Baby lost too much weight... advice!!! UPDATE: She gained 1 lb!!!!!!

WTTMommy · Mar 9th, 2010, 15:39 PM

We took Rachel to see our family doctor for the first time today. Her weight has dropped drastically. From 7 lbs 9 oz to 6 lbs 2 oz in 5 days.

I completely broke down as soon as we left and cried the whole way home. Our doctor said to start supplementing and come back in one week for another weigh in.

My milk only came in yesterday and she has been drinking a lot. Every 2 hrs for 10-15 minutes on each side. I don't believe the problem is my milk supply... I am practically dripping from both sides all day and her latch is great too. I think the problem was that she wasn't feeding a lot, I didn't have much colostrum at all, and she slept quite a bit since she was born.

I'm now on a schedule to feed her every 2 hrs for 15 min from each side and it's been working out great. I actually think she would feed longer if I kept waking her up when she falls asleep.

Should I wait to weigh her in next Tuesday before I start supplementing?

anothersquish · Mar 9th, 2010, 15:46 PM

Wait til next week hun. Supplementing now may cause trouble and if your milk only came in yesterday then you need to give it a while to allow her to regain that weight, supplementing too soon will men you end up with less milk. If she has gained on Tues you know to keep going, if not then rethink, perhaps arrange for another weigh in in two or three days..whatever. However for the time being I would continue as you are, feed her for a good amount of time (Id actually do 20 minutes+ on one side rather than switching after 15) and feed her regularly and Im sure you will see some of that weight regained by Tues

Seraphim · Mar 9th, 2010, 15:57 PM

^WSS

SianMA · Mar 9th, 2010, 16:25 PM

I'm sure now your milk is in and your LO has got the hang of feeding that she'll gain it back if you keep on feeding frequently.

Also bear in mind that if she was weighed on two different sets of scales (at the hospital then at your GPs) the difference might not have been quite so drastic as they wouldn't have been calibrated the same. A 10% weight loss in the first 2 weeks is considered normal as babies become quite heavy in the last week or so before birth with extra fluid to see them through the early days of breastfeeding until your milk comes in properly.

WTTMommy · Mar 9th, 2010, 16:46 PM

Thanks! I think we'll wait to see her weight on Tuesday.

We just had a 40 minute feed, the longest ever.

Lu28 · Mar 9th, 2010, 16:57 PM

Totally agree with the others hon, if your milk just came in it could be a totally different situation next week and it'd be a shame to have messed with your supply by supplementing if it wasn't totally necessary

TigerLady · Mar 9th, 2010, 17:01 PM

for the good feed! I agree, wait!

Like I said, you can expect a 15% weight loss. She has just a little over that, but it took just a bit longer for your milk to come in, so that is okay. If she is feeding that well, she'll start packing it on. All my docs said don't worry unless after 2 weeks they aren't gaining again. So, you have another week before you worry!

WTTMommy · Mar 9th, 2010, 20:15 PM

Thank you SO much ladies!!

Your advice really means a lot. I know I wouldn't get this kind of support and encouragement ANYWHERE else.

Quote:

Originally Posted by anothersquish

(Id actually do 20 minutes+ on one side rather than switching after 15) and feed her regularly and Im sure you will see some of that weight regained by Tues

I took your advice and it seems she can go much longer on each breast. It just takes a little patience because she can get fussy every 10 or so minutes. So I burp her and she keeps drinking. I didn't think that was possible.

Oh and I've been keeping an eye on her diapers and they are wet every 2-3 hrs!

anothersquish · Mar 9th, 2010, 20:22 PM

Good stuff

It can help to give them a minute to have a wind in the middle, I often did with Theo whilst he was still learning the art of sucking efficiently

WTTMommy · Mar 16th, 2010, 12:16 PM

UPDATE:
Rachel got weighed today and she gained 1 lb in 7 days!! From 6lbs 2oz to 7lbs 2 oz! I can't tell you how much anxiety and stress today's weigh in was causing me... especially after losing nearly 20% of her birth weight by day 5

. I'm so happy she's thriving on my milk alone.

Thank you all for encouraging me to keep breastfeeeding and not jumping to formula too soon.

Mar 9th, 2010, 15:39 PM	#1
WTTMommy Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 2,241	Baby lost too much weight... advice!!! UPDATE: She gained 1 lb!!!!!! We took Rachel to see our family doctor for the first time today. Her weight has dropped drastically. From 7 lbs 9 oz to 6 lbs 2 oz in 5 days. I completely broke down as soon as we left and cried the whole way home. Our doctor said to start supplementing and come back in one week for another weigh in. My milk only came in yesterday and she has been drinking a lot. Every 2 hrs for 10-15 minutes on each side. I don't believe the problem is my milk supply... I am practically dripping from both sides all day and her latch is great too. I think the problem was that she wasn't feeding a lot, I didn't have much colostrum at all, and she slept quite a bit since she was born. I'm now on a schedule to feed her every 2 hrs for 15 min from each side and it's been working out great. I actually think she would feed longer if I kept waking her up when she falls asleep. Should I wait to weigh her in next Tuesday before I start supplementing?

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Mar 9th, 2010, 15:46 PM	#2
anothersquish Mum (Mom) Inactive Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,415	Wait til next week hun. Supplementing now may cause trouble and if your milk only came in yesterday then you need to give it a while to allow her to regain that weight, supplementing too soon will men you end up with less milk. If she has gained on Tues you know to keep going, if not then rethink, perhaps arrange for another weigh in in two or three days..whatever. However for the time being I would continue as you are, feed her for a good amount of time (Id actually do 20 minutes+ on one side rather than switching after 15) and feed her regularly and Im sure you will see some of that weight regained by Tues

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Mar 9th, 2010, 15:57 PM	#3
Seraphim Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dartmoor, Devon Posts: 7,082	^WSS

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Mar 9th, 2010, 16:25 PM	#4
SianMA Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: North Wales, UK Posts: 658	I'm sure now your milk is in and your LO has got the hang of feeding that she'll gain it back if you keep on feeding frequently. Also bear in mind that if she was weighed on two different sets of scales (at the hospital then at your GPs) the difference might not have been quite so drastic as they wouldn't have been calibrated the same. A 10% weight loss in the first 2 weeks is considered normal as babies become quite heavy in the last week or so before birth with extra fluid to see them through the early days of breastfeeding until your milk comes in properly.

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Mar 9th, 2010, 16:46 PM	#5
WTTMommy Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 2,241	Thanks! I think we'll wait to see her weight on Tuesday. We just had a 40 minute feed, the longest ever.

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Mar 9th, 2010, 16:57 PM	#6
Lu28 Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 12,646	Totally agree with the others hon, if your milk just came in it could be a totally different situation next week and it'd be a shame to have messed with your supply by supplementing if it wasn't totally necessary
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Mar 9th, 2010, 17:01 PM	#7
TigerLady Mum (Mom) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: In a Cave Posts: 22,889	for the good feed! I agree, wait! Like I said, you can expect a 15% weight loss. She has just a little over that, but it took just a bit longer for your milk to come in, so that is okay. If she is feeding that well, she'll start packing it on. All my docs said don't worry unless after 2 weeks they aren't gaining again. So, you have another week before you worry!

Status: Online

Mar 9th, 2010, 20:22 PM	#9
anothersquish Mum (Mom) Inactive Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,415	Good stuff It can help to give them a minute to have a wind in the middle, I often did with Theo whilst he was still learning the art of sucking efficiently

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Mar 16th, 2010, 12:16 PM	#10
WTTMommy Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 2,241	UPDATE: Rachel got weighed today and she gained 1 lb in 7 days!! From 6lbs 2oz to 7lbs 2 oz! I can't tell you how much anxiety and stress today's weigh in was causing me... especially after losing nearly 20% of her birth weight by day 5 . I'm so happy she's thriving on my milk alone. Thank you all for encouraging me to keep breastfeeeding and not jumping to formula too soon.

Status: Online

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