Timing of bfs with solids

[First Time Mom]

My dd is slow to gain weight (still ) and weighed in at 13.5 pounds at her 8 month check. The ped would like to see higher gains and suggested that I up her solids. I used to feed her solids 1 hour after her bf and she would take about 3 tbsps only (total up to 9 tbsps in a day). If I feed her 2 hours after her bf she will take up to 5 but this means she is eating every 2 hours. Will feeding her this close to her bfing session impact the amount she takes in during bfing? Also, if it does, should I be concerned? She is bf 5x a day which includes her df (and sometimes I offer her a "drink" after solids to wash down).

Also, how does breast milk calories compare to formula? I read that formula has 20 calories per ounce, I'm studying every food that she eats for calorie content and trying to stick with the higher cal stuff (hard, as I can't add yogurt or cheese due to dd's milk protein allergy). I count her calories, measure the leftovers to see how much she's eating, watch the clock for her bfs to try to get her to nurse at least 15 minutes, listening for every suck and swallow. I've become obsessed about her gaining weight for her follow up appt end of the month.

[Samuel's mum]

Hi
Sorry you are feeling concerned about weight gain. Don't forget even if she is dropping points on the scale it doesn't necessarily mean you have reason to panic as some scales in use are outdated. Do you have access to the brand new WHO scales (on the FAQ board) - apologies if this is all old hat to you! I mention this because historically bf mums do feel this enormous pressure but for many it is not warranted. I have a good friend with the most incredible 2.5 year old - completely verbal and can draw people with eyes and hair and can do a ton of other amazing things and she is pretty tiny. That's her body shape, it's her dad's too.

Breastmilk has an average of 22 calories per oz (varies during the day) as opposed to the 20 calories of formula and it has an average of 1.2 g of fat compared to 1.06g in formula.
source: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/milk/milkcalories.html

However it does vary widely during the day. I have heard of mothers using breast compression to increase the fat content in their milk.
http://www.kellymom.com/newman/15breast_compression.html
You could also consider trying to change the balance of your hind milk/ foremilk to increase fat content but I would ask an LC about this and it's certainly not advisable if your baby is younger as the foremilk has such an important role to play for an ebf baby.

Your instincts are good - it is important not to reduce amounts of breastmilk as this is so rich in fat (and good ones too). What's important is the actual solids you do give which it sounds like you are concentrating on.
This is quite interesting:
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/babyfoodcalories.html
(avocado - whoah! I knew it was high fat but heavens!)

[rosie and joe's mummy]

you know what I think you need to stop worrying about what her weight is and start looking at her.

is she looking underfed?  does she look like she needs more food.

some babies are slow growers and don't put on a huge amount of weight. but if their bodies are happy then that's fine!

if you up her calories you will find she puts on weight, but it might not be weight in the right way. she might well just turn into a fat but small in size baby, i.e. rolls of fat round her chest and tummy, arms and legs.

all babies should have fat arms and legs, but they shouldn't have big fat bellies and fatty chests.  If you can feel her ribs reasonably easily, but they don't stick out, then she's perfect. yes there's all these charts about how they should grow and put on weight and what's average and what's not. BUT average doesn't mean being otherwise is wrong or abnormal. if there weren't extremes there'd be no average!

[First Time Mom]

You're both right and thanks, S'smon for the link- once again, very interesting info.

I've decided to heck with trying to stuff 15+ tablespoons into my lo, I know it's impacting her bfs as she started to refuse full bfs, would only feed for 3-4 minutes which would put me into a panic about my supply and early weaning so I would offer again an hour later. This resulted in 9 "snacks" of bfing yesterday Who has time for that?!

Today, I said enough of this craziness and I went back to our normal routine, 4 hour feeds and solids 1.5 hours after. She bf like a champ and took 3-4 tbsps of solids at each meal and I didn't push for more once she showed me disinterest. Funny, she didn't crank out, had wonderful bw naps and went to bed tonight like a charm.

She's not "skinny", just petite, so I'm not going to worry anymore (at least for this month ).

[rosie and joe's mummy]

good on you.

she'll be grateful to be called petite when she's older!!

rosie has 4 hourly BFs with solids 2 hours later and that seems to suit her. sometimes she doesn't seem interested in the BF mid morning, or mid afternoon, so i don't push it. I'm letting her physical condition tell me if we're doing ok, rather than worry about what some stupid chart says. After all, some days I'm more hungry than others, so presumably the same applies to babies?

besides if she's snacking she's only going to be getting watery foremilk and that's not going to help with weight gain anyway!