to be very, very tall!

I know you cannot make comparisons between children but I can assure you that a fast weight gain and hungry baby is not unheard of or a reason to worry on its own. Of course if there are other issues then the advice may be of more use than if weight gain alone is being addressed.

Original poster
AuldAlliance · 20/05/2009 19:05

Birth weight: 7.5lbs
One month later: 10.14lbs
Two weeks after that: +1.76lbs

He may well end up tall, it would be logical in genetic terms as DH is tall and so are my family.

I wasn't too fussed about this at first, but it has been getting to me these last few days and I've been wondering if I have been overfeeding.

OP posts:
LoobyLaBoobs · 20/05/2009 19:16

Auld : have a look here might help

i got told you cant over feed a breast fed baby but apparently you can :S at least hes gaining weight not losing it though!!

Reesie · 20/05/2009 21:59

Auldalliance - please do not worry..

My dd2 is now a month old

Birth weight - 8lb 6oz
3 weeks - 10lb 14 oz

My HV thinks this is marvellous - my first baby did a similar weight gain - she is a gorgeous 2 1/2 year old now who is now turning into a slim but very tall toddler. I work as a midwife - I personally have no concerns regarding her weight gain. Yes, it is unusual but both my babies appear to be healthy, tall and strong. You will probably find that the gain will plateau shortly.

Please do not restrict your baby the food that his/her body needs.

Well done on the breastfeeding - the good thing is tht I was back in my pre pregnancy jeans at 3 weeks! The weight is falling off me!

elkiedee · 20/05/2009 23:43

It's an impressive weight gain, but I don't understand why your consultant thinks you're overfeeding. 7/8 feeds or feeds every 2 hours seems perfectly reasonable for a baby that age. And sorry Looby, but I'm dubious about the advice provided by a company which apparently sells email and telephone advice on breastfeeding for a fee.

tiktok · 20/05/2009 23:52

Looby, not everything on that page is quite right.

Sometimes, babies can suffer a little bit when their mums have a really generous milk supply - they just get a bit overwhelmed and have to sick it back and there may be spluttering from her powerful let down. It's not really 'over feeding'.

Reason why feeding one sided helps is that it reduces supply without reducing the opportunities the baby has to get the calories he needs - this is why when there is an issue with low supply, it's always sensible to make sure the baby has at least two sides each time.

7-8 feeds in 24 hours is not many feeds - certainly not over feeding.

babyphat · 21/05/2009 06:36

auldalliance, sounds just like my dd, i had some probs with oversupply which were resolved through 'block feeding' - feeding on demand but staying on one side for a few hours at a time. in my case had to go for quite long periods on one side to let things settle down. If you do this you have to be vigilant for enough wet nappies. La Leche were invaluable source of advice sorry can't link baby on lap but they have useful resource on oversupply and i got email support from one of their leaders which really helped. dd went from 50th to 99th %ile within a couple of weeks and stayed there, still is at 8 months.

even if they eat lots, it won't do them any harm, that for me was the big bonus of bfeeding, and the point about not being able to overfeed. worst case is a sicky baby for a bit - dd did dramatic projectile vomits sometimes!

if you carry on feeding on demand your boobs and your baby should reach an understanding by about 12 weeks and things should be lots better

babyphat · 21/05/2009 06:38

ps am pretty sure we gained about 1lb a week. doubled birth weight by 12 weeks and was 20lb at 4 months. but has slowed down now!

Original poster
AuldAlliance · 22/05/2009 08:29

Sorry, RL interrupted there.
Thanks for all the feedback and advice.
I have begun to glimpse a difference between demands to BF when in fact he has colic/trapped wind and demands arising from hunger.
My supply is really generous, and sometimes he does choke and splutter, especially when he is very hungry.
Will try and sound out La Leche.
Am worrying less now, thanks again to everyone who responded.

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