Losing weight

[vicwick]

My poor Alfie has gone down to 9lb2oz from 10lb5oz at 3 1/2 weeks had him weighed this morning and they sent us up to A&E as tey were concerned about his weight loss. He's 100% BF he has plenty wet and dirty nappies but he's not latching on correctly as my nipples arwe sore and ridged when they come outta his mouth, i can hear him getting the milk so i know he's feeding and docs said he's not dehidrated and looks well but just isn't putting weight on!!!! Anyone else been thru this??

 

[XKatX]

Luckily, I haven't, just didn't want to read and run. I hope you get some answers soon and Alfie is ok x x

 

[bambikate]

Izzy dropped from 10lb 8.5oz to 9lb 7oz and then the second weigh in she hadn't put on any weight. Like you 100% BF and lots wet and dirty nappies. Luckily didn't send us up to A&E like yourselves but had her weighed again and this a.m and has now started to put on. HV Explained some babies take a while before they start gaining their birthweight especially if they are bigger babies. I hope everything is OK with Alfie. Sending x x

 

[Jemima]

I can really sympathise. We had to be re-admitted to hospital as Poppy lost loads of weight after she was born. It really knocks your confidence, doesn't it? All I can say is that I managed to increase my supply by feeding and also pumping and feeding her what I had pumped. I just did this for a couple of days and it seemed to help to increase her weight.

This was the one time when I really considered giving her formula but I am sooo glad I didn't. I have to say that at no time did anyone in the hospital try to encourage me to do anything other than breastfeed her, which I was grateful for. I suffered hang ups from this for weeks and it really affected how I felt about feeding her, i.e. I would never let her wait for food if she was hungry so I really feel for you.

What have they advised you to do going forward?

 

[vicwick]

I can really sympathise. We had to be re-admitted to hospital as Poppy lost loads of weight after she was born. It really knocks your confidence, doesn't it? All I can say is that I managed to increase my supply by feeding and also pumping and feeding her what I had pumped. I just did this for a couple of days and it seemed to help to increase her weight.

This was the one time when I really considered giving her formula but I am sooo glad I didn't. I have to say that at no time did anyone in the hospital try to encourage me to do anything other than breastfeed her, which I was grateful for. I suffered hang ups from this for weeks and it really affected how I felt about feeding her, i.e. I would never let her wait for food if she was hungry so I really feel for you.

What have they advised you to do going forward?

They've told me to express after each feed and top him up on a night. i'm not sure how much to give hiom tho????? i'm not able to express a lot and after he feeds i feel empty, i'm so worried i haven't got enough milk for him. I really don't want to give him formula tho, even tho everyone around me keeps tellin me i should, its making me feel really down and selfish but i REALLY want to BF exclusively

 

[Mervs Mum]

I think it's not unusual for BF babies with good birth weights to drop quite a bit and take longer to re gain it. Try not to worry and believe in your boobies. He can afford a bit of a loss and he's getting the good stuff so hang in there mummy!!!

x

 

[Jemima]

I can really sympathise. We had to be re-admitted to hospital as Poppy lost loads of weight after she was born. It really knocks your confidence, doesn't it? All I can say is that I managed to increase my supply by feeding and also pumping and feeding her what I had pumped. I just did this for a couple of days and it seemed to help to increase her weight.

This was the one time when I really considered giving her formula but I am sooo glad I didn't. I have to say that at no time did anyone in the hospital try to encourage me to do anything other than breastfeed her, which I was grateful for. I suffered hang ups from this for weeks and it really affected how I felt about feeding her, i.e. I would never let her wait for food if she was hungry so I really feel for you.

What have they advised you to do going forward?

They've told me to express after each feed and top him up on a night. i'm not sure how much to give hiom tho????? i'm not able to express a lot and after he feeds i feel empty, i'm so worried i haven't got enough milk for him. I really don't want to give him formula tho, even tho everyone around me keeps tellin me i should, its making me feel really down and selfish but i REALLY want to BF exclusively

I'm not sure how much you should give her of the expressed stuff to be honest. A couple of ounces maybe? Make sure you drink plenty of fluids and just keep at it. The more you feed, the more supply your body will produce. Try not to listen to people knocking your confidence, stick at it and you will see the benefits soon I'm sure.

Good luck and we're all here if you need to chat.

 

[xJG30]

Tom was born at 6lb 10oz then went down to 6lb 7oz and then put some on.. its normal for them to lose part of their initial bodyweight though from what we were told.

 

[jenstar]

Yes i have been through exactly the same, my boy was born at 9 lb 7 oz and lost over a lb. HV wanted him on bttles at 2 wks, I didn't want to. Unfortunately after trying everything I had to give him formula. This was at 5 wks, still losing weight. In a small number of cases the mother just does not produce enough milk for their baby; I am told this is in fact VERY RARE so have everything else checked:
eg- infection in baby (test urine sample)
latch technique etc
try to feed them even if don't seem hungry.

Also do whatever you can to stimulate supply- loads of good tips on here.
What worked for me was:
skin to skin contact (aka lying in bed no clothes on!)
fennel tea
domperidone tablets.

Also to try although don't think did much for me:
fenugreek
double pump (get good pump, poss hospital or lactation consultant can lend a hospital grade one like medela lactina which I had)
feed on one boob pump on other at same time
feed in diff posistions (cradle/ rugby/ lying down)
switch feeding (5 mins each side keep swopping)
massage boobs and twiddle nips before expressing.

Finally if giving formula try and get bottle like a nipple to avoid confusion. i use NUK bottles. I started formula at 4 wks (still losing weight but not dehyrdated) and he got 2 oz once a day for 2 days, then 3 oz twice a day. It is easy to say/ hard to do but try not and fill him up because he will get used to having a full belly and if you are able to increase your supply it will be hard to match him if he gets an even bigger appetite. This is a very fine line but you will know what i mean! (This was tip from LC)

Hope you can make sense of this as i am rushing!

One last thing- lots and lots of luck! And i don;t want to be all negative but try not and be like me, I was devastated that i couldn't keep up with my baby, pumping (trying to express a drop!) was my life for weeks and weeks! If your baby needs formula he needs formula, ideally mothers who choose to BF can do it if they want but realistically there are a few who can't. I go to a breastfeeding support club and one of the girls there said to me one week, remember IT IS BABY MILK NOT POISON.

I continued breastfeeding my baby but could never get my supply anywhere near his requirements.

 

[sam#3]

I havent had this problem but wanted to wish you good luck with it hun. I know how much breastfeeding means to us all so be strong and keep going.
Good luck xx

 

[doumauk]

I had this with Salim but he lost weight at 8 weeks. He was born 6lb 15oz and by week 8 he was 10lb 6oz and he lost 4oz one week. I felt like a complete and utter failure and still feel a failure for ever topping him up. He started rejecting my boobs. In the end I had to just put him completely to formula. You know your baby if they are content and producing plenty of wet and dirty nappies so your doing fantastic. Dont top up if you dont want too. I wish I never had topped up because I was really determined to breastfeed and it hurt when he rejected me. That sounds selfish but I wanted the best for him. Keep doing what your doing. Eat enough and dont stress because that can effect your milk production too. Keep your chin up breastfeeding isnt easy but your doing great!