Slow weight gain

[Cheesywholemealbread]

My LO has only put on 1oz in 4 weeks and my anxiety has hit the roof. I was so close to crying on the drive back thinking "am I failing as a mum…"
The midwife isn’t worried at all as she said it could be teething and illness related (LO caught a sickness bug in jan and has recently had a cold) but I can’t help but just worry.
He has wet and dirty nappies on a daily basis and his poo looks healthy.

I am EBF and I feed him every 3-4 hours - his feed lasts about 20mins. However, the midwife at the weigh in clinic today said not to time it and just feed when he looks to be hungry.
He has reflux and there's been times where he would throw up his entire morning feed and to the point that I am saturated and have to completely strip the bedsheets.

I thought I was smashing it as a mum but now I feel like I am at the complete opposite end of the spectrum. I don't know what I am doing wrong, I feel so disappointed in myself.

How old?

5 months 3 weeks. He was born at 4lbs9oz and I was full term.

4lb 9oz seems very small for full term. Was anything said about that at birth? Were you being monitored ?

Okay, the important thing is that he hasn't lost weight.

I would be inclined to agreed with HV and put it down to the bug he had recently. Nobody likes eating when they're ill.

I also found with mine that at he approached 6 months his weight slowed a bit, I think as his stocks of nutrition began to wane. He picked right up again when he started on solids.

Has your baby been very active lately? Mine was 9 mo when he started crawling and actually did lose weight. This is totally normal. It was a blip and he caught up the next month.

I'm sure your baby would let you know if he was hungry! Try not to stress too much; it's probably totally normal. Just keep an eye on his weight next month and take it from there.

At this age I wouldn't worry too much.

He's had a sickness bug, his rate of growth will slow a bit and if he's had a growth spurt it will slow a bit too.

He's feeding well and milk is well established.

Perhaps weight again in a week or so if it would help.

You're also close to weaning age which will see a shift around in weight.

Please don't worry. He sounds fine.

My baby had slow weight gain for his first few months, it's hard not to worry about it even when you know they are being fed plenty. Since he started eating food at 6 months, it's made a huge difference and he's doing much better.

I was 38w1d and I was induced due to my placenta not functioning well. I had GD and they were worried baby was going to grow big but I was strict with my diet as I didn't want medication and managed my GD extremely well.
Yeah, they monitored me every 2 weeks, I had to go in for scans and checks.

He has been so active lately, constantly rolling around. He has had very active legs since the day he was born! Always kicking and thrusting when trying to change his nappies.
He hates it when we sit down and he always tries to lift himself up with his legs.

I'm going to start weaning him this weekend as he is approaching 6 months. He can sit up unaided most of the time but I use my legs as a barrier to support him in case he tumbles!

I just don't understand how he has only gained 1oz in a month. I took him to get weighed a month ago and he only put on 2oz, the month before that, he piled on 4lbs.

I've reached out to my HV but I'm just constantly worried because he feels heavier and he is outgrowing his clothes. It just doesn't make sense.

Thank you so much for the reassurance. However, I can't help but worry.

His feed is approx 20mins or when he wants to come off the nipple. He produces wet and dirty nappies on a daily basis.
He does poo after most feeds and I am wondering if this is normal?!

I'm going to start weaning him over the weekend so will see how that goes.

I go to get him weighed monthly for reassurance. But when I get there, I worry about his weight. It's almost like a catch 22!

I just feel so sad because I thought I was mastering this.

Did your LO have reflux? I'm hoping his reflux will settle or get better when he is on solids.
Thank you for the reassurance, I'm looking forward to getting him started on solids!

Have they ruled out dairy and soya allergy from bf? My little girl would vomit everything if I ate dairy and or soya, egg etc.
My son was bottle fed and had terrible reflux and he had cows milk protein allergy, lactose intolerance and soya allergy. He failed to thrive until they put him on prescription milk. He would also vomit feeds.

I would go to the GP for more help.

@abbs1 I stopped dairy for a bit and it made no difference.
I have also gone to the GP regarding this and he said reflux is normal and should get better when my baby starts having solids. He said because my LO is producing wet and dirty nappies daily, he isn't concerned and wouldn't want to put him on infant gaviscon or omeprazole if he doesn't need it - which I agree as I wouldn't want my LO on medication if it's not needed.

It all sounds really good.

I'd suggest not getting him weighed anymore as it's obviously not helping you. He's growing well.

@Cheesywholemealbread I’m a couple of months off starting my son on solids but have such anxiety as his weight gain is so up and down (not helped by catching endless colds!). Did your HV say that his slow weight gain could be down to that? I hope the start to solids has gone well? X

Yeah he had a tummy bug which caused him to be sick every few mins. The lady said that could also be the reason why. That said, I had the Nursery Nurse visit me yesterday and it seemed there was a miscommunication with the weigh in, he had actually gained more than an ounce. He was weighed yesterday as well (2 weeks after his last weigh in( and had already put on 6oz!!
We started solids just under 2 weeks ago and is on 2 meals a day already! My LO seems to be loving the new food! I thought he would spit it out but he seems to be swallowing most of his meals! I think once you start your LO on solids, the weight will start to increase pretty quickly!