6 mo old lost weight?

[elliesmama]

Hey girls.  My dd is 6 mos old and she's always been in the 10th percentile for weight.  Today we went in for her 6mo check-up and she had gone from 11lbs (at her 4 mo visit) to 9 lbs 13oz.  She's been exclusively breastfed until 5 1/2 mos and I've been giving her sweet potato and oat cereal.  She is developmentally right on track, if not even a little ahead of the game, her length is growing as is her head circumference.  She pees and poops alot, too. I've noticed that she's skinny, but since everything else seems great, I haven't ever worried about it.  The doctor strongly suggested that she go to a gastroenterologist to see if something is wrong with her.  But that seems extreme to me, does it sound extreme to anyone else?  I told the doctor I'd rather try to get her to gain weight through other means (supplementing? moving around her feeding schedule?  beefing up solids? anything...) than take her to get prodded and poked and stuff.  But she said that for her, even two weeks was too long to wait, just in case she lost any more especially since an she's an already small baby.  She said that there's probably something wrong and we should find out now rather than later.  But I'd rather believe what I know about my lo: she's healthy and she's just growing at the rate she's supposed to grow.

I made an appointment tomorrow with another pediatrician for a second opinion. Anyone else have experience with this?  encouragements?  Thanks.

[First Time Mom]

It sounds like your ped is trying to alarm you (which I don't like, aren't new mums stressed enough?!) but I would either go to a second ped or go to get her checked out directly.

My first questions to you would be...
How much solids is she eating? Are the solids replacing bfs or have you noticed a dip in your supply due to the intro of solids? Solids in the beginning should be only for taste and texture, the first 12 months of calories/nutrition should come from bfing as the composition of bf is far superior to starter solids. How many pees is she having in a day and what is her bm like (no diarrhea?) Did the ped say her concern was specific to the weight, your dd appears healthy in every other way (no dehydration or anything)?

I think you need to base your decision of what to do with your doctor's advice (whichever doctor that might be- new one or current). If gastro concerns are not the issue and solids are not the issue, look at possible supply issues, length and quantity of bfs, again, hopefully your new doctor can advise you on this after looking into the matter in depth vs. just looking at the weight. Good luck and keep us posted.

[elliesmama]

Thanks for the reply.  She's only eating a little of the solids per day--and some days none at all. About a jar of sweet potato and maybe 2T of oat cereal.  Usually in the morning after her first feeding (the biggest of the day).  She pees at least 5 if not 6 or more times per day...lots anyway.  The bm since starting solids has been more regular (it was once every 4-5 days before solids) and more stinky.  Sticky in texture, not what I would call diarrhea at all.  The doctor made it very clear that absolutely everything about dd is completely normal except the weight loss.  As far as a dip in supply, I guess I've never been that sure about my supply because I can't tell how much she's eating when she's nursing.  I haven't noticed anything different, though.  She is on a great 4-hour routine. Sometimes I give her a pacifier after she eats because she just starts sucking and not drinking--and she keeps bobbing off and on and off and on but doesn't drink.  Then she'll take the paci and spit it out a couple minutes later and be happy for the rest of the 4 hour time. 

My doctor's concern is a possible wheat allergy...Celiac's Disease...because my husband's dad has a slight aversion to wheat.  When I talked to the nurse at the second-opinion doctor's office when I made the appt. and I told her what my doctor's concern was, she was surprised that that disease had come up. Especially since dd hasn't been vomiting or anything like that.  So I'll be interested to hear what new doctor has to say about it.  Thanks for your opinions...

[elliesmama]

And, any ideas about questions I should ask the new doctor/or things I should remember to tell him?

[First Time Mom]

I would give all the details you can, about solids, quantity, type, her poops, etc. I would tell him/her that you are interested in continuing to bf so while you want a solution to help her gain you don't want to impact your supply. Did they ask you to bring a dirty diaper? We had to bring my dd to the hospital at 6 weeks due to slow weight gain and blood in her stool and they told us to bring a dirty diaper (they were going to do tests, turns out she had a milk protein allergy).

When my dd was slow to gain weight the bfing clinic actually told me not to offer the paci, only at nap time, because it could be tricking them into thinking they are not hungry (because they get tired of the sucking).

Is your appt today? Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[elliesmama]

Thanks!  I'll keep that in mind about the paci.  The problem is, I feel like she would suck FOREVER if I didn't give it to her, and I run out of patience.  Do you think I should just let her suck the boob until she's tired of it?

[lisi's mum]

Laurie - we had a weight gain blip at around 6 mo, it was the time I switched to double sided feeding, but dd wasn't yet on much in the way of solids. I'm afraid I know very little on the allergy side of things, so can't comment there, but if the loss isn't dramatic remember the happy healthy baby signs - 6 wet diapers, skin tone, demeanour etc. Has she started moving more? It is of course something to watch out for, but if otherwise Ellie seems perfectly happy don't let the Dr freak you out.

Keeping her on the breast as long as she wants will only do good things for your supply. If she's drinking I'd really keep her there, if she's just enjoying the coziness, well, the choice is yours - how much can you stand?

[elliesmama]

Thanks for all your comments!  We had a wonderful appointment with the second-opinion doctor (who is now our first choice doctor!).  He said he was sure it had nothing to do with allergies, but rather that she's just not getting enough food.  He suggested that my milk supply was low and that I should supplement every meal with formula and that if I want to, he'll help me beef up my milk supply so that we can keep breastfeeding as long as we want.  I've given her formula after two feeds already, and she's gobbled down 5oz at each...and that's after she stopped eating at the boob!  It feels like she just went to bed with the first full tummy she's had in a while.  Part of me feels like I should've caught on to this problem earlier, but I don't know how I would've...she's such an easy-going baby, she just hangs out until her next feeding and doesn't complain.  We called an cancelled our appointment with the GI specialist, thank goodness. 

[First Time Mom]

That's great news and I'm glad to hear you found a doctor that you like, sometimes we have to shop around for a good one. Did he mention how he would suggest to increase your supply? Supplementing will decrease it unless there is a plan in place to compensate. Are you pumping? I never pumped so I can't offer any advice but there's lots of moms on here that can offer terrific advice. Try to keep her on the breast as long as possible before you offer the formula, to ensure she's getting all you have. I would also suggest waiting a bit before giving the formula (instead of giving it immediately after the breast feed) so that she does not think that "when mommy gives me breast I'll nurse only for a short time because the formula is coming right after". We've had posts where moms are having a hard time with lo refusing the breast because they get topped up with formula.

[Aly Mac]

There are lots of things you can do to increase your supply along the way.  here are  few that I did a few times between 6 and 10months:

*bf honeymoon - take a day or two where you bf alot - concentrate on just feeding more often than not.

All these below you can do at once.
* pump an hour after every bf, and give this to her at the next feed after you bf her.  This way she is getting more and the pumping is stimulating your supply.  I did this for a few days.
* fenugreek capsules for a few days
* lots and lots and lots and lots of water
* rest - hard at times, but it makes a big difference. ignore the house etc
* go back to basics, really take the time to set the scene for bf.  In her room, with some quiet music.  take the time to smell her, lots of skin to skin.  I found this really helped the bobbing on and off, which happened to me at around this age.

I hope this helps - it realy made a difference, and it meant that I didn't have to supplement with formula, just with the pumped bf fromt he feed before (even if it's a little).  Oh, I also pumped every night before bed - esp if you dont' df.  I could then use this. 

[elliesmama]

I've never done very well with pumping...it's an exercise in frustration for me.  I've never gotten more than 1-2 oz max. per pumping session.  I like the idea of waiting a little before giving her formula.  Tonight at the df she woke up and I noticed she was paying lots of attention to the bottle of formula she could see on the nightstand (although she only took 1oz of it). 

I do need to rest more and I know I can be drinking more water, too.  I half-heartedly tried a bf honeymoon a few days ago..but she was so restless and fussy at the breast that it was really difficult.  Maybe I'll try the fenugreek.
Thanks so much for all of your thoughts and suggestions...I don't know what I'd do without this site!!!

[lisi's mum]

So glad about the second dr!

Even if nothing's coming out it's worth pumping - the signals are still being sent...

Fenugreek works really well too, but you have to take enough to make you smell like your local Indian restaurant, or maple syrup if that sounds more appetising  (3x3 capsules should do it!) works even better if taken in combination with blessed thistle.

[Aly Mac]

I would only get 1-2oz if lucky too, but it did stimulate the supply which is the idea.  Pumping is a pain though...i agree and I don't do it anymore....

I hope things improve
xx

[elliesmama]

We've supplemented for 5 meals now, and I'll tell you what...Ellie is like a different baby!  She was wonderful and smiley before, but she's even more so now.  I can't believe I missed her cues that she's been hungry all this time!  I thought when she was bobbing on and off and fussy at the boob that she was just more efficient and was full and wanting to play.  But now I think that it was because there just wasn't anything in there! She's taken 5oz of formula after all but 2 feedings so far.  This last one (11:00am) she didn't take any formula.  I'm so thankful that we found that other doctor and we're not waiting around for some appointment with a specialist we didn't need.  Thanks girls for all your support!

[Aly Mac]

sounds like things are going well Laurie 

don't feel bad - bubs bob on and off at some stage, normally that age from what i can remember, and often its their impatience or too interested in something else.