HV has suggested weaning my 19 week old, I am not comfortable with this idea but she isn't gaining weight, and I don't know what to do.

[Elmosgirl]

My DD2 is 19 weeks old, she was born at 7lb 2oz and currently weighs 11lb 14oz at 19 weeks and is just dropping off the 2nd centile.

She is formula fed after not feeding at all well from birth and losing weight I was advised (probably badly) to stop breastfeeding.

She currently has 6-7 oz milk 5 times a day.

She is barely gaining any weight - 2oz last two weeks.

Today a HV (not my usual one) has said I should start solids, I am not at all comfortable with this idea at all, I was hoping to wait to 6 months and do BLW, she can not sit up yet, I don't think she seems hungry other than her milk, it just doesn't feel right for me 9alhtough I know plenty of people do feed their babies at this age.

BUT...she is not gaining weight, I will try upping her milk but not sure she will drink anymore, she seems satisfied on what she currently has.

My other HV said that I should see a GP and possibly a paediatrician if not good weight gain as she may have a problem absorbing the calories from the milk and a possibility of prescribed high calorie formula....today's HV said I would be wasting the GP's time if I took her too see them.

I need an outside view on this, I want to do what is best for my DD, but at the moment I don't know what this is.

I had the same problem with my ds. weighed at 15 weeks, 14lb 11oz. 17 weeks only 14lb 11 and a half. Hv advised to start weaning at 17 weeks which i did. now two weeks later at 19 weeks he weighed 15lb 7oz. I know ideally 6 months is the best age, but i could tell he was hungrier than before. waking for more feeds at night. My dd was also weaned at same age, as she wasn't putting on weight. I'm happy he's putting on weight and he enjoys his food.

MrsParker, you say he was hungrier, so was waking in the night.

This is what happens during a growth spurt and can be met by milk.

The OP's child will not take any more milk and is not hungry.

Thanks again everyone, just to clarify, no my DD isn't hungry, she is perfectly satisfied on her milk, I don't think she particularly needs more milk, although I am willing to try it, and she definitely doesn't need baby rice.

The issue is she isn't putting on weight, either because she is just meant to be small, or because for some reason her body just doesn't get the goodness out of the milk that it should be getting...or some other reason I haven't thought of.

I am not worried about the amount she eats, I am worried about the weight gain in relation to what she eats, especially as we are continually dropping centiles and her weight gain is now starting to get so small is almost nothing.

I wanted (hoped) someone else would clarify my insticnt that weaning wasn't right...which many have done, thank you. Also to hear if maybe I was wrong, if it is even a problem, whether I should get her seen by a doctor etc.

How did it go at the GP's?

It went well, she agreed that I should be concerned about her weight gain and has refereed us to a paediatrician. No baby rice, just as much milk as possible until we get our appointment.

Not sure what the outcome of it all will be, am quite prepared to be told there is nothing wrong and that she is just small but glad that she will be checked out just to be sure.

that should be referred not refereed.

Elmosgirl - my ds2 is 24 weeks (5wks prem so also 19wks corrected) and between 18 & 23 weeks only put on 2oz and plummeted down the centiles. HV was much more helpful than yours however, actually advised against weaning yet etc. Like your dd he is sleeping well at night and happily goes 3-4 hours between feeds so not apparently hungry. We had to send off a urine sample to test for an infection or something that could affect his weight gain - i can't remember how/why exactly, but anyway, this last week he has suddenly decided to put on 4oz and he was also due a feed so if i'd fed him first it could've been even better!

Hopefully your dd is doing something similar, just having a slow phase and will start to catch up again soon.

Elmosgirl, did the HV measure your baby's head circumference and length? Lengths are no longer done routinely but Dept of Health guidelines say babies should be measured if there are concerns about weight. Weight measurement on its own doesn't give the full picture, if wt/length/HC roughly in proportion unlikely to be anything to worry about.

Message withdrawn

Message withdrawn

benandjerry yes head circumference and length have been measured, head is average, around 50th centile, length is longer than average about 75th centile, as I said before weight now just under 2nd centile.

Have been trying to do extra milk today, have upped all feeds by 1oz and managed to bring them all forward a bit so doing an extra small feed right before bed.

What milk is she on, could you change it? I only ask 'cos my consultant just changed my dd's milk and now she's drinking about 200mls more a day. She's 18 weeks old. It's just a thought.

She is on Cow and Gate first milk, GP said it might be ok to try her on a different milk, then decided when she referred her to keep her on the same and she what the paediatrician said.

That's what my GP and HV said to me, they seem to always want the paediatrician to give the okay to changing things. When do you see the paediatrician?

Haven't got an appointment through yet, GP said about 2 weeks.

If it's anything like DD's referral for the Paed we saw the other day (in relation to a totally different issue) then it shouldn't take too long, especially with possible weight/health problems.