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Slow weight gain?
I'm exclusivly bf Sophie and have been since birth but am concerned about her slow weight gain. She's one month old tomorrow.
She was 5lb 12oz at birth (2 weeks early) and went down to 5lb 3oz after birth whilst my milk supply was establishing and we got over the initial problems. She regained her birth weight in just over a week. We then had one week where she gained 7 oz. However, last week she only gained 2 oz, and now weighs 6 lb 8oz, and has dropped below the 2nd centile line on the chart. HV didn't seem to worried, but I hope she's gained more next week.
Did anyone else find that it took ages for their little ones to gain weight compared to bottle fed babies? I've been really shoving it in her, feeding whenever she wants it and waking her at least every three hours to feed if she doesn't ask. I don't want to top her up with formula, but don't know what else to do and am concerned that she's not gaining weight.
She was 5lb 12oz at birth (2 weeks early) and went down to 5lb 3oz after birth whilst my milk supply was establishing and we got over the initial problems. She regained her birth weight in just over a week. We then had one week where she gained 7 oz. However, last week she only gained 2 oz, and now weighs 6 lb 8oz, and has dropped below the 2nd centile line on the chart. HV didn't seem to worried, but I hope she's gained more next week.
Did anyone else find that it took ages for their little ones to gain weight compared to bottle fed babies? I've been really shoving it in her, feeding whenever she wants it and waking her at least every three hours to feed if she doesn't ask. I don't want to top her up with formula, but don't know what else to do and am concerned that she's not gaining weight.
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Replies
My dd was born 8lbs 15ozs so she wasn't a small baby. She lost about 6ozs in her first week and by 12 weeks weighed 11lbs 15ozs. I was always concerned about her weight gain as other babies at the bf group i go to were weighing alot more. One wee boy was born the day before Emily and weighed a little less and he is now about 14lbs odd. However since 12weeks she put on 10 ozs in 2 weeks! and it seems like she is starting to catch up and is putting a bit more weight on.
I wouldn't worry, bf babies can sometimes have slow weight gain, but sooner or later they will start to catch up.
I've just checked my chart and Emily had only put on about 1lb at 1 month old. As long as Sophie looks healthy and the hv is happy with her weight gain, i wouldn't worry.
Lx
As long as your LO looks healthy and is feeding well on demand don't worry. You don't need to top-up with formula and shouldn't because it will decrease your milk supply. Just carry on feeding on demand and don't let anyone try and talk you into topping-up with formula. If she needs more, you'll produce more for her. Just keep feeding...
This book is brilliant and whenever I lost a bit of confidence in my boobs I'd have a read and it would boost me.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Food-Love-Formula-Successful-Breastfeeding/dp/0954930959/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275569954&sr=8-1
My LO is coming up for 20 weeks and some weeks she gained nothing and others 12oz!! and bounces between the 25th and 75th centile regularly. (My husband and I are both really tall so she's a long baby.)
Also, remember that the centile charts are an average and most babies are FF - BF babies are naturally leaner.
Well done - you're obviously doing a great job because she's sleeping. She wouldn't if she wasn't satisfied.
B x
There can be a difference in their weigth but no doubt breastfeed babies still has the most advantage because of the complete nutrtion that breastmilk gives.
IThoughtBreastfeedingWouldBeEasy.com