Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

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

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

75th to 2nd centile drop, advice please

97 replies

hairtwiddler · 27/01/2010 12:32

typing with one hand here so excuse any mistakes...
ds is 10 weeks and was born on 75th centile full term - 8lb 6oz. He had a 10% drop in first week and took nearly 1month to regain birth weight. Didn't weigh for a month but went today and find he's only 9lb4oz on second centile.

He had a tongue tie which i took him to have cut at 7wks as i felt he was feeding constantly... haven't felt much difference after surgery.

He feeds constantly, hourly during the day apart from when sleeping in sling or in pram and at night every 1-2 hours after initial 3hr stretch 8-11ish. Seems to have a good latch, feeds happily.

He's a happy smiley baby between feeds, although difficult to settle. Rarely falls asleep at the breast apart from after hours of cluster feeding in the evenings. On the plus side - lots of wet and dirty nappies.

Any advice??? HV made an appointment with gp for later this pm to discuss what might be going wrong.
I just don't see what else I can do and may have to supplement with formula.

Oh, and to add to the mix, I have a sprained ankle and currently can't do very much at all!!

OP posts:

Skegness · 28/01/2010 14:25

Many many symapthies, ht. My daughter did something very similar to this. In her case the big centile drop was picked up at her 8 week check and I sought help from breastfeeding cafe/counsellors who discovered severe tongue tie. I was advised to supplement at least until her tongue tie could be snipped so started expressing to keep up my supply and supplementing with a few oz of ebm after each feed (and at first used some donated milk too as our local milk bank had some spare that was about to pass its use by date). Her tongue was then snipped at 11 weeks. However, like you, the snipping of the tongue tie by no means led to massive weight gain, though there was some improvement and she stayed more or less on a line just under the 2nd centile. I kept expressing and supplementing with a nightly bottle of ebm for a while. When her weight started to tail off again at 4 months and she was threatening to drop off the centile chart entirely I started solids early. Combining breast feeding with weaning onto fruit puree mixed with the highest fat greek yogurt(!) I could find seems to finally be working and she has been gaining weight steadily.

Skegness · 28/01/2010 14:35

Pressed post prematurely- but meant to say that I too was overwhelmed and gutted at the time so really sympathise. But we have come through and out the other side still breastfeeding. Lots of people do, despite temporary supplementation with ebm or formula.

Congratulations on your article.

Original poster

hairtwiddler · 28/01/2010 14:46

Thank you skegness and congratulations on coming out the other side of what sounds like a real struggle. It's really kind of you to post to help me out.
I'm a terrible expresser, and just can't imagine trying to fit the whole rigmarole into my day.
Off for a lie down now, as my mum has taken ds in the pram to pick up dd from nursery.

OP posts:

Skegness · 28/01/2010 14:59

Have you tried with a proper pump? The NCT hire them out. I was getting only drops before I tried a heavy duty one. I didn't have the time or inclination to express for hours on end and would definitely have used formula instead if the hired pump hadn't worked almost immediately as trying and failing with the weedy pump my mate lent me just added to my misery. The one advantage of expressing, if it doesn't make you feel miserable, is that you can make sure your supply is kept up. If what you have is a baby who's taking his time to learn how to get milk out of the breast that can be helpful.

Original poster

hairtwiddler · 28/01/2010 15:01

I have a medela swing on loan from a friend. Have managed to get 2.5oz out with it the one time I tried. To be honest, I'm a bit overwhelmed with all the sterilising and storing when so tired.

OP posts:

Skegness · 28/01/2010 15:14

Oh god, yes- I hated all that too and had never done it before as elder kids breastfed with no problems. Do you have a microwave steriliser? A bit easier I think (have never used other kinds tho) as you can throw everything in with a cup of water and it';s all done in a few minutes. Happy to bung mine in the post to you if you like as not using it any more.

Original poster

hairtwiddler · 28/01/2010 15:29

That's so kind! I have a steam one which can go on overnight, and also have used those microwave bags. I think my friend tried to sterilise her pump in the microwave, and melted part of the tube, so it's shorter than it should be...so maybe I shouldn't try!
It's not so much the sterilising (dh would do it as he's a total star) as the time to express. DS doesn't really space out feeds at all so I don't see when I would have time to express as well as playing with dd, doing bare minimum around the house (ie feeding dd and chucking the odd wash on).

OP posts:

Skegness · 28/01/2010 16:09

I so totally know what you mean. I just couldn't afford for life to be totally about expressing and cluster feeding, even temporarily, either- have 2 older ones and it would anyway have just sent me bonkers. What helped me was to do 5 mins MAX after a feed at first- felt it was helping supply by stimulating the breast and gave anything that I expressed to daughter after next feed. Later when she occasionally deigned to sleep somewhere other than on me for a while longer I fitted in 15/20 minute sessions when I could. But supplementing with formula can work well too. Really hope the breast feeding counsellor is helpful and lovely tomorrow.

If you would like the steriliser please let me know. Email is bluebionicle89 at yahoo dot co dot uk. I also have some barely used, unscratched NUK bottles, which you'd be more than welcome to have.

Original poster

hairtwiddler · 28/01/2010 16:20

Thanks, it's lovely to have such kind support. Will see how i get on tomorrow and may drop you an email.
He's just fallen asleep feeding, latched on but didn't suckle much...he's pretty worn out though.

OP posts:

Original poster

hairtwiddler · 28/01/2010 18:59

well ds has just steadfastly refused another bottle. Hope the bf counsellor will come up with plan C!

OP posts:

Original poster

hairtwiddler · 28/01/2010 19:01

well ds has just steadfastly refused another bottle. Hope the bf counsellor will come up with plan C!

OP posts:

Habbibu · 28/01/2010 19:46

Oh, it's been a long dsy for you, ht. Take a breath - nearly the weekend, and you'll have MrHt around for the next three days, which will give you a chance to catch your breath, and rest your poor foot. ds may well relax a bit tomorrow anyway, if you have a bit more support around you.

Can MrHT take ds for half an hour now so you can have a bath and cup of tea?

Skegness · 28/01/2010 19:46

He's obviously in no danger of getting nipple confusion any time soon! I'm sure she'll have some ideas or just reassurance, ht. And it could be that just keeping on going is the thing to do if he's otherwise doing fine. I was forever thinking how ridiculous it was that I was so very very worried about what the number on the scales said because apart from that my daughter was always in rather fabulous form. Hope you have a good rest tonight and everything feels better in the morning.

Original poster

hairtwiddler · 28/01/2010 20:11

Mr ht is full of cold and miserable bless him. We've also had the nits letter from nursery! Checked dd and she's clear thankfully. Foot lots better though.
If anything am fully convinced we're doing all we can.

OP posts:

Original poster

hairtwiddler · 28/01/2010 20:12

he's supposed to work tomorrow but trying to convince him he's not well.

OP posts:

Habbibu · 28/01/2010 20:18

Oh, it's been a tough day all round! I thought of something to make you laugh - don't know if you saw this thread but it had me weeping with laughter.

Original poster

hairtwiddler · 28/01/2010 20:22

I did see it, v funny! dh and i have also been remembering our wedding and honeymoon to cheer ourselves up. Five years ago tomorrow since we got married.

OP posts:

knickerelasticjones · 28/01/2010 20:22

Hello - just wanted to add another voice of support. It sounds like you are doing absolutely everything possible and the bf counsellor might come up with something - even if that something is just 'keep calm and carry on'.

Sorry to hear that Mr ht is not well.

What could cheer you up? Have you seen "Glee" on CH4? If not, check it out on 4OD - seriously, it would cheer anyone up.

Original poster

hairtwiddler · 28/01/2010 20:24

Have been watching knicker, while feeding. It's truly camper than camp and I love it. Off to bed now. Night all.

OP posts:

knickerelasticjones · 28/01/2010 20:25

sleep well - lets hope young master ht gives you a bit of a break tonight.

Habbibu · 28/01/2010 20:27

Knicker - hello! Might have known you'd be a glee fan! It is very very good, though.

Happy anniversary! It was a very very lovely day.

essenceofSES · 28/01/2010 20:35

Hello!

Another story of a similar situation here.
DS was born on 75th centile and dropped within 4 weeks to below 9th centile. Referred to paediatrician where they did all sorts of tests. Whilst waiting for the results, they sent a BF counsellor to see me and dhe picked up on his tongue tie which he then had snipped the following week.

8 months on he is now back up to 50th centile. He is v happy and healthy

Like you, I felt at the time that essentially he was healthy and was v frustrated. He will get past this though.

Hope you get some good help from the BF counsellor.

Original poster

hairtwiddler · 29/01/2010 08:44

well have had not a bad night... observing him feeding over the last 24hrs have come to the conclusion he can feed well, he just doesn't, and spends a lot of time latched and nibbling but not drinking....
I'm much calmer though, more able to see we'll come out the other side whatever the solution.

OP posts:

Original poster

hairtwiddler · 29/01/2010 08:50

thanks for your story essence... the surgeon who did ds's op said 75% of cases are helped (in her experience). I wonder if ds just wasn't...

OP posts:

Original poster

hairtwiddler · 29/01/2010 12:40

BF counsellor has just left, stayed over an hour. She was helpful. Summarising here will help me to remember too.
She did a formal checklist type thing but in a chatty informal way and did some indepth questioning into his feeding then watched me feed. She gave some suggestions on changing position which were helpful but agreed even with changing position he's not latching well and likely not transferring milk well. We don't know but the most likely reason may be the tongue tie surgery hasn't really helped.
She also talked through expressing with me and gave me a lesson in hand expressing. I still was unable to get out more than a few drops so probably not going to be able to top up with expressed milk. Will have another try when I can though and bank what I can for him
What we plan to do is top up one bottle a day of formula and continue to breastfeed using some of the latching techniques she showed me. Will re-weigh a week on wed and if no significant gains then refer to paediatrician.
So I feel we have a plan.
Of course he may not take the bottle... having said that he did take some of the expressed milk I managed from electric pump earlier today (only an ounce) so I suspect it's the taste not the method of delivery.
She has also suggested I could try cup or spoon feeding if the bottle isn't happening.

So we have a plan. Fingers crossed eh?

OP posts:

Flip

1 2 3 4

Swipe left for the next trending thread