Worried! (feeding and weight)

[ani]

I would appreciate any of your thoughts on our situation:

My 7-week old LO has had a poor latch right from the start. I didn't realise to worry at first, since I simply didn't know that it was a problem. He makes these smacking sounds while he eats, as he breaks his latch at the end of each suck. It's like he can't keep the suction. Now he's also started pulling of after every couple of sucks and then keeps looking for the boob again with his mouth open. I have to guide him back on. And then it's back to smack, smack, smack.

The problem is that he takes in a lot of air while doing this, and probably is not as efficient as he could be. So not sure how much milk he is taking in.

I had a local La Leche League leader come over and watch him eat. She said it looks like the problem is that he pulls his lowe lip in while he eats. I've been trying to correct this, but no luck. Anyway, she said not to worry too much, as he was peeing normally and gaining weight ok.

But since then, his weight gain just plummeted. He has pretty much stayed the same weight for 10 days. Still peeing ok though. We're easily getting the 8 wet diapers per day.

I went to the doc's to see if there is any physical reason for him not being able to latch on properly (like being tongue-tied). He didn't find anything, but suggested that maybe my nipples are just too small. They ARE very small, but the LLL people keep saying it doesn't matter and that the baby can just take in more of the breast. But the doctor was very concerned about his not gaining weight, he had gone down from 27% to 13% in just 3 weeks. He said I should pump & bottle feed to be sure of how much he eats for two weeks to see if his weight gain will pick up. But I feel this would pretty much be end to our BFing. Plus what a hassle! Anyhow, as I came home I pumped one big feeding and tried to give him the bottle (for the first time). He sucked on it for 15 mins and got nothing out! Didn't have a clue on what to do with it. It was a standard Avent 2-holed nipple.

I told the LLL leader what the doc had said and she said maybe try a nipple shield for a while and see if LO can latch on. I ordered one, which I should get today, but this could reduce my supply and give LO even less milk?

Now I don't know what to do. LO is a happy baby apart from colic episodes in the evening. He has developed loads in the past couple of weeks. Is alert and smiling and babbling away. He doesn't seem a bit hungry between feeds so I'm confused...

How much do I need to worry about his weight gain? The doctor was so worried that he got me worried, too. LO was 3,3 kg when born and was 4,4kg at 7 weeks (sorry can't do lb).

I'm realy determined to BF, so I don't want to give up.

Please let me all know what you think, and if you have any related experience that could be helpful. Thanks

 

[marley2580]

Lot's of breast fed babies don't always gain weight all the time - often they will go a couple of weeks without gaining anything. If he seems happy, isn't sleeping too much/too little, and is having lots of wet and dirty nappies then I wouldn't worry too much just yet. There are a lot of women on this board who have had this problem (myself included), I don't think that doctors, HVs etc really know what's normal and healthy for breast fed babies.

 

[Carolyn]

what marley said was true, you have to listen to the 'advice' then do what you think is right and meets the needs of your little one. maybe baby is getting enough, and weight issue is due to something else? i was told that my baby's latch was 'wrong'... she's doing ok...(now! lol) it's hard...

 

[Samantha675]

Just putting in that what the other two have said is true. You know you LO, so if you think all is going well, then keep going hun you are doing great. He may suprise you and gain loads really quickly one week.

 

[ani]

Thanks, girls, I needed to hear that!
I'm going to try and not panic (not always that easy, when a professional tells you that your baby is not doing well...) and just give it some time. We have scales at home, so it's too tempting to be obsessive about monitoring his weight. Will have to kick myself to relax for now
If there is still no gain in a couple of weeks, then will try something else. For the moment, will just try to enjoy spending time with my happy & active little one

 

[Whisper]

I'm in the same boat as you at the moment i posted in the baby and toddler section about weight loss. Amelia lost weight only a couple of oz and she was ill but prior to that she wasn't gaining much at all. In fact in 1mnth she has only gained 9oz's!
I'm sure she must be getting enough because i always express a little with my hands at the end of a feed to see if she reached the hind milk and there is always plenty there.

I'm coming to the conclusion that they simply will just not gain weight every week, as the other girls said above. I'm just hoping she has a big weight gain one week to give me piece of mind.

to you and well done for sticking at it.

 

[ani]

Thanks, Whisper. Maybe it's just the way they grow then. I guess nobody remembered to show those charts to the babies and tell them to follow them! I just hope we won't get too much pressure from the doctors at his 2-month check-up...