Weight Gain.. Should I worry??!!

[Plumfairy]

Right, well Layla has always been slow at putting on weight, and her gains have varied from 1oz a week to 6oz a week. Now she's almost off the breastfeeding chart and Im worried that I'll be pressured into topping her up. I have been giving her a bottle of either EBM or formula the past few nights (formula if i couldnt express enough) as she feeds alot at nights, but want to stop with the formula I think. I just know I want to exclusively BF, and feel like Im cheating with formula. Anyway, as said her gain is slow and she's small for her age. 8lb 9oz at 10 weeks. She was 7lb8oz at birth but dropped to 6lb 14oz , but has been so slow gaining. She's so alert though and laughs and really takes in everything when you talk to her. On one hand I feel like I should forget the whole chart malarky. Every baby is different so how can they tell you your baby is too small just because the chart says so. On the other hand I worry that she's not getting enough, as when I gave her some formula or EBM she just guzzled it within a matter of minutes!!! I wish I had loads of milk and that she would get fat!!

 

[Mervs Mum]

I agree that you shouldnt get too hung up on the charts. You really should trust your instincts. Not all people are 'average' so why much babies do things according to charts? One baby may walk at 9 months and another at 18 but they wouldnt worry about that. So long as she's weeing, pooing, steadily gaining how ever little and alert etc I'd just keep with it. If you give a regular top up of BM or formula and she guzzles it that's fine!! It does mean you're not producing enough - it just means that's what she's use to at that point.

My sisters SIL's lad is almost a year older than my nephew and he weighs less than my nephew. He's had all sorts of tests etc and he's perfectly normal - he's just little!! AND he was FF from day one!!! Some kids are small - period.

You are doing an amazing job honey !!! Well done - I'm proud of you both!

 

[mrs shine]

As she's alert and pooing and weeing it sounds like she's doing fine hun. Like Mervs Mum says she just a little lady. She's still gaining weight which is also a good sign. Don't doubt your milk supply, just cos you can't always express enough doesn't mean you dont have enough milk. I still struggle to pump 3oz, most days only 2oz but I'm sure he takes more than when he's on the breast.

 

[ticky T]

I know exactly what you mean, I worried so much about my LO he was only putting 1-2oz every fortnight and didnt double his birth weight till just b4 his 1st birthday LOL he was so dinky, Health visitor was great she just kept telling me as long as hes weight is going up and he has lots of wet nappies dont worrie, just get him weighed at least once a fortnight and she would tell me if she was worried.
Dont be tempted to go over to bottles unless you want to I did it with my 1st and regretted it + you will confuse your milk suppy if you add extra feeds in other than you own.
Hope this helps we all worry if we are doing the right thing as long as there happy and lots of wet nappies weight is going up even tho slowly try not to worry your HV should be easing you concerns.

 

[Plumfairy]

Thankyou so much ladies! That was my thought exactly! She IS gaining every week, so I think I need to forget the chart now! Will get her weighed every week or so but will just accept that she's a small baby. Theres sooo much pressure though ey! Just hope Ive got enough milk for her! I get so paranoid.

 

[Mervs Mum]

Believe in yourself honey - dont let the doubts sneak in. You are doing a wonderful job with your little ballerina to be! x