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Author Topic: Increasing calories during the day  (Read 1174 times)

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Offline amy72598

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Increasing calories during the day
« on: May 18, 2006, 18:13:46 pm »
Today was the 6mo well visit for my DD.  At birth, her weight was in the 75th percentile, down to 49th at 4 months, and today was only in the 9th!  Because her height has stayed around the 75th percentile, the doctor was concerned and said I needed to up her calories.  She has 4 feeds a day and a DF of 4 oz. EBM.  He said I should up the DF to 7 or 8 oz, but I'm worried she might start to expect those calories then and eat even less during the day.  Plus, it takes me pumping at least 2 times a day to get the 4 ounces!  Maybe I should BF for the DF, but then I won't know how much she's getting.

I asked him about ways to increase the amount she takes during the day, and he said to increase the number of feeds.  She has had a few spells of being a very fussy eater (would suck for a couple minutes, then pull off, cry, repeat endlessly, or sometimes not eat at all).  I found great improvement when we weaned the pacifier (she only used it to sleep, but never spit it out, so my theory is that she got all her sucking needs met that way) AND when we extended time between feeds.  So, I'm worried about changing our whole routine to add more feeds and possibly turning her into a snacker, not to mention that I'm not even sure she'll eat more often!

She's currently on a 3.75-4 hour EASY, sleeping 12 hours at night with 3 naps (usually 2 of 1.5 hours, and 1 of 45 min.).  She eats great first thing in the morning, but honestly hasn't ever been a voracious eater.  She's taking both sides, so maybe she's not getting as much hind milk as she should, but she starts getting fussy on one until I offer her the other and then she's back to eating.  I'm not sure how to get her to keep eating on the first side.  Even as I look at her schedule, I have no idea where to add more feeds.  Before naps?

He also said we can start solids, but from what I've read, they still don't provide the same calories as breastmilk.

Any ideas on how to encourage her to eat more DURING each feed rather than ADDING more feeds?  She has some spirit in her and seems to get mad when I try to get her to eat more.  I'm so frustrated!!  She just doesn't seem interested in eating!
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Offline Samuel's mum

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Re: Increasing calories during the day
« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2006, 20:59:54 pm »
Is that 4 feeds including the df? 4 feeds at 6 months is at the low end of the spectrum and I can see why your doctor may have thought an extra feed would help but as she's sleeping so well I can see why it's difficult to change things!

Some mums have luck with going back to the first breast again to get an extra letdown which will have a lot less volume the second time but more hindmilk.

With the df why not offer breast first and then the bottle after. When babies are more sleepy they often continue feeding from the bottle for longer.

Solids aren't as important as breastmilk for a long time to come. Breastmilk contains essential nutrients and more. However solids do offer calories and it is around 6 months that solids are suggested. Obviously there is flexibility but if you leave it too much longer (more than a few weeks) you may find her iron levels become low. This is the main reason breastfed babies need to start solids around this time. It's also fun!
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Offline amy72598

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Re: Increasing calories during the day
« Reply #2 on: May 18, 2006, 22:34:06 pm »
Sorry... she has 4 feeds plus the dreamfeed, so 5 total.

I'm actually planning to go ahead and start solids (we tried some rice cereal this afternoon and she did great!), but I know not to expect that to solve everything.

Since she's SO distracted when eating, I've started using a timer to try to get her to eat at least 10 minutes on one side, checking to see that she's swallowing, etc.  She pops on and off constantly and has ever since around 3 months.  I've also been trying breast compressions when she starts to slow down.  She's far too interested in everything else besides eating.  I'll also try offering the first breast a second time - thanks for the suggestion!!  I just wish she would simply EAT!  It feels like I'm fighting her every time I try to feed her, and I hate that it's become such an battle.
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Offline Kate A

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Re: Increasing calories during the day
« Reply #3 on: May 19, 2006, 05:00:05 am »
We had a similar problem at 6 months.  my milk started to slow down so I started to take some herbs to increase my supply.  It helped.  We also started solids and that seemed to encourage her weight gain as well.  I would also try to give her a bottle during the day to see how much she takes and if she is as distracted.  If she is, than you know you have a distracted eater.  If she's not, then you will know that she frustrated with your let down.  We tried this and it helped me to see that she was frustrated with my let down.  she took a significant amount of a bottle during the day.  I started to pump before feeds to make sure that my milk was rigth there for her to get. 

hope this makes sense...writing as I'm soooo tired.
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Offline daisymelan

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Re: Increasing calories during the day
« Reply #4 on: May 19, 2006, 12:11:05 pm »
First off, {{{hugs}}}  Goodness knows we all want our little ones to thrive and do "perfectly".  It sounds like you are your lo are doing wonderfully.  Is your lo still gaining weight?  Is she happy?  She sure seems to be sleeping well.  As long as you think everything is fine, I'm sure it is.  I know my son dropped percentile after percentile, but now that he's 10 months he's started chunking up again.  You  may just have a slight little girl on your hands. 

Have you checked out the breastfeeding charts that are located at the top of this forum?  If you are using your drs charts they may be for bottle fed babies. 

You can maybe try breast compressions to squeeze a little more into her mouth.  But I think just relaxing, increasing your fluid intake, etc, will help out.

hugs again
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Offline daisymelan

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Re: Increasing calories during the day
« Reply #5 on: May 19, 2006, 12:15:30 pm »
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