Ebf and worried about weight

[Lex444]

I know it's common for breastfed babies to sail down the 1977 percentile charts for weight (based on formula fed babies) between 2-4 months, but I've noticed my lovely 14-week-old son has moved down the modern charts as well. Over the last month, he's dropped from about the 65th percentile to below the 50th.

He's ebf and I have (had?) an oversupply, but he's been fussy fussy fussy at the breast lately. Over the last three weeks he's only put on about 250 grams or so, which is not much at all. I can't do a yield as pumping always seems to bring back my recurrent mastitis.

My mother - a doctor - has looked at him and said he seems fine. Good skin tone, alert ... but it still really worries me. Has anyone else had such a small weight gain with their ebf baby at this time?

We're down to one feed a night at 5am, and it seems to be interfering with the 7am feed. We've just started a 3.5 hour EASY as I noticed he seemed to be snacking and not hungry at 3 hours, but I'm now concerned he's not getting enough.

Argh. If it's not one thing, it's another!

[EllenS]

Moving to a 3.5 hour EASY should encourage him to take larger feeds.  Going from 65 to 50 does not sound too worrisome (not a huge drop), but others on here will know more than me about that.  Even if pumping was an option, doing a yield has been found to be highly inaccurate, if not totally useless, for determining supply.

As long as he is having plenty of wet & poopy diapers and has all the signs of health you say (alert, skin tone, etc), I really would try not to worry about slow weight gain.  It's not as if he's LOSING weight.  Fussiness could be a growth spurt, there is a big one around 4 months.  If he seems hungry just feed on his cues without worrying about times for a while. 

If your mom is not worried, there is likely no reason.  Is your mom his regular pediatrician?  If not, a checkup visit could put your mind at ease.

Hugs!

[lovemysophia]

My first ebf baby was in the 10th percentile - she had reflux and dairy allergies. The important thing to focus on is their average wieght gain during their weight checks.. . if they gain 2 pounds a month and then suddenly drop down to 1 pound than that would be cause for concern but being low on the weight charts isn't necessarily a bad thing. If he is still gaining its a good sign your doing fine. EllenS's advice is right on - keep checking the output to determine if the input is enough. My current ebf infant has been on three hour stretches since around four months but whenever we experienced a fussy time I would nurse on cue until whatever it was passed. Every bf baby experiences ups and downs with development, onset of teething, colds, etc. Is he fussy just in the beginning or all during a feed. . could you pump just a little prior to feeding which might help with a strong letdown. .. just thinking if you have had oversupply issues maybe you have a strong letdown as well? BTW - my 10th percentile child is now four and is a little string bean, just the way she's built and I worried about the very same thing when I was breastfeeding. .. your not alone in your concerns and its good to be aware of fluctuations - just don't worry yourself too much, I'm sure your doing great!

[Lex444]

Thanks guys, you've made me feel better.

I'm trying to extend his feeds a little, and yes, not to obsessively weigh him! Seeing the paed next week just in case, for my peace of mind.

LMS, yes, I'm just feeding through the fussy stretches and hoping it helps. He latches on fine, eats for a few minutes and then fusses. Having said that, he's been waking more at night for the last ten days to make up for it. I just feed him through it, thinking I'd rather feed than not, just in case he's hungry. And he always seems to be hungry.

Last night was the first night in a few where we seemed to be back to our "normal" routine, which is one night waking at about 2-4am, for a quick feed.

Encouraging to hear about your daughter!

[lisi's mum]

I just wanted to add in our experience -

dd 1 started off at 50%, at around 9 months was below 3% I was loosing my mind, the dr wasn't concerned in the least - plenty of wet nappies, content, good skin tone etc etc

dd2 was born at 97%, between weeks 3 and 6 she put on 500g A WEEK which was a shocker, then in the next 3 weeks she only gained 300g total, bringing her down to the 85%. I've got to admit, I was kind of relieved!

It is really normal for weight gain to slow down after 6 weeks. The very most important thing is to look at your baby and put the charts away.

[liacarmen]

We had really erratic weight gain - started at a bouncing 8 pounds, but was down to the 10% at the 2 month check up. Of course, I was totally freaked out. By the 4 month check up he was up to the 85% (15 pounds!) and has stayed there for the last 6 months. If your doc mom isn't worried, you should try not to worry - you know she'd tell you if she thought something was wrong.

[NoelleChristine]

Between 4 & 6 months we had pretty much a 0 weight gain.  He weighed 15.? lbs at 4 months and weighed 15.? at 6 month.  (He'd only gained a few oz. and I don't remember specifically.)  I honestly don't remember what %'s he was on the charts either.  It didn't matter to me too much really.  He was happy, healthy, eating in good intervals, had his wet/poopy diapers etc....things were good.

Totally agree with Lisi's mum's advice about looking at your baby and putting the charts away.

Listen to your mother! 

[isaac'smom]

I just wanted to chime in here and agree with what pp have been saying. DD started off gaining very well and was at the 50th percentile then dropped off gradually (not sure where she is now as I've stopped being obsessed with the charts). My dr. said that she doesn't look underweight, has a lot of wet/dirty diapers and is alert and happy. She did go through a fussy period where she seemed uninterested in bf and would pull off. I think it had something to do with being more interested in her environment than eating. I started feeding her in a quiet room by myself (away from ds!). If the doctor is happy, things are probably good. How lucky are you to have your Mom's advice as a doctor too!

[Lex444]

Thanks everyone - this is really reassuring. I appreciate hearing from so many women who have been in the same situation.

I really love breastfeeding, but I find it nervewracking because the baby is totally reliant on me to get his nutrients. So minimal weight gains set my alarm bells ringing.

Yes, he started in at a respectable 7 pounds 15 ounces when he was born, 75th percentile or so, and now he's just below 50th. I guess that's not so bad, but it still made me edgy.

[lisi's mum]

Often babies are born on the large side then slip in the charts as they find their natural place on the growth curve if you know what I mean. You may well find he now stays at more or less the same place. Then again, even if he doesn't it doesn't matter if everything else is ok.