weight gain

Raana - posted on 12/09/2008

Thank you for all the advice and support. We have perservered and seem to be feeding really well now. I did see a peer support worker and she also assured me that we were doing okay.

Nicole - posted on 12/08/2008

Similar advice I just gave another lady. Supplementing is not good to do as it will only decrease the amount of milk you produce, leading to the need to supplement with formula more and more. You're giving your daughter the very best possible. Unless YOU have some sort of medical condition, which I doubt, your milk is good and is best for her. Formula can never compare. So don't give into doing this.

My suggestion is for the next 2-4 weeks ONLY breastfeed and do it every 2 hours around the clock. Try to nurse her for at least 20-30 mins. If she only wants to nurse from the one side, that's OK too, my son did this for a while. Set an alarm at night. Every 2-3 hours from the start of one feeding to the start of the next. It will feel like all you do is BF, but you will build your supply and she will gain weight.

Ensure you are getting good water in take throughout the day and eat really well ensuring good nutrition for yourself and caloric intake.

I did the nursing every 2 hours around the clock for the first month with my son and he grew great and my supply was/is great. He's still nursing and growing strong at almost 2 years. Although of course he does eat solids a lot too.

BEST WISHES! Nurse like crazy for the next 2-4 weeks and you should see much improvement! The LC suggestions are a great idea too, they always have lots of good info and suggestions. Many will just talk w/you over the phone for free too.

Lorilynne - posted on 12/08/2008

My daughter did the same thing. She was pretty tiny for the first year, once I started her on solids she stayed in the 5th percentile but she didn't double her birth weight until she was almost 10 months old. Now she's almost two and she's at the average weight for her age. I agree with everyone and just nurse as often as possible and for as long as possible. Don't worry about time limits and just nurse her until she is done. Then burp her and change her to the other side. Most babies do have a side that they prefer, my daughter liked the right and my son likes the left but try and offer both sides at each feeding. If she won't take it just offer the other side first at the next feeding. You can also try different holds.

Lindsay - posted on 12/08/2008

Have you tried pumping and offering her your milk in a bottle? That way you can see how much she is taking! Alot of times this will help weight gain!!!

Brandie - posted on 12/07/2008

keep on nursing

babies grow at different rates my baby girl is 20 weeks and still little i have to go through the same thing her daddy is 6'2 and about 150lbs very skinny so dont frieght

she is geting plenty from one side

mothers who have twins and nurse they only get one breast

and at her age she does not have to feed every two hours by now it should be about every 3 to four hours

as long as she is alert and has good diapers there nothing to worry about

Nicole - posted on 12/07/2008

How are her diapers??? I agree with the others just nurse nurse nurse and do not watch the clock. My older 2 only nursed on my right side sometimes when they were tired I could sneak in the left. She looks great but the weight gain can be scary. Good luck.

Emily - posted on 12/07/2008

My oldest had significant weight gain issues and completely dropped off the charts (9 lbs 4 oz at 4 months), but is a completely happy, healthy 3 1/2 year old now. :) I second Stephanie's suggestion to nurse as often as possible. Use a baby carrier and learn to nurse in it. Then you can keep doing things while you nurse.

I'd feed her on one side until she stops nursing, burp her, change her, then put her back on the same side. When she stops nursing again, burp her again and try offering the other side. Then next feeding you can start with the side she ended on the last time. Feedings could last from 5-45 minutes total, but remember that breastmilk is completely digested within 90 minutes, so a baby that young should be starting a feeding at least every 2 hours... usually closer to every hour and a half. :)

Lydia - posted on 12/07/2008

I agree: nurse her as often as possible. Have you talked with a board certified lactation consultant?

Read more about increasing weight gain:
http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/gro...

Feed her on one side until she lets go or falls asleep, then offer the other side. Unless you have oversupply, if she stops eating on her own she should be getting enough hindmilk.

Read more about foremilk/hindmilk:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/foremi...

Stephanie - posted on 12/07/2008

Nurse her as OFTEN AS POSSIBLE. the more you nurse, the more milk you make. i don't think it matters, so much, evening out both sides.