Bloody baby clinic

[Lisa78]

DS2 is 14 weeks old and last week at baby clinic, the HV expressed some concern that he had only gained 4oz in 3 weeks and was dropping through those lines. I took him back today, pretty much to put my mind at rest (having been reassured last week by MNers!) to find that he has now LOST 2.5oz, dropped through another line and has been referred to the GP on the 23rd.

I'm trying not to worry cos he seems perfectly happy and healthy to me. Even the HV said not to worry, she said not to be concerned that it was my breast milk cos he feeds every 3 hours and isn't hunger crying in between - I was a bit worried cos I am trying to lose a bit of weight, but haven't gone mad cos I am bf - but she didn't think that was anything to do with it

I'm sure if it was something more sinister, they would be seeing him immediately, but I'm a bit worried anyway. My knee jerk reaction is to put him on formula but have talked myself out of that but I don't know what I can do to get some weight on him

He was 9lb 7oz at birth and is now 12lb 2oz. It didn't help meeting all these mums in there, whose babies were lighter at birth than him and are heavier now

Anyone any experience / advice?

Are you sure it's not dodgy scales???
My dd(now 16 weeks) didn't put on any weight weeks 11-15 and is happy breastfeeding every 3 hours, no signs of hunger.
HV was concerned but I have just kept on bfeeding and sure enough she put on 1lb last week. If you don't want to supplement with formula and baby seems alert and happy with normal nappies I would (and indeed I am) just continuing with the breastfeeding.
I know how worrying it can be though ((hug))

hi there - me again. took ds for his gp trip after a similar experience. she took one look and diagnosed a mild chest infection. gave him antibiotics for a week and kept feeding little and often. Last week he'd gained 12oz in a week (having gained about 1oz over the previous 5 weeks with some losses along the way). I have clinic tomorrow again so fingers xed it's still going the right way. He's now back on 50th centile having dropped to 9th from 91st....

Must admit to a bit of panic myself when we had to book a GP appt....got very soothing advice from m'netters including having a feedathon the weekend before the appointment - basically staying in bed most of the time with ds eating, and feeding and watching tv and reading - it was great! I think partly we needed a bit of r nd r.

sat next to baby at baby massage yesterday who wsa 2 kilos heavier than mine and the SAME AGE!! - also tiny baby who is similar age and much smaller. amazing how different they all are
good luck for your appointment - don't worry I'm sure it'll be fine

Maybe you had a really efficient placenta and grew a big baby who is now finding his 'proper' line? ((hugs)) anyway, no baby seems to make hvs happy - I was told ds was gaining too much and that I should think about reducing his bfs!!! I'm sure your gp will take one look at him and set your mind at rest.

not problem with scales bluebear, they tried a different set
Tried a feedathon but he just doesn't want more breastmilk than he already gets and I can't really force it down him

I hope you are all right, I expect I am just being a silly panicking mummy but when she said "failure to thrive" I just reacted. I just wish he would gain some weight

Luckily, the GP I am seeing is really good

We had that ftt label too Lisa, and I was harangued into giving ds2 top ups of formula in between bf. Worse thing I have ever done, I really wish I hadn't listened, my milk dried up soooo quickly, and he eventually rejected me totally . Was gutted.

thanks Lou - I shall keep going with my original plan to keep feeding him myself (ungrateful wretch )

Lisa

I had a baby who was a good birth weight (8lb 12 1/2oz) who gained weight very slowly and sometimes not at all!

By the time, she was 2 she only weighed 22lb. HV at this point, was desperate to refer her. Took her to GP instead who couldn't understand the fuss HV was making and left it at that!

DD2 is now 4 - very slight build but tall for her age. She's healthy, bright and beautiful!

After that appointment with HV at 2 yr, I chucked all weight charts and have NEVER been anywhere near a HV since.

As Nome says, your GP will probably think you've nothing to worry about - just remembered another incident with HV and DD1 - HV was convinced DD1 had a clicky hip and referred us 3 TIMES to the GP who double-checked her and declared her OK.
GP was not impressed

Hi.

I understand your concerns, as I have been / still am going through the same scenario with three babies, both formula and breast fed. Please don't panic. What many HV's fail to recognise is that the weight charts are specifically designed for formula fed babies- bf babies have very different and varying growth patterns. Until they produce charts for bf babies, the weight clinics will have a certain lack of relevance.

When I couldn't take any more from my HV, I changed surgery and got a HV who was Unicef Baby Friendly trained; she's great, and not in the least concerned. Perhaps thats an option if it gets too worrying? I wouldnt skip the clinics or GP appointments though, just in case there is a problem.

Please be reassured though that BF IS the best thing for your baby, and you are doing wonderfully to be feeding her through this stress.

Finally, think about the genetics in your family- my hubby weighed 8.5 stone when we met, at 5'10" tall. Any surprise we have light babies????

Good luck

Here, here Punnet.

Slinky, my dd 'only' weighed 22lbs at 2 too and she's also fine. Went through trauma with her since my HV was very worried about her not keeping to a line; with ds haven't taken him to be weighed and I'm much happier for it (both bf btw). I know he's growing bit by bit as he grows out of clothes but don't have the heartache of weeks where he loses weight, like I subjected myself to with dd.

Please try not to worry

thank you - I know you're right, its just that nagging worry of what if something is really wrong? But I know that I am being daft thinking like that - apart from my post pg weight, generally I find it a bit of an effort to keep weight on and DS1 at 15 years old is like a string bean

just to add, the week ds put on all the weight, I didn't feel I'd done much differently - same kind of feeding, durations etc....I honestly think our little breastfed sweeties follow their own paths...

HV's are a weird bunch aren't they? My dd at 12 weeks went through a period of no weight gain and weight loss some weeks and it was me saying I should see the GP while they convinced me not to worry!! Really, I think if your ds seems well in other ways, i.e. sleeping, playing, smiling, making wet nappies, it's nothing to worry about. An ounce is a tiny weeny amount, if he did a poo before weighed it could mean he weighed at least 2oz less. But I know what you mean. I watched all my friends babies getting bigger and bigger and dd stayed the same. For ages. And ages. And is now just rather a little person. But is utterly fine. And beautiful.

My dd is 15 mths and weighs 15lbs! She was 7lbs 8 at birth, eats extremely well (was breastfed for 15 mths) just one of those things!!!
Happy smily and a good sleeper, small is ok Great things come in small packages.
It is always best to get things checked out though

Agree with punnet re the growth charts. My DS only gained weight slowly and the HV did mention this, but also explained that the growth charts are based on formula fed babies and so hence didn't really reflect br fed babies growth patterns. Bit silly really, all those br feeding mums out there worrying about the supposed lack of growth in their babies just because they don't tally up with a chart that isn't appropriate for them anyway. Also bear in mind that br fed babies gain weight at a slower rate than formula fed babes. Just be proud of yourself that you have a happy and healthy baby (as you said yourself)and that you are doing the best for him by br feeding.