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Premature birth

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Baby still not gaining enough weight at 4 months

7 replies

Kiwa · 17/07/2017 09:03

Hi there, I have a very good friend who has a 4 month old (1st baby). Baby was born 4 weeks early, but healthy at birth with birth weight 6 lb 7 oz. They live abroad and so have not had the same support or advice that we get here postnatally (with feeding in particular). Baby is currently exclusively breastfed. She is still only just over 9 lb (they are not sure as they dont get weighed much where they live). They have just arrived to visit and I am shocked at how small baby is. I am worried about her being so underweight. When I checked the red book chart she is below 0 centile. My friend doesn't seem worried/hasn't been made aware and baby is all in all well and happy (perhaps a bit sleepy and behind on developmental milestones but all babes are so different). I have a 7 month old myself who was 3 weeks early and born only 5 lb 12 so I have just been through it all (1st baby) and I know how hard it can be and how much encouragement one needs, and how on it the HV are here when it comes to making sure baby "thrives". I have tried to help as much as poss with feeding and tried to just be a supportive friend. But I am not sure if I should say how worried I am or point out to her how underweight she is...?? I really don't want to upset or worry or offend her if things are going to be ok. I just felt that if she lived here, the health visitors would be really on to it and trying to get baby to gain more weight. Should I leave her to it or talk to her about concerns. What consequences are there of a baby that is very underweight at this stage, if any? Maybe if she is well and feeds often and has wet and dirty nappies etc (which she does all of), then she will just catch up in time? Advice appreciated, thank u

OP posts:
grainmum · 18/07/2017 13:47

Would probably get a GP referral to paeds here for "failure to thrive". Has baby crossed the centiles?

itstheyearzero · 18/07/2017 13:52

Has the baby had a heart check? I don't want to scare you but my DS had a congenital heart defect which meant he couldn't gain weight. He was also very sleepy because feeding completely wore him out. Might be worth just checking for a murmur with a GP? My DS needed heart surgery but not all babies do. Again I really hope I haven't alarmed you, but I think it should be ruled out.

itstheyearzero · 18/07/2017 13:54

By the way his murmur wasn't licked up until he was a couple of months old so if she hasn't had the baby looked at for a while....

Kiwa · 18/07/2017 20:14

Hi grainmum, I'm not sure since they haven't had her weighed for some time, and as far as I'm aware, only twice since the birth...I don't think they know the exact weight, but when I plotted the exact weight they measured a month ago, baby was below 0 centile. I just don't think they are aware because where they live, they don't have charts and regular monitoring.

OP posts:
Kiwa · 18/07/2017 20:15
  • itstheyearzero -Not sure if the heart has been checked. Did your LO have any symptoms at all? Or was it picked up during routine checks?
OP posts:
itstheyearzero · 19/07/2017 07:43

No symptoms as far as I knew, but he was my first baby, so in hindsight I realise that he was worn out after being fed. The murmur was picked up at a routine check, and not his first one either. X

grainmum · 19/07/2017 11:21

I think you should say something. Hopefully there's nothing wrong, but if something is found later and you didn't say anything you'll regret it. Needs a medical check up.

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