Fast Eater and Weight Gain

[cooper2010]

My baby does not stay on the breast long. She has short frequent feeds since birth. Sometimes 5-10 minutes long every 1-3 hours. Sometimes, maybe once a day I can get her to nurse for over 15 minutes.

Now I had assumed that she was just fast but now she is below the 5th percentile for weight. So I am concerned she isn't getting enough hindmilk. For the past few days I have been trying to get her to eat more but she seems happy and satisfied. I even have been trying to prolong a feeding so she is more hungry but it hasnt seemed to make a difference.

My other 2 babies were formula fed and were small like Melanie is now so I am wondering if I should even worry.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Look at the amount of dirty nappies If she's having plenty, there is no need to worry. Some babies are just effective feeders. Make sure you're feeding on demand.

 

[sailing_girl]

I disagree with PP....if you are worried that she is not getting enough hindmilk maybe try having her go longer between feeds so she is hungrier and thus eats more. Start by trying to distract her for even just 10 or 15 min longer when she starts to fuss to be fed. JMO

 

[Ozzieshunni]

I disagree with PP....if you are worried that she is not getting enough hindmilk maybe try having her go longer between feeds so she is hungrier and thus eats more. Start by trying to distract her for even just 10 or 15 min longer when she starts to fuss to be fed. JMO

I don't think this advice is correct. If her baby is dropping off after that amount of time, no persuading will get LO to latch back on. At three months, nursing for that period of time is fine and if LO is having enough dirty nappies, she is getting enough.

 

[cooper2010]

Thanks. I will try for the day with getting her to go longer in between. But only a day! I agree with the both of you...She is always in need of a fresh diaper so its just hard to tell. Her poops are so random though. Sometimes its 1 big one a day other days its 4 small ones. I wish she was on some sort of schedule!

 

[JZW]

No expert here but the emptier the breasts, the fattier the milk, so using that principle, if LO goes longer between feeds, then breasts will be fuller. If LO then drinks for longer then it will be fine, but if LO still only drinks for 5minutes then they will be getting even less of the fattier milk.

OP if your other LOs are also small then it might be the case that your babies are meant to be small and there is nothing to worry about. Maybe start counting wet nappies to make sure?

 

[lisaf]

the breasts will adjust to what your baby eats though... an oversupply can lead to problems with not enough hindmilk, but most women adjust quite easily and you will make the right amount as long as you're not engorged or pumping before each feed etc.

 

[cooper2010]

Yesterday we had 2 poop and 9 pee diapers. Im not ever engorged but at the same time my breasts never feel empty. I don't pump either.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Sounds like your supply has regulated! Mine rarely get engorged nowadays. When your breasts are engorged, there is a lot of foremilk. When they are softer, there is more fatty hindmink

 

[ashley2pink]

My dd feeds in 3-5 minutes. There is no way I can get her to nurse any longer, or take the other breast. She is gaining and wetting enough. Wet diapers, 5-6 each in 24 hours is the best way to determine if she is getting enough

 

[cooper2010]

I keep telling myself that everything is fine, but we get a lot of "she is so small" comments that make me wonder. I am getting her weighed on Friday and hopefully there is some sort of gain.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Some babies are just naturally smaller. I get "He's sooooo big!" all the time. Mine is 7 months and in 12-18 month clothes

 

[twinkle22]

I get the same "she's tiny" comments she's 7 month and weighs 13.9 but was born 5.13 I have just posted my own concern thread where summer rain hs said that it was excellent gain as she's nearly tripled her birth weight which I hadn't thought of even my hv says shes doing great but I ff my other 5 and they were all heavier than her at 3 month I think she's just meant to be petit don't worry I'm sure your lo is the same

 

[summer rain]

your LO may be meant to be petite, my eldest was very petite in the first few months but after 10 months started gaining something like 4x the average for his age and at 13 months weighed 3lbs more than my LO does now at the same age, youngest was very chunky in first few months meaning he outgrew 3-6 months in 'girth' at 14-15 weeks, but this settled down and he is now on the 25th centile in weight and still above the 75th in length so he is very long and slim xx

 

[janey1975]

I agree with the other posters, it sounds like a family trait and what she is meant to be. My little man only feeds for about 5 mins from one breast and always has done, so I am amazed he is on the 91st percentile but I think that is the size he is meant to be. I really would not worry as it sounds like you are doing a great job and your baby is content, which is what we all strive for x