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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

25 week old baby (15 weeks corrected) dropped 2 centiles

26 replies

ladylush · 07/01/2010 18:26

Hoping someone like Tiktok will be along to offer some advice......
Went to baby clinic today and dd has dropped from almost 50th centile 6 weeks ago to just above 9th. dd exclusively bf though have just started offering some solids as well as(but not instead of) bm. I've noticed that she is taking less milk during the day time -seems frustrated e.g. fussing and pulling off the breast. I put it down to an upper respiratory tract infection she had 4 weeks ago, her first vaccinations, teething ......but the reality is that her weight gain has slowed a lot and I am worried. Am now thinking maybe my supply has dropped and after a (very) brief chat with a bf counsellor today I have resumed domperidone. It usually works quite quickly so if supply is a problem I guess I will see results quite quickly.
Tried dd with some formula this evening (HIPP follow-on) and she guzzled it - was amazed as she usually rejects bottle outright even with ebm. However, by the time I'd heated more she was cheesed off and wouldn't entertain it. Has given me a bit of hope that she might take a bottle now though.

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BertieBotts · 07/01/2010 18:38

Sorry, I am not an expert, but breastfed babies' weight gain does tend to level off a bit at 4-6 months. If you plot the weight on a chart without centile lines, what does it look like? Also, do you know if you are using the new charts (based on breastfed babies) or the old ones?

tiktok · 07/01/2010 19:06

Standard guidance to HCPs is that movement of up to two centiles which is sustained (ie not a blip) is within normal, and more than this means a look at the baby and the feeding is justified....the majority of babies are fine, even so. Your baby is within this definition of normal I agree that plotting her on the newer charts would make sense now.

In your case, the infection she had would explain the movement down the centiles, but it could equally well be totally physiological ie the way your baby as an individual is meant to grow.

If you are concerned then offering more breastfeeds would address it (now is not the time, I'd suggest, to increase solids or give formula...for obvious reasons )

ArthurPewty · 07/01/2010 19:11

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Original poster

ladylush · 07/01/2010 19:16

Thanks Bertie - just checked my red book and the chart is dated 1996 so I guess it is an old chart.

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Original poster

ladylush · 07/01/2010 19:27

Thanks Tiktok The thing is, I offer her frequent feeds during the day but she seems to reject them (just having a few sucks, then pulling off, then same again etc. til we both give up ). I don't know how I could offer more than I am - and if it is a supply issue it's not (or at least doesn't seem to be) being helped by offering frequent feeds (maybe it's being affected by the breast not being emptied by dd?). Appalling grammar - too tired and fed up

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tiktok · 07/01/2010 19:31

If you're offering and she doesnt want it, then it cannot be a problem...and it's prob not a 'supply issue' because it is not an 'issue'

Original poster

ladylush · 07/01/2010 20:02

ok ikwym but she does seem to want it as she looks for it but then gets frustrated when on the breast, pulls off, then tries again x 10 or however many times that goes on for!

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Original poster

ladylush · 07/01/2010 21:38

Thanks Leonie Were you concerned about it? The health visitor said I should see the GP if she drops down to the 9th centile (just hovering above it now).

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ellliebelle · 07/01/2010 22:38

ladylush my dd is 17 weeks and doing exactly what you describe having a couple of sucks then puylling away or shaking her head from side to side then re latching and the same again, this can go on for 5 mins or so before she eventually latches on and seems to then have a good feed lots of long deep sucks. it seems so strange and my nips are really suffering

I was hoping to go to baby cafe today and speak with someone about it but it was cancelled cause of the snow

I am really worried about having her weighed because of this issue

feel like ive highjacked your thread now but just wanted to let you know your not the only one with strange feeding problems

Original poster

ladylush · 07/01/2010 22:49

Hi elliebellie Sorry to hear you are having a similar problem I wouldn't mind so much if she did eventually settle and have a long feed but her only long feeds are in the morning and at night now. I hope your baby's weight gain is ok when you finally do manage to get her weighed. I just looked at the kellymom site and from there clicked on a link for the WHO growth chart for breastfed babies (2006). I feel a bit more reassured now. Maybe you could refer to this if your h/v are using the formula fed charts?

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willowstar · 07/01/2010 23:23

HI ladylush...just to let you know I was coming on here to post about very similar behaviour to what you say your daughter is exhibiting. My little girl is 14 weeks and she is doing just what you say during the day...going on and after 5 mins or so fussing and rubbing. I take her off and wind her and often find that she then wants the other side and will stick with it a bit longer...but in general her day time feeds have dropped dramatically from 40 mins to about 15-20 with a lot of fussing, but her night time and morning feeds are still longer. this has conincided with her starting to wake up in the night for a feed now which she hasn't done for a few weeks.

I know this isn't any help but it does reassure me to know other babies do this too.

Original poster

ladylush · 07/01/2010 23:25

Thanks willowstar - I doubt dd is even on for 5 mins (that's counting both sides as well as she always feeds from both breasts). Is your dd weight gain ok?

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BertieBotts · 08/01/2010 00:00

DS dropped a centile at 4 months and they started on about baby rice - I avoided it at 5 months (only a monthly clinic where I was) because I was so nervous about whether or not he would have gained "enough" weight, and he was happy and healthy and fine, I missed it at 6 months (we were in A+E getting checked over after a very minor car accident) and at 7 months (can't remember why...) and by the time I went again he was fine and they didn't seem bothered that I hadn't gone back, even though they had written "Review in 4 weeks" underlined in my red book at 4 months. You don't have to get them weighed if you don't want to.

Original poster

ladylush · 08/01/2010 10:09

I know I don't have to get her weighed but I've done it regularly due to her premature status

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ArthurPewty · 08/01/2010 13:37

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BertieBotts · 08/01/2010 13:41

Fair enough. I just like to remind people because with DS (PFB) I thought you had to go, I didn't realise it was optional.

HerMomminess · 08/01/2010 14:02

Can I just say we had the very same 'on&off' the breast at exactly that age 16 week-ish. After a thread of support for fussy 4mo eaters it appears many folk have the same problem.

Only difference is that she still picked up weight.

In my experience of ONE think it could be a combo of development (so interested in environment&easily distracted)&growth spurt.Hang in there.

Have you trued to feed her in quiet place?

Original poster

ladylush · 08/01/2010 20:50

lol Leonie - thanks Good to know I'm not alone. DD was born in July 09 but red book still has old chart - grrrr I think I will talk to the lactation consultant about this on Monday. dd is bright, alert, very active and mostly happy. I have to keep sight of all these things.

Thanks bertie and hermomminess HMN - yes mostly feeding in a quiet place as she is even worse if I bf in public (for reasons you mention).

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HerMomminess · 09/01/2010 17:56

I feel your pain. It does get better butdid hamper coffee/cafe trips sligtly!

Hang in there.

Original poster

ladylush · 10/01/2010 20:49

Thanks HM We'll see what lactation consultant says tomorrow. Since taking the domperidone my boobs feel fuller and are warm and dd feeding a bit better - but has a cold so not the best time to assess the situation I guess.

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Original poster

ladylush · 11/01/2010 14:51

I saw the LC. Apparently dd has tongue tie I don't know why it wasn't picked up earlier (seen by paeds at hospital due to prematurity and had 8 week postnatal check). It obviously hasn't impacted on her feeding up til now but may do with solids - and may also be a reason why she has problems with a bottle. I am also concerned about possible speech difficulties when she's older. So off to G.P to discuss. Oh she also has a touch of thrush so need to get that sorted. Ironically, LC not worried about dds weight - gave me a bfed chart to plot weight on and said I should ask HV for a WHO one. She said bf babies weight gain slows down at this stage and should not be compared with ff babies weight gain.

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HerMomminess · 11/01/2010 21:18

SHOCKING re tongue tie not picked up!! However you are amazing to have fed so well despite it!

Well done you!

Different trust have different 'policies' re managing tongue tie so good id to discuss with the GP. Good luck.

Original poster

ladylush · 11/01/2010 23:13

Thanks Think we will ask for a referral to Southampton Hospital as they do the procedure there without G.A. Hate to think of her experiencing pain but according to the website I looked at, it's short-lasting and I'd rather not take the risk of G.A at a later stage (if she needs it for speech/dental hygiene reasons). Still - not an easy dilemma.

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Original poster

ladylush · 11/01/2010 23:13

Should say - they do the procedure there up to 8 months rather than 6.

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Original poster

ladylush · 14/01/2010 14:29

Dd was weighed today. She hasn't gained any weight . Very worried. I just hope the tongue-tie division will resolve the feeding problems we're having.

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