Please help me know what to do - floundering re: weaning etc

[lou031205]

Hi all, before anyone mentions it, I am posting this in both Weaning and Breast and Bottle feeding, in case different people read both areas iyswim.

My 2nd DD is now 19 weeks, but 15 weeks corrected (born 1 month early).

I took her to the health visitors 2 weeks ago for her Jabs, and we discussed her weight and weaning etc. When she was weighed the HV noted that she has dropped slightly on her centiles (was consistently 75th for weight corrected, dropped to just around 50th).

I asked her if this was significant, and mentioned that whilst previously sleeping through the night, she was now waking several times for feeds. The HV said it could be a sign, along with her weight slowing, that she needed weaning, and that they often suggest that prem babies need weaning earlier, and it often helps with reflux.

DD has had reflux diagnosed, and was on Gaviscon, then moved to Carobel and Ranitidine, although recently seems so much better that I have stopped both.

I tried her with baby rice twice and although she took it well (used to eating from spoon for Carobel), I was just not convinced that it was the right way to go.

I have read about BLW, and this seems like it would be the most logical way to go, and as yet she would be too young, and she is showing none of the signs that are indicative of being ready to wean (DD1 by contrast was grabbing at plates at 11-12 weeks, and weaning by 14 'cos she was just SO ready).

So, if you have got this far, I now have a baby who feeds all evening (has always cluster fed) and several times in the day time, who seems to have taken a step back in terms of settling but I am not convinced that spooning baby rice into her is the way forward.

In addition, I am now getting advice along the lines of "maybe your milk isn't enough to satisfy her" and "perhaps you should offer some formula in the evenings".

Last night it was 01.45 before she settled, and then up again at 05.45 to feed!

Please, please give me your ideas, because right now I think I am clearly clueless!

I love her, love breastfeeding (but boy is it hard work with a just turned 2 year old to look after also), and just want to do what is best for her.

I am highly suspicious of your hv's advice and suggest you contact a proper breastfeeding counsellor to talk through the weaning issue. Formula and early weaning seem to be the standard hv answer to any baby feeding problem. I am not an expert but it seems to me that the cluster feeding is normal and is a phase that will pass.

i didn't manage to bf so it's not something i know about BUT tbh it all sounds fairly normal to me from having read MN. (including the bit where your HV gives, er, duff advice).

My ds is 7 months now and at 20 weeks (4 weeks premature) had dropped a centile I did stop breast feeding then as hv suggested breastmilk not enough. I have regretted doing that though so would persevere if you can. Maybe keep giving baby rice for the mo and still start BLW when you think dd is ready.

but milk is more filling nutritious and calorific than rice, surely a prem baby needs more breastmilk, as their gut is more immature, rather than food? maybe am wrong, but surely more milk, and baby going to the breast more will enable your supply to keep pace with her demands...?

formula might not be the answer, plenty of bottle fed babies drop weight, my DD did, and like to feed little and often..

dropping a centile is surely not a huge issue? my DD dropped a centile... and more.. and was formula fed.. not every child can be on the 50th or 75th, some are an average weight, some are heavier ,some are lighter.. if your DD is happy, healthy, weeing ,pooing, smiling etc and is alert then surely in the grand scheme of things, she is doing well on breastmilk alone