Tips on how adding weight to your BF baby

Sarah - posted on 06/19/2010

Um, what weight charts??? 6 months and almost 14 lbs is completely normal, a bit above average in fact!!!

Do not switch to formula but DO switch doctors, this one obviously does not know what he is talking about!

Rachel - posted on 06/18/2010

I am going to cry. that is just awful that your pedi is pressuring you to STOP BF-ING! I'm pretty sure mine was trying to sabbatoge my efforts by having my baby take 1 bottle a day when he was 2 weeks old. he had lost alomst 1 lb but he was a big baby. I'm absolutley positive that you have nothing to do with it. he has an ear infection. thats painful. and add sucking to that....ouch!!! I had ear infection until i was 17 years old. they hurt so bad. it doesnt matter if you give him a bottle or bf him..its still gonna hurt. and if you end up giving him formula he'll just get more ear infections. and Im pretty sure breastmilk is fattier than formula...im not sure...but Brady was always bigger than all of his ff friends...lol. best of luck to you honey. I hope you find a pedi that isnt an idiot like i had to.

Nicole - posted on 06/18/2010

My older two had ear infections and the doctor explained to me that under the age of 2 that antibiotics don't always work for ear infections. Try squirting some breastmilk in his ears. My 2 wound up with tubes :( but it was the best thing. I would nurse, nurse, nurse. Sorry you are unable to change doctors but maybe you should try again. Good Luck!

Laura Zoey - posted on 06/18/2010

well if you cant change drs then you might have to educate him and proove his theories wrong! look into the sites like kellymom.com drsears.com aap.gov and who.int and lll.int there is alot of great facts and im sure you could print some out to prove he is better off on human milk then artificial milk and that sitting at 6 months isnt necessary.

Angie - posted on 06/17/2010

As far as his weight and growth curve it seems he is just a little aguy. The parts I would find most concerning is the weight loss but unfortunately it's hard to say whether the weight loss really had anything to do with issues with eating or if it was really just an issue of him not feeling well. I would want to get his ear infection and sickness completely cleared up then do a 2 week trial and see what happens. At 6 months a baby tends to slow down on growth a ton but generally they don't lose weight.

Also are you having him weighed on the same schedule each time? With the same amount of clothes and a dry diaper? Those things can affect those little ounces as well. If the scales are always the same and he's always naked then you can probably assume the weights are pretty accurate.

One of the biggest indicators for breastfed babies is how often they are having wet diapers. You want about 5-6 wet diapers a day and the number of poopy diapers really isn't an indicator at his age as some babies can go a day (or even more) between poops. Also does he seem satisfied after eating? He's smart and if he isn't getting what he needs then he's going to let you know.

Someone else was right, breastmilk is much more calorically dense than any solid foods you can give him so if you're worried about weight loss then solids probably aren't the way to go.

A few things you can do to help boost your supply and help him bulk up (although I really don't think it's needed, you just wnat to be sure he doesn't lose anymore weight).
1. Feed often and on demand. Try doing some block feeding which is feeding him starting out on the same side for 2 or 3 feedings in a row to help get some of the fattier milk out first. Also some breast compression to help push some of that fatty hindmilk out.
2. Keep yourself well hydrated and also try some oatmeal to help boost your supply a bit.
3. Find a new dr who is a bit more knowledgeable on breastfeeding. If you can't switch drs then consult a lactation consultant to help you with weighing and then feeding and weighing again to see what he's taking in and give you a ocurse of action.

Laura Zoey - posted on 06/17/2010

beth sounds like its time for a NEW DOCTOR!!!!! formula causes obesity so im sure you wont be headed that route, right?

Beth - posted on 06/17/2010

I just got back from my son's 9mo check up, and according to the dr. he is in the 5% for weight. I feel she is pushing formula on me, and it bugs me a lot. She wants me to add more meals of cereal mixed with formula. If he hasn't gained weight in a month, I have a feeling she is going to push me fully to formula.

According to the WHO charts weight to age he is in the 15 percentile and in the weight to height he is in the 80th percentile. He is hitting all his developmental milestones and gives me 5-6 wet diapers + 1 poopy diaper a day.

Kathy - posted on 06/16/2010

I agree with all the mums who said to change doctors! And that bit about the doctor putting him on formula? Just who does she think she is?

The other bit that worries me is:

"The doctor also said that he can sit on his own he just doesn't know how because I haven't worked with him enough"
Bit of "blaming" here! Doesn't she know that babies develop in their own time?

Ditch her!

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 06/16/2010

I agree with the other ladies. One thing you can do is make sure he gets lots of hindmilk when he nurses. To do this just have him thoroughly empty the first breast before you switch sides. Nurse him on demand. From http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/milk/c...



"The degree of emptiness of the breast is what research has shown to drive breastmilk fat content, and thus calorie content. The fuller the breast, the lower the fat content of the milk; The emptier the breast, the higher the fat content of the milk (Daly 1993). " So the more you nurse the more fat and calories your baby will get from your breast milk.

Jennifer - posted on 06/16/2010

I agree with the previous posts. I wouldn't push the solids too much and try to nurse him more often. For a tasty fatty snack, try avocados. You don't need to cook them and they mash really easy. They are packed full of good fats.

Laura Zoey - posted on 06/16/2010

definately try a new doctor! and his curve looks fine, a bit of not growing but sseriously that infection has to affect him, i really think a pro-breastfeeding dr wouldnt have even mentioned the lack of growth. really try not to worry and dont push the solids! he needs the antibodies and the immunity boosters in your milk. he will take much longer to heal if he is nursing less.
try to print the who growth chart. idk the link but if you search around for it im sure you will find it. dont worry! it sounds perfectly fine considering the sick time and the early baby foods.

Heidi - posted on 06/16/2010

birth 7lbs even (12/12/09)

1 mo. 8 lbs 14 oz

2 mo. 11 lbs. 5 oz

3 mo. 13 lbs. even

4 mo. 12lbs. 14.5oz (Started food Per Doctor)

5 mo. 14lbs. 10oz (food seamed to be working) Doctor discovered ear infection gave antibiodics and nebulizer (he was wheezing)

5. months 10 days he went back to doctor (Ear still infected new antibiodic) Did not get his weight, doctor said that it was down.

5 monthes 20 days (ears still have fluid)(got 2 shots )

6 mo. 13lbs. 10.5 oz (wants to see him back in 2 wks Next apointment on the 29th.



He was a little fussy when he had the cold, but other than that he has been happy and seems healthy.



I have 2 older children and they did not meet the mile stones on time. My oldest did not roll over till 9 mo and walk till 2 yrs. He was crawling to the poty and talking about it. I am not worried about the sitting, I just couldn't believe that the doctor was blaming me.



Unfortiantly we are retired military so we get last pick of the doctors, and can not afford to go to non military. I wanted the same doctor that me, my husband and other 2 children have, but DEERS said no.

Tammy - posted on 06/16/2010

My god i would change doctors! Laura is absolutely right, dont go buy their charts as its usually based on formula fed babies, and LOTS of babies arent sitting up by themselves, my son didnt sit up by himself until at least six and a half months old, and his other cousins are the same, anwhere between 7months onwards. My son is also a 'light weight', and very slim compared to his formula fed friends. He is one year old and currently 19 pounds, but is extremely active, happy and healthy. Stick with breastfeeding, its the best thing for him.

Laura Zoey - posted on 06/16/2010

look up your local la leche league leader and call her! seriously she can give you really good advise and the facts to back it up with. look on lll.int and search your country state/province and city.
as for what i know,
1 breastfed babies are usually smaller then formula fed babies
2 most charts are made in the years where almost no one breastfed, ie its all formula babies on the charts
3 most breastfed babies gain little weight or no weight around 6 months.idk about losing weight but how much did he lose?
4 sitting by 6 months is about the average but there are a ton of babies not sitting until 8-10 months and they are normal
5 if you want him to gain weight you should stop all baby food and breastfeed only. your milk has much better calories and fats then any chicken!
6 is he following his own curve? if it is a decent looking growth curve then it doesnt really matter where it falls on the chart.
7 i am holding my printed out chart from the who web site that is new and based on properly breastfed babies. 13.21 lbs for 6 month olds is still above the last line. idk if he is slightly above or below that marker but nevertheless he is still in the guidlines of the breastfed babies chart.
8 change doctors to a breastfeeding advocate!

message back more info if you can and what was his weight in previous checks?