Big drop in centiles for 11 week old (98th to 50th)

[hadababy]

Hi,

My 11 week old EBF DS has only gained 3lbs 1oz since he was born and I'm a bit concerned about it. I just checked the WHO breastfeeding centile charts and noticed that he has dropped from the 98th centile to the 50th - this, to me, seems huge in only 11 weeks. He has always been a very quick feeder - 5 to 10 mins max, and most of the time will only take one breast at each feed. He was 10lbs 1oz at birth and now weighs 13lbs 2oz. He had been feeding every 3 or 3.5 hours during the day, and usually sleeps through from his 10.30pm feed till at least 5am. I've read on kellymom that to increase a baby's weight you should feed them at least every 2 hours, so I'm feeding him every 2 hours today (although this has meant waking him for every feed so far!). He usually has one dirty nappy a day (although has occasionally gone without a dirty nappy) and plenty of wet nappies. He is full of smiles and gurgles and is very alert and active when he's awake. He does seem to get upset occasionally for no apparent reason and does posset/vomit occasionally after feeds - so I wonder if it could be reflux? I am going to call my health visitor on Monday but can anyone offer any advice in the meantime?

Thanks

Bump

Mine all did this - think it's called 'catching down'. Not necessarily anything to worry about, but probably right to look at other signs - if he seems well hydrated, happy, plenty of wet nappies etc.

The HV may just say 'he needs to be topped up with bottles', but there is no reason to suppose that just because a baby is on the 98th centile at birth that they will stay there.

Ds2 was 10lb2 at birth, and by 6 months was between the 2nd and 9th. He is nearly 4 now, and still a tiny little thing.

We cannot see your baby obviously and it's a good idea to talk to somebody that can and knows everything they need to know.

That said, if you didn't know about the centiles/weight, would you have any concerns? Weeing lots, pooing (though frequency decreasing- normal in a bfed baby), alert, noisy, happy, gaining weight etc are all positive signs. Sleeping well too, a hungry baby wouldn't sleep that well and wouldn't be content, just as a general trend.

My dd went the other way. Born on the 50th and was on the 99th by 9 weeks, off the charts by 12 weeks. She was just tall and meant to be big, still is now at 2yrs 9 months. Your lo might have been born big but 'catching down'.

It's good to check these things out but everything else sounds within normal parameters just on the information given.

Thanks. I had heard of catching down but wouldn't have expected it to happen so quickly. My DD was also big and gradually dropped from the 97th centile to the 50th but it took about 18 months....I just thought 11 weeks was too rapid.

I really hope I don't have to "top up" with bottles. Would there be any reason that I would have to? (what should I say to the health visitor if she insists?).

I don't have any huge concerns - he is very alert, happy, sleeps well and is weeing and pooing. Developmentally the paediatrician that I saw (about 5 weeks ago) was concerned that he's not lifting his head much while on his tummy (and he hates tummy time) - but she put that down to his head being such a big weight and also that he could just be a bit lazy!

I will check it all out with the health visitor on Monday. Thanks for the reassuring posts - it will help me stress less about it over the weekend!

You don't have to do anything because a hv suggests it. And any hv worth their salt will suggest more feeds/more time on breast/dreamfeeds/night feeds if they want to see improved weight gain. FF is not the first option. In a healthy baby who is otherwise fine and gaining weight, albeit slowly, a formula top up is by no means necessary.