Baby's weight gain - is it ok?

[Bearsbaby]

Hi Ladies. I have a question about my baby's weight gain.

She was born a healthy 8lb 10oz (3.92kg) and 53cm which put her high up on those percentile charts. She lost a little bit of weight initially but has put on weight since and was 5.8kg and 62cm when she was weighed at the Dr 2 weeks ago (12 wks). She's dropping lower and lower on the percentile chart which has me worried. Also someone commented the other day that my baby looks thin I thought up until that point that she was long and lean - maybe I'm wrong.

I've been wondering if my BM has enough fat in it - maybe that's a problem. I read a post the other day where someone mentioned the proportion of fat and watery milk in their seperated expressed BM and my proportion of fat is no where near theirs - maybe 10-20% at best. I live in a hot climate so I hoped that was the reason for this and not because I have poor quality milk. Would this be right?

Do any of the more experienced ladies have any words of reassurance for me that can set my mind at ease? I don't want my DD's growth and development to suffer. Is there anything I should do?

Thanks,

 

[thelilbump]

Have you checked him on the breastfeeding weight scale? i think it's on a sticky at the top of the page in the breastfeeding section. babies that are breastfed don't put on the same kind of 'chunkyness' that formula fed babies do as formula contains 15-20% more calories per feed, therefore, some breastfed babies do look skinnier.

Did the doctor/ health practicioner said anything about his weight to you? Is he content between feeds? Hows his alertness? Plenty of wet and dirty nappies?

 

[Lu28]

Aisling was 8lb15oz at birth and 53cm long and I think that's at about the 80th percentile. She's now gaining about 7 oz a week but is on the 50th percentile line. She's happy and the helth visitor is happy as she's gaining steadily. Sounds like you have a similar situation. What's her weekly weight gain?

 

[Mervs Mum]

Dont try to analyse your BM!! It will look different from day to day, even hour to hour. Is your baby happy, alert, weeing and pooping? These are the best indicators. In the years before HVs and all this incesant weighing, women trusted their bodies to look after their babies - they've feed and nurtured them for 9 months in the womb, so why would they stop now?!

By all means have a look at the chart above but most of all let your baby be the judge of your BM!

 

[Samantha675]

Brenn was a skinny baby as well until more recently when his growth slowed down and now he is getting some baby pudge on him.