suggestions on how to get my baby to gain weight?

Amanda - posted on 08/31/2009

I just read a post about the same thing on the Breastfeeding Moms community. And they had a lot of information about this. Most of the growth charts doctors use to are done on studies of formula fed babies, not breastfed, and formula fed babies gain more weight. http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/gro... this site has growth charts for breastfed babies.

Catherine - posted on 08/29/2009

Honestly I would drop the formula and supplemement with your own milk. Breastmilk has more fat and calories ounce for ounce than anything else. If you pump 15 minutes or so after he finishes nursing you will be pumping hindmilk, which is the really good stuff. My son is lean (15 lbs 5 oz, 26 inches at 6 months) but so is his father so I am not worried, but the doctor did tell me to nurse like crazy and to give him pumped breastmilk instead of water or juice with his meals and to try to give him healthy fats like avacados and olive oil in his solids.



Was your son measured on the breastfed baby growth chart? Breastfed babies are leaner so a baby that is at the bottom or even off the formula fed chart is usually comfortably on the breastfed chart.



EDIT: I look in one of the weight threads and saw that your guy weighed 12 lbs 3 oz, but started at 5 lbs, 9 oz. He's more than doubled his birth weight, which is a good thing! My son weighed 15 lbs 9 oz yesterday and he is a few days shy of 7 months and was born weighing 8 lbs. IPart of the concern with his weight is that he keeps falling off his curve even though he is still on the breastfed chart. If you look at this chart http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/gro... it seems your little man is more or less holding steady on his curve, even if it is the lowest one.Provided he is making enough wet and dirty diapers and meeting his milestones, it seems you just have a slim boy - you will be able to carry him for longer and he can use his infant car seat for longer!

Amy - posted on 08/28/2009

That's odd, I have never heard of butter. I don't have advise because my daughter is not even on the 1% for her weight. I strictly BF besides baby jar food. My daugther's doctor is not concerned about her weight because I have always been under weight myself, but even if she was I feel like as long as my baby is growing and healthy theres no need to force her to eat when she is not hungry. Please don't misunderstand, that is not what I am saying your doctor is doing, but I'm just saying what I would or would not do. Goodluck! I hope you get him on track!