So my cute baby girl is way underweight. We went to her doctors yesterday and found out she is way under the curve for her weight. She's 5 months old and only 9.? lbs. She was 7.8lbs when she was born. She's exclusively breast fed. Now I am having to add formula to my breast milk to give her extra calories. She's great on her height and head growth. But her weight is so low. She is hitting all her milestones and is very playful and aware she just needs more calories I guess. I feel kindof bad but I also feel good because we've breastfed for 5 months now and I still produce plenty enough for her. I'm plumping about 7 oz in a session and she eats 2-4 oz at a time. Usually more around 4 oz. I guess I just wanted to talk about it. Do you think if I ate more calories or more fatty food she would get more of that in her milk. They've suggested I start taking prenatals to add more to my milk.
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Like PP said make sure you doctor is using the right chart for BF babies. Also I see the ladies points on here but you said she dropped percentiles then I'd actually listen to your doctor. Someone else said it. All babies are different. What's good for one baby doesn't mean it's okay for your baby.
My son was born at 7lbs (6lbs 15.5oz). On discharge he was 6.8lbs. 3 day check up he was 6.6lbs and was starting to get jaundice. I pumped extra on top of BF on demand. But I also followed what my doctor said and supplemented with 4oz daily of formula. Two days later he was back at discharge weight. His 2 week appointment he was 4oz over birth weight. 2 month appointment he was 12lbs 4oz. That decision was the best decision I made. Now he's 100% BF. And is 78% heavier than boys his age at 19lbs 12oz.
If you use FB go to a group on there called Dairy Queens. These woman are very helpful and the admins give great advice as well.
Make sure your doctor is using the chart for breastfed babies because there are two different charts.
My little girl was tiny and never had a roll. Her pediatrician was not concerned because she was gaining steadily on her own little curve. Her percentage dropped once or twice but always picked back up. Even at almost three, she's in the 6th percentile but very healthy. I did take prenatals while nursing.
It sounds like you have plenty of milk but if you feel like you need to supplement formula isn't poison.
I would be worried but that's just me. Everyone else can say that the same thing happened to them and their child was just a slow grower but every child is different. Just because sow growth was the problem for one doesn't mean it is for another. I would probably just listen to your doctor
At birth she was in the 50th percentile for weight and now shes in the 0.24th percentile..
She was at a good percentile when she was born and now she has dropped because she hasn't been gaining much.
For height she's in the 41.52 percentile. For weight she's in the 0.24 percentile.
My lo was in the 0th percentile from the time we brought him home until around 9 months. It was very stressful. He was gaining, just very slowly. But it was steady, so eventually (after tons of appointments) the pediatrician and lactation consultant decided that was normal for my lo.
This article helped me a lot during that time.
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I'd give a shot at the extra calories before I sought out specialist care. An endocrinologist is a great option down the road, but I bet the fortified milk will get her caught right up.
Are you having any supply issues? It's never a bad idea to seek the advice of a lactation consultant.
Good fats and vitamins are a great start. May I ask, you said she's below he average, but has she always been? My kids were small, but stayed about the same percentage the whole time. My docs said that they were growing fine, just petite.
Maintaining percentage is a lot more vital than exactly what percentage they achieve.
Were you referred to an endocrinologist? Like pp said, if she's hitting her milestones and growing, she's probably fine. I'm happy you're producing enough milk. Yes, if you eat healthy fats, she should get it as well through your milk. Call your local la Leche league. They will have more advice and are totally free?
I've been worried about her weight so I asked her doctor and was told to supplement. She also put "failure to thrive" on her paperwork
Uuuuuuuh what? Sounds like she's a slow grower. However she is actually growing. She's put on some weight. Ivy was like that too. Never have baby fat rolls and didn't gain very fast. If she's hitting her milestones on time, gaining instead of losing, and is having enough wet diapers, she's probably getting enough. I would probably get in contact with a lactation consultant. But I suspect you're doing just fine, and don't need to supplement with formula. Not all babies are chubby. Just like adults, babies can be built differently from each other.
Edit: unrelated, but did the bleeding ever stop? Maybe her hormones are a bit out of whack, if it hasn't. That would maybe explain slow weight gain.
A friend of mine was told at her babies first newborn check up that she would NEVER be able to make enough milk for him because he was a big baby. Her baby was a only a couple days old!
Another friend was told to give strawberry nesquick when she was struggling to wean.
Another friend was told not to bathe her baby more than once a week because it might cause a fever.
If I had followed doctors orders and not done my own research to advocate for my health, I might not be alive right now.
My point is that doctors do not always know best. Of course they often do but unfortunately pediatricians are often uneducated about breastfeeding. The requirements for it in med school are ridiculously low. Sometimes an LC or second opinion from a better educated doctor is worth it. Not saying this is the case here, just making a point of not blindly following advice JUST because they're a doctor.