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Lily is losing weight
Hi girls I have posted main topic in Baby, hoping they will be able to help me.
Basically, she always put on between 4 and 7oz per week, she doesnt have any other probs, like colic or reflux etc. 4 weeks ago when I got her weighed she had only put on 5oz in 2 weeks, I took her the next week and she had lost half an ounce, last week she had put on 3oz so I was well pleased, but today when I took her she has lost 5and half ounces - she now weighs 10lb 14oz. I am devastated!! Over the last few weeks the HV have told me to make sure I offer both breasts, which I do and she takes about a breast and a half on each feed. She feeds about every 2 and half to 3 hours (demand fed). The HV has advised me to offer her formula top up feeds, 3 times per day, and see what happens next week at weigh in. She then went on to say that she thought she had a very fast metabolism(and my milk may not be high enough in calories for her) and if it wasnt enough we would have to think about weaning her early. The massive problem I have is she wont take a bottle!!! have tried 4 different bottles this afternoon, including the nature nurture one which looks like a boob - she got some in her mouth (from the dribbles off the teat) but wont swallow it! I dont know what to do now, obviously I will keep on with the bottles, but I just want to get some weight on her ASAP!! Should I try weak baby rice? (was suggested by the other HV today)
Sorry a bit long, am so upset I feel like I have failed her.
Lisa & Lily xx
Basically, she always put on between 4 and 7oz per week, she doesnt have any other probs, like colic or reflux etc. 4 weeks ago when I got her weighed she had only put on 5oz in 2 weeks, I took her the next week and she had lost half an ounce, last week she had put on 3oz so I was well pleased, but today when I took her she has lost 5and half ounces - she now weighs 10lb 14oz. I am devastated!! Over the last few weeks the HV have told me to make sure I offer both breasts, which I do and she takes about a breast and a half on each feed. She feeds about every 2 and half to 3 hours (demand fed). The HV has advised me to offer her formula top up feeds, 3 times per day, and see what happens next week at weigh in. She then went on to say that she thought she had a very fast metabolism(and my milk may not be high enough in calories for her) and if it wasnt enough we would have to think about weaning her early. The massive problem I have is she wont take a bottle!!! have tried 4 different bottles this afternoon, including the nature nurture one which looks like a boob - she got some in her mouth (from the dribbles off the teat) but wont swallow it! I dont know what to do now, obviously I will keep on with the bottles, but I just want to get some weight on her ASAP!! Should I try weak baby rice? (was suggested by the other HV today)
Sorry a bit long, am so upset I feel like I have failed her.
Lisa & Lily xx
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Replies
Have you tried feeding her with a cup or a spoon, I think they do this with premature babies and I know my MIL did it with my husband when he was a baby and wouldnt take a bottle.
Does she feed in the night? My HV insists I wake George at 10pm for a feed, I do sometimes but not always. Is she happy and healthy otherwise?
I really feel for you as I know how you feel. I feel like George is bottom of the class on the weight charts as hes fallen off the bottom line!
Sending hugs xx
Claire xx
So long as Lily is happy and feeding, you're doing a brill job. Like the HV said, it may just be that she has a high metabolism. I think it might be worth a try with baby rice if she does need the extra calories, see how she goes. I also think Claire's idea re spoon or cup is a good one, as is the late feed. My mum always said to me that if you eat late and then sleep, because you're not burning it off, you put more weight on. It depends on what her sleeping habits are?
Chin up chick, she'll be fine.
Shell & Alfie
xxx
have you tried having a few days of non stop feeding? go to bed do skin to skin and encourage her to feed as much as possible. It will keep your supply up and you may not have to worry about a bottle?
If you do need to use a bottle- make sure milk is nice and warm and get someone else to give it with you out of the room so Lily cant see/smell you.
why not try a bf helpline like LLL or NCT they give fab advice.
Good luck Anna x
I think Anna's advice is good to try and ask someone else to give her a bottle as the smell of your milk will confuse her. Otherwise, a little baby rice may do the trick.
Good luck and let us know how she gets on...
Kirsty xxx
Good luck xxx
Well today we tried the cup feeding and she seemed to get it, she only had a bit but its a start! I have tried her with a few different bottles now and the most successful one is an advent one, so we are going to keep persevering with that one for the time being.
Claire - Its nice to know that its not just me, and that its not anything to really worry about - doesnt make it easier though does it! She has her last feed at about 8:30/9pm then as we co-sleep she gets fed in bed whenever she wants, its usually about 2:30 then about 5:30 (when Daddy gets up and wakes her up!)
Shell - Thanks hun! She is a bright happy baby, but I think thats what made it harder in a way, if she was teething or had just had a cold and gone off her food, then there was a reason, but there wasn't one apart from my milk was not cutting it for her, thats why I got so upset, that kinda made it my fault. I am much better today though, i just need to make her fatter!! lol !
MrsBlue - My supply is not the problem, its whats in it that is! The HV said she thought it did not have enough fats and calories to sustain her. I have lots of milk and have today been trying to express (though not that successfully) some of the fore milk off and then put her on, so she gets more of the hind milk, and she has been having both breasts for a while too. It just seems my milk doesnt have enough good stuff in it!!
Kirsty - I am really pleased that I have fed her for this long, but I think thats the problem - I couldnt understand why there was a problem after 13 weeks! am happier about it now - will be even better if she has put on half a pound at next weeks weigh in!! She took a few sucks from an advent bottle today that my sister tried her with, so will get hubby to try it tonight, so its not me doing it!
Lisao - you know its quite strange but in the back of my mind I think it is that, I just hope she will take to the formula and then I will try and do mixed feeding with her - hey if nothing else it will give me a little break!!
Thanks again girls
Lisa & Lily xx
Sounds to me like you are doing a brilliant job mummy!
K x x x