small baby -feeling really down and guilty

[mrsjuan]

My baby is 3 and half weeks now -I was induced with her a few days early because growth scans had indicated that she was a bit small. Whe she was born she was even smaller than we expected at 5lb 7 and it seems she didn't grow much at all for the last few weeks she was in there. So i'm feeling what I'm sure is irrationally guilty that I didn't provide properly for her while she was inside.
I'm now breastfeeding her and although all the signs are right - plenty of nappies, she was up to 5lb 12 last thurs, I'm still worrying every day that she's too small and I'm not doing it right.
Everyone we meet keeps saying how tiny she is and it's starting to make me feel worse!
I'm sure things will get better but it's such a worry and it seems a massive responsibilty to be the sole provider of what she needs. She's being weighed again tomorrow and I know i'll be gutted if she hasn't put any weight on - she doesn't look to me as if she has

Sorry should have said "provided your baby is gaining weight, healthy and developing well".

MrsJuan Just another voice to say I know how it feels and not to worry, you are giving her everything she needs and doing a brilliant job.

My DD was 6lbs at birth and is just about following the underside of the 9th centile line. I felt like every baby we met was twice her size, and people were constantly saying things like "wow, that's the smallest baby I've ever seen"... I used to worry about her weight constantly but at 6 months she's incredibly active, healthy and happy. I too was a little baby (about 6 lbs 6) and my sister was 5 lb 5 and we are both tall (5'8') and slim build - so she'll be thanking you for her fine slim genes when she's a teenager!

Funnily enough I went to a mum and baby cinema screening today and all the other babies apart from DD were very young - 2 weeks, 6 weeks etc - and I realised quite how much she's grown! We just don't notice because we see them everyday. Before you know it your little one will not be so little anymore.

Plus - good side of little babies - takes ages to outgrow their clothes so you get more value for money ;)

to reassure you a bit I've had loads of people say "isn't he small" and my DS was 10lb 5 at birth.

kiwipanda I'm still waiting for her to grow into her clothes never mind growing out of them! She's quite a tricky customer because she's got very long feet for her size (we call them her flippers!) so all the tiny baby grows are too small for her feet!

We went to a baby cafe yesterday and it was so strange to see all these babies with vests that fitted them snugly - hers are all baggy!

mrsjuan Our DDs are kindred spirits -mine has big feet too! She's 6 months next week and has only just outgrown some (but not all) of her 0-3 month clothes - but is growing out of her 3-6 socks... They will both be tall and skinny and thank us for it!

I used to love having a tiny baby. My son was born very prem, and I took him home at 4lb 11oz. I had so many stares and comments and I loved every second, little and diddy is sooooo cute and adorable! As long as a baby is happy and healthy, it doesn't matter. He is now 6 months corrected, and wearing 9-12 month clothes so has more than caught up.
My friend had hers a week after mine, (prem too), and was breastfed. Now, again at 6 months corrected, is half the size of my son, and she panicks constantly as she keeps dropping off the end of the growth chart. But all babies are different, as are adults, and it doesn't matter about the outside world.
Your little one will be soon a chunky little crawler and you will miss the days she fit in diddy clothes!!