Advice wanted - 4 month old not drinking enough milk (FF)

[Sabs1981]

Please bear with me, I'm a typical first time mum with many anxieties/worries etc.

I have a 17 week old DD, who for various reasons, I couldnt breastfeed. She was born via EMCS and weighed 9 pounds 1 ounce at birth. She lost her birth weight and it took 3 weeks to regain her birth weight.

Since she was around 2 and half months (sorry I cant remember how many weeks exactly she was) she has been having 4-6 ounces five times a day and she has not progressed from that. For the past few weeks we have been struggling to finish her feeds. She will have 3-4 ounces of her feeds without any problem, but then she starts thrashing around and is not interested in her milk any more. We have to change positions, and then move her into her bouncer and feed her in there to make her finish her feeds. She only sometimes finishes her 6 ounces.

I spoke to the health visitor and she said that the guidelines I've read about are just that, guidelines only, and I should be stopping when DD stops being interested in the milk. Weightwise, she is in the 50% percentile but she is not double her birth weight, as she should be at 4 months. I had her weighed today and she was 14 pounds 12 ounces.

Should I be worried or not? Should I maybe think about weaning her early?

Please be gentle with me Thanks in advance

DD1 never took more than 3-4oz per feed and stayed on 75th centile for weight and 99th for height. I never figured it out and spent most of her first year worrying about why she wasn't taking anymore. Continued when she weaned too. Shenis now 4 eats healthily and offnhenchartnfor weight and height. In fact theaverage height of a Seven year old! DD2 is 22 mths and never takes more than 4-5 oz per feed. I have tried everything. She was EBF for 4 mths so I didn't know what she was taking but now I do it's dejavu. Still quite stressful even though deep down I know she is ok. Sometimes you just want that 'textbook' baby.

Sorry for shocking spelling mistakes. DD2 is 22 weeks not mths

I haven't heard of this double birthweight thing. My DD was 9lb2 at birth and still hasn't doubled her birthweight at 6 months (she's about 17lb and on 75th centile). She was a few oz more than yours at 17 weeks (15lb8) but regained her birthweight earlier so I can't see anything to worry about. Bf babies don't all take the same amount so why should ff babies?

Thanks for replying forevermore (not a Take that fan by any chance ??) and appleandblackberry

Its reassuring to hear some RL cases as all I seem to hear about are cases where babies who are similar ages to my DD are putting on much more weight than her.

I know I shouldnt worry, but I can't help it and sometimes I find feeding her so stressful DH helps when he can when he's not at work

When did you start weaning?

My DD is 16 weeks tomorrow and she hasn't doubled her weight either. She was born 8lb10 and she is now 15lb.

Is she ok with that amount of milk or does she get hungry soon again? Also, as long as she is not loosing weight and gaining steadily she will be fine.

Mine now eats what I would think its too much, but it seems that is what she wants.

Go and have her weighed every 2 weeks to see how her weight goes up steadily, maybe that will stop you being anxious or worried? First time mum here too with a FF baby so totally understand how you feel

just a thought - have you tried a faster flow teat?

also - what everybody else said. I didn't know about the doubling weight thing by that age. You say she is on the same centile as her birth weight? Doesn't sound like you have anything to worry about

Hi Sabs If she is quite happy between feeds and going 4 hours then I wouldn't worry. My DD was not a big milk drinker. Yours will eat when she's hungry. Try not to become too obsessed with the charts. If she is gaining and is happy then just enjoy her. Like everything else this could just be a phase and there'll be a growth spurt around the corner. HTH.

Hi Sabs

Agree if your DD is going 4 hours between feeds and having plenty wet and poo nappies then she is absolutely fine. Maybe try the faster teat as she might be getting frustrated that milk isn't coming fast enough and just giving up.

Make sure you're comfy when you feed her, as she will feel any anxiety you have.

You are doing brilliantly!!

Hi my baby 16 weeks today weighed 13lb 7oz last week. Weighed 9lb 3oz at birth and like you lost weight and did not regain birth weight until 3 weeks after. Never heard of the doubling birth weight and in fact would be worried that was too much! As long as baby is following a gentle curve on the centile chart i.e. Not dipping or increasing drastically then you are fine. Don't force feed if she does not want it unless she is losing weight, she will find her own level. Sounds like you are both doing great so relax and enjoy.

my ds is 20 weeks and suddenly stopped drinking at 13 weeks (went from 6oz 5 times a day to 3-4 oz sometimes 2oz 5 times a day) for about 6 weeks after he caught a cold (got over cold after 2 weeks). I tried everything - from changing back to a slower teat to a variable teat to changing the formula to trying to feed smaller more often - without any success. My hv team (i say team because i never seem to see the same one twice grrr) weren't massively helpful but did say as along as he was still gaining in a gentle curve and having plenty of wet and dirty nappies not to worry too much.

If its any reassurance I was worried sick too - especially over the crimbo holidays - BUT - ds seems to have hit a bit of a growth spurt literally in the last couple of days and is taking 7 - 8oz per bottle now. He also didn't double his birth weight by 4 months either.

Hi,

I'm almost a first time mom, but I've been to many doctors and did a lot of research. At 4 months, baby should double their weight. However with your baby, the baby was already a good reasonable weight at birth and 14 llbs in 4 months is actually good so you don't have to worry too much. Ask your doctor if you can start cereal and perhaps add the milk in there...but I wouldn't suggest going off the milk, baby needs to intake as much as they can, try your best. Your baby is good weight. My baby also drinks 20 oz a day, she is 3 1/2 months old and its driving me crazy. She has reflux and is sleeply all the time.

Thanks for responding everyone

I have changed her teat but wondering whether to change it again to the next one up?

I do need to be less anxious, as she can probably sense my anxiety.

I have read on other threads that teething or oral thrush can stop some babies feeding? She has been drooling and also putting her hands in her mouth

Same with my daughter, she has been drooling a lot and putting hands in her mouth, the doctor did check fo thrush and it was negative. My daughter is only 3 1/2 months old, could she be teething already?