upset,hurt and confused -updated on p1 for the last time!

Carolyn · Oct 1st, 2008, 10:29 AM

my baby was 7lbs 11ozs 8 weeks ago at birth.

today she is 8lbs 4 1/2 ozs.

she is breastfed, aparently she is not putting on enough weight.

hv and dr said give one formua feed a day.

i'm upset that my boobs apparently aren't giving her the good start she should have.

i'm hurt that they would suggest bottles when they are supposed to be promoting breastfeeding. it goes against what they led me to believe was 'right'.

confused. i have low iron count/am anaemic, is this the reason?

she's grown in length and her head has grown.

any advice please?

well, she was weighed yesterday and had put on 11 and a half ounces!

so that's great!

didn't go to my hv, just went to a drop in centre and the hv there was GREAT. she immediately said that my low iron AND 'bad birth experience' wee cotriuting factors to bubs not fattening up.

i am over the moon.

the domperidone worked? or maybe my better 'mood' amd iron?

the hv said hopefully she'll have made at least half a pound next week. if not..formula...arghhhh(that was the only downside)

have we BOTH turned a corner this ast week? fingers crossed.

22nd oct well had her weighed yesterday and she made another half a pound! yipee. she had had 4 formula 'top ups' not replacement feeds. oh really liked feeding her and it gave the grandparents chance to take her out for longer than an hour!

she looks like she's bloody thriving now!

so thanks for all your help on this matter, it has been useful and has contributed to baby abigail piling on the pounds and ounces!

Whisper · Oct 1st, 2008, 13:19 PM

Not really sure what to suggest hun.

I think you are doing a great job b/fing she must be getting goodness from you, besides b/f babies don't follow the chart for weight gain that formula babies do.

The only thing i could think of is perhaps she isn't getting quite enough hindmilk? How long do you feed her for on each breast?
If you are unsure if she has reached the hindmilk you could express/squeeze a little milk out to see where she is at and if you don't think she is there then pop her back on?

don't feel upset maybe speak to a lactation consultant they should be able (i would have thought) to advise on the anemia and if it affects the breast milk...

xx

Carolyn · Oct 1st, 2008, 13:45 PM

thanks whisper

i've phoned the breast feeding advisor in the area, she's going to get back to me

she feeds for twenty minutes quality sucking every two hours in day, every 4-6 hours in night. mostly she works on one breast at a time.

could i have too much of the fore milk? is that poss...

claire1983 · Oct 1st, 2008, 13:50 PM

maybe try taking multi vitamins made for feeding mums but I cant believe they have told you that - your baby has put on weight and feeds well, I dont see how giving a bottle will help - it will just make breastfeeding more difficult.

Samantha675 · Oct 1st, 2008, 13:53 PM

If she is thriving, then I would not worry so much. Many times they use charts for formula fed babies, and breast babies gain differently. Talk to the lactation specialist and go from there.

Whisper · Oct 1st, 2008, 14:03 PM

It sounds like she is doing perfectly well to me (but i am by no means an expert).

I have been reading about foremilk and hindmilk and we actually only produce 1 type of milk but the foremilk has less fatty deposits in it, as the baby feeds the fatty deposits in the breast get stirred up and go into the milk.....creating the hindmilk. So when the baby feeds frequently (cluster feeding in the evenings usually) they are getting more and more hindmilk (heavier milk takes longer to digest so they can sleep for longer) as the fatty deposits have less time to settle.....Does that make sense?

Anyhow my point is, if she is feeding every 2hours still during the day she would be getting enough of those fatty deposits (hindmilk).
And like Samantha said if she is thriving and you are happy with her then don't worry too much, i mean you spend 24/7 with her if something wasn't right you would be the first person to notice!

Margerle · Oct 1st, 2008, 14:50 PM

Some babies are not growing juggernauts!

Some babies grow very slowly. If she's following a pattern of growth albeit slow, I wouldn't worry. Eat well, take your multivitamins, make sure she's well hydrated (lots of wet nappies), her nails are growing, etc.

You're doing well hon!

Read the following:
http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/bf/scales.asp

Look at the BABY NOT THE SCALE!

mBLACK · Oct 1st, 2008, 15:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by claire1983

maybe try taking multi vitamins made for feeding mums but I cant believe they have told you that - your baby has put on weight and feeds well, I dont see how giving a bottle will help - it will just make breastfeeding more difficult.

I had to formula feed when I was in the hospital - apparently there's more calories or something?
I'm sorry you feel this way, I know how it feels & it's awful. But maybe you should just feed her some formula until she starts gaining weight more rapidly and pumping while doing so, then try breastfeeding again?

mBLACK · Oct 1st, 2008, 15:07 PM

Then again my baby wasn't gaining weight at all.. so maybe you should just concentrate on feeding her when she's hungry & making sure she's alert, etc. If she is you shouldn't be concerned about her weight.

Margerle · Oct 1st, 2008, 15:09 PM

Breast milk and formula have the same calories at 20 calories an ounce.

One has to get or make special formula to get 22 or 24 calorie milk.

Oct 1st, 2008, 10:29 AM	#1
Carolyn Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Derbyshire, UK Posts: 887	upset,hurt and confused -updated on p1 for the last time! my baby was 7lbs 11ozs 8 weeks ago at birth. today she is 8lbs 4 1/2 ozs. she is breastfed, aparently she is not putting on enough weight. hv and dr said give one formua feed a day. i'm upset that my boobs apparently aren't giving her the good start she should have. i'm hurt that they would suggest bottles when they are supposed to be promoting breastfeeding. it goes against what they led me to believe was 'right'. confused. i have low iron count/am anaemic, is this the reason? she's grown in length and her head has grown. any advice please? well, she was weighed yesterday and had put on 11 and a half ounces! so that's great! didn't go to my hv, just went to a drop in centre and the hv there was GREAT. she immediately said that my low iron AND 'bad birth experience' wee cotriuting factors to bubs not fattening up. i am over the moon. the domperidone worked? or maybe my better 'mood' amd iron? the hv said hopefully she'll have made at least half a pound next week. if not..formula...arghhhh(that was the only downside) have we BOTH turned a corner this ast week? fingers crossed. 22nd oct well had her weighed yesterday and she made another half a pound! yipee. she had had 4 formula 'top ups' not replacement feeds. oh really liked feeding her and it gave the grandparents chance to take her out for longer than an hour! she looks like she's bloody thriving now! so thanks for all your help on this matter, it has been useful and has contributed to baby abigail piling on the pounds and ounces!

Status: Offline

Oct 1st, 2008, 13:19 PM	#2
Whisper Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: West Sussex Posts: 3,047	Not really sure what to suggest hun. I think you are doing a great job b/fing she must be getting goodness from you, besides b/f babies don't follow the chart for weight gain that formula babies do. The only thing i could think of is perhaps she isn't getting quite enough hindmilk? How long do you feed her for on each breast? If you are unsure if she has reached the hindmilk you could express/squeeze a little milk out to see where she is at and if you don't think she is there then pop her back on? don't feel upset maybe speak to a lactation consultant they should be able (i would have thought) to advise on the anemia and if it affects the breast milk... xx

Status: Offline

Oct 1st, 2008, 13:45 PM	#3
Carolyn Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Derbyshire, UK Posts: 887	thanks whisper i've phoned the breast feeding advisor in the area, she's going to get back to me she feeds for twenty minutes quality sucking every two hours in day, every 4-6 hours in night. mostly she works on one breast at a time. could i have too much of the fore milk? is that poss...

Status: Offline

Oct 1st, 2008, 13:50 PM	#4
claire1983 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 130	maybe try taking multi vitamins made for feeding mums but I cant believe they have told you that - your baby has put on weight and feeds well, I dont see how giving a bottle will help - it will just make breastfeeding more difficult.

Status: Offline

Oct 1st, 2008, 13:53 PM	#5
Samantha675 Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 8,123	If she is thriving, then I would not worry so much. Many times they use charts for formula fed babies, and breast babies gain differently. Talk to the lactation specialist and go from there.

Status: Offline

Oct 1st, 2008, 14:03 PM	#6
Whisper Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: West Sussex Posts: 3,047	It sounds like she is doing perfectly well to me (but i am by no means an expert). I have been reading about foremilk and hindmilk and we actually only produce 1 type of milk but the foremilk has less fatty deposits in it, as the baby feeds the fatty deposits in the breast get stirred up and go into the milk.....creating the hindmilk. So when the baby feeds frequently (cluster feeding in the evenings usually) they are getting more and more hindmilk (heavier milk takes longer to digest so they can sleep for longer) as the fatty deposits have less time to settle.....Does that make sense? Anyhow my point is, if she is feeding every 2hours still during the day she would be getting enough of those fatty deposits (hindmilk). And like Samantha said if she is thriving and you are happy with her then don't worry too much, i mean you spend 24/7 with her if something wasn't right you would be the first person to notice!

Status: Offline

Oct 1st, 2008, 14:50 PM	#7
Margerle Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: US Posts: 2,698	Some babies are not growing juggernauts! Some babies grow very slowly. If she's following a pattern of growth albeit slow, I wouldn't worry. Eat well, take your multivitamins, make sure she's well hydrated (lots of wet nappies), her nails are growing, etc. You're doing well hon! Read the following: http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/bf/scales.asp Look at the BABY NOT THE SCALE!

Status: Offline

Oct 1st, 2008, 15:07 PM	#9
mBLACK Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Manitoba Posts: 2,350	Then again my baby wasn't gaining weight at all.. so maybe you should just concentrate on feeding her when she's hungry & making sure she's alert, etc. If she is you shouldn't be concerned about her weight.

Status: Offline

Oct 1st, 2008, 15:09 PM	#10
Margerle Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: US Posts: 2,698	Breast milk and formula have the same calories at 20 calories an ounce. One has to get or make special formula to get 22 or 24 calorie milk.

Status: Offline

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upset,hurt and confused -*updated on p1 for the last time!*

upset,hurt and confused -updated on p1 for the last time!