Can someone help me switching a 9month old from breastmilk to formula please help us?

Holly Janelle - posted on 01/09/2012

My daughter is in the 90th percentile for weight and the 10th percentile for height! Everytime we go in for a well child check up her doctor says she's kind of short.... I'm like what the heck?! At least have some positive feedback to make me feel a little better about the height situation! But whatever I'm not worried unless she is in the 0 percentile on height I'm not going to sweat it. :)

Celeste - posted on 01/09/2012

She's doubled her birth weight!

You can find an IBCLC but I think you're doing fine!

Bri - posted on 01/09/2012

when she was born she weighed 8pound 7 ounces and has always been in the top 90 percent now she is down to 10-20 percent

Celeste - posted on 01/09/2012

I agree with the above ladies. It is normal for babies to slow down their weight gain around this age..

What was her *lowest* birth weight?

Here's a good article called "Look at the baby not the scale"
http://drjaygordon.com/pediatricks/newbo...

Bri - posted on 01/09/2012

ok great thanks alot!

Holly Janelle - posted on 01/09/2012

I have been told the breastfed babies typically don't gain weight like they did before the hit the 6 months mark. After breastfed babies reach 6 months their weight gain slows because they become more mobile. Also my daughter is 9 months (10 months on the 19th of january) and still wakes up at least 3 times a night. So I wouldny worry about it :)

Bri - posted on 01/09/2012

Thank you very much I am trying to get a second opinion. But I forgot to add that my baby was 6months and 16pounds now she is 9months and only 17 pounds. She has only gained 8ounces in the last few months also she does not sleep threw night. thanks very much for helping i am contacting a Lactation consultant today! thanks alot!

Bri - posted on 01/09/2012

Thank you very much I am trying to get a second opinion. But I forgot to add that my baby was 6months and 16pounds now she is 9months and only 17 pounds. She has only gained 8ounces in the last few months also she does not sleep threw night. thanks very much for helping i am contacting a Lactation consultant today! thanks alot!

Holly Janelle - posted on 01/09/2012

I'm with sara d of this. It's very normal for a babie weight gain to slow down because they are certain mobile. Doctors are NOT educated on the growth of breastfed babies whatsoever! Formula fed infants are what they are educated on so they have no clue and what you pediatrician told you is the perfect example of why mommies quit bf and switch to formula, because they are misinformed not because they arent making enough milk but because of the poorly educated pedis. Your daughter is fighting because she doesn't want formula she wants YOUR milk. I would nurse her more often and that will cue your body to make more milk, but to me it sounds like your milk supply is normal and so is her weight gain. I would switch pediatricians and find someone who is better educated on breastfed babies and is more supportive of your Breastfeeding team(your daughter and you)! A certified lactation consult would be extremely helpful in this situation I would contact someone with the information Sara gave you and I'm sure you'll be feeling better about the situation very soon. I agree with you though his advise to not feed her for 24 hours sounds borderlined crazy to me I wouldn't go back to him I was you. that seems way overly drastic. Hope this helps! Your a wonderful mommy ♥



When my daughter was very young and I wasn't but maybe 8 weeks into nursing my daughter her doctor said the same thing to me at an appointment just because i waa unsure if she was getting enough and she said well your probably right so I trusted her. I was upset an felt like I had failed because I wasn't making enough and everything and my aunt who had breastfed my cousin who is a year older than daughter but born the exact same day told me to get a second opinion from the lactation consultant at the hospital i delivered at. i talkes to tge LC and voiced ny concerns and she encouraged me to come up there and feed my daughter and weighed her and said that my daughter was getting more than enough bm at the feedings and not to worry. She told me to nurse her on demand (whenever she seemed hungry) and make sure she has 6-8 wet diapers in a 24 hour period and we had nothing to worry about and she is almost 9 months and we are going strong! Your doing great mommy I strongly believe that.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 01/08/2012

It's very normal for weight gain to slow down now because baby's become very mobile at this age. Do you want to stop breastfeeding? If not, I would seek a second opinion (in fact, if I got that advice I'd switch pedi's). Some thoughts: how often does baby eat solids? Your breast milk has more calories then the amount of solids your daughter can eat. You can try cutting back on the solids (and juice/water) and nursing more often. Food before one is just for one. Your breast milk needs to be her primary source of nutrition. Also, make sure she thoroughly empties the first breast before you offer the second. The fattier milk gets stuck at the back of the breast so the longer you let her nurse on one side, the more fat she will get. Do you use a pacifier? If so, try offering the breast instead of the pacifier to get some extra milk into her. The best way to tell if she's getting enough is by diaper count. Is she have 5-6+ wet diapers in 24 hours? If so then she's getting plenty of milk. Is she meeting milestones? Another good sign that things are fine.



I completely respect a mom's choice to wean when she feels ready, but it sounds like you are being forced to. If you don't want to wean seek another opinion. A lactation consultant or a La Leche League leader would be more helpful. You can find a local LLL group here: http://www.llli.org. If you don't have a group near you you can call the closest leader. LLL is free too. Good luck!