Weight loss over first 72 to 96 hours for BF baby

[wysiwyg]

So I am quite happy with DS weight but hospital being a bit of a pain. DS born 16:00 on Sunday, weighing 4.36kg, he is feeding well at least every 3 hours and both sides, just colustrum my milk not in yet but nearly, plenty of meconium poos in first 24 hours + a few wees, a few wees next 24, and in last 24 (he is almost 72 hours old exactly) a couple of wees, some sign of urates and a big greeny brown non meconium poo. He was weighed yesterday at 48 hours and weighed 3.89kg so a loss of almost 11%, and again at about 64 hours was 3.83kg so almost 12%.

Now with DD who was 4.12kg at birth, at 72 hours had lost 11% also but by 96 was back to under 10%.

I was wondering if there are graphs showing loss over this period? I want to go home but hospital are quoting duty of care because lost over 10%. I am quite prepared to stand my ground because I will get more rest at home and milk should then arrive quicker (both birth emergency section) and I can't understand why staying here is beneficial if is just waiting game.

[*Beema*]

Big hugs hun in the exact words of my girls Paeds, they are just numbers, the 10% should not be a steadfast rule, as long as the baby looks good, the mum is happy, then they should be left, DD2 lost more than 10% and he wasn't concerned even though the midwives were and were threatening Formula, but I stood my ground and knew my Paed was there to back me if neeeded. DD2 was jaundiced as well, but we just monitored her visually and she improved so didn't intervene further.

Both of my girls were slow gainiers and sporadic at the start, up and down a lot, but given time they both got there

I would stand your ground if you feel comfotable in doing that and I think sometimes it is forgotten that you are both learning (again) and that 72 hours isn't that long to learn

Take care xxoo

[wysiwyg]

Thanks Beema, the midwives are all very supportive is those 'unseen powers that be' who have not even seen us apparently! There has been no talk of formula and to be honest would make me very angry if there was, is not going to put me off BF but for others could give a very negative start to their experience.

They suggest can go home on day three and I want to but surely this reduction in time spent only increases number of people to be affected by this '10 %' ruledz

[onthefly]

The best indicator at this stage is poo, so that transition from mec to regular poos is a very good sign that he's gettingh milk and that it is 'coming in'. you sound confident that things are going well and you will probably know best The only thing I would say if you have any concerns, add a feed or two. 8-12+ is normal at this stage.
Hope you're home soon

[*Beema*]

It sounds back to front to what we experienced, it was the MW's pushing F and not the Powers to be I am really gald they haven't been speakng about it, because for us they bought the Formula in to the room in a bottle mixed up and sat it ontop of her isolette talk about pressure!

The reduced time probably does increase the number of people affected, also weighing so frequently, and if your milk hasn't come in yet, it would also account for a larger loss, but I am sure that once your milk does come in the numbers will switch quickly, I think that there is so much pressure placed on Mum's that isn't really necessary, as long as both Mother and Baby and looking well, bub is attaching, feeding etc, then there shouldn't be the need for so much pressure about the seemingly magical 10%.

[wysiwyg]

Cheers MadB, I feel like I am force feeding the poor little guy a bit, not that he seems to mind, although he has hidden his head under the boob initially like he is saying 'not more boob yet please' but after a min he decides he could go some more after all. Just counted in their chart and has had 11 feeds in last 24.

Maybe this should be a vent thread, it just seems weird that in my ward have heard them being fine with other mums letting 2&3 day olds go six to seven hours with no bf feeds (but because of the scales they are making sure I am doing at least every three which have always been! Seems focus is all on wrong things to me.

[onthefly]

I think it's a bit counterproductive to weigh so often, yeah. It really sounds to me like things are fine.

[wysiwyg]

Ha after all the drama the paed came down said is he feeding well I said yes, Stirling promptly peed all over her while she did the check and we are going home! Agreed to at least 3 hourly feeds, which he demands anyway so all is fine - hurrah! He will be weighed by home visit midwife tomorrow and am sure that will show less than 10% or dead on 10%.

Thanks for all advice and reassurance.

[Trillian]

If he had done so many large mec poos, then logically you would point the finger at that being the cause of the weight loss. But then the powers that be don't seen to think logically do they? Personally, I would say he was fine - my 3rd bub was exactly his weight and she lost about the same amount of weight too - but again, she was doing massive big mec poos so no one was worried. By day 4 she started gaining 30gm a day so she was fine, just needed that extra day. What bothers me though is that we are told to give bubs 2 weeks to get back to birthweight and by doing what they are doing to you, it is putting an unrealistic target on both of you

[onthefly]

great to hear

[Jellyfish]

Same thing happened with my DD, lost 11% or something and I was wanting to go home but it was the midwives making me second guess myself and 'threatening' that I was endangering my daughter. Pead came down and said yep, sounds like it is all going fine and we left within an hour. Glad you get to head home, I agree it is a lot more relaxing and easier in your own environment

[*Beema*]

Ha after all the drama the paed came down said is he feeding well I said yes, Stirling promptly peed all over her while she did the check and we are going home! Agreed to at least 3 hourly feeds, which he demands anyway so all is fine - hurrah! He will be weighed by home visit midwife tomorrow and am sure that will show less than 10% or dead on 10%.

Thanks for all advice and reassurance.

Great news

[wysiwyg]

Home midwife visit today showed that DS has put back on the 60g lost between last weigh ins - so that is 60g gain in less than 24 hours, so they are coming back on Saturday to reweigh but had no concerns, and he demonstrated his wee and poo output for them very nicely :-) They said no more EBM top ups necessary which is cool because I had not been that diligently doing it because he was starting to bring milk back up because I believe was too full.

A drama of their creation over nothing really, why bring in the whole you can't go home thing when can be managed perfectly well at home anyway.

[onthefly]

Excellent.

[*Beema*]

Wonderful news, now sit back and enjoy