Anyone who can relate?

[*The_Mrs.*]

My daughter is breastfed still at 9 months...and I have FOUGHT for it. Her weight started out great. She was 7.8 at birth and for the first 3 months she stayed consistently in the 50th percentile. Then 4 months hit and things took a turn for the worst. Her weight became non exsistent and at one point she had only gained half an ounce in a month. They started making us up her solids and add olive oil to everything and it looked like it was helping. From 6-8 months she finally got up to 14.1lbs. She was consistently gaining weight but still in the 3rd percentile. We just went in for her 9 month appt and it happened again..she only weighs 14.5lbs. In a month she has only gained 4oz. Now it has gotten to the point that we know she is very healthy. She has had every posssible test done on her and have all came back negative. She is aboe her milestones so I know she is healthy. I guess if Im being honest with myself Im just feeling guilty because Im breastfeeding and I worry its me...but I know she is getting plenty of milk AND she eats 3 meals a day on top of her 7-8 nursing sessions. So I guess my question out there is..is it unheard of to just have a slow weight gain baby? Any other breastfeeding moms out there with teeny babies like mine?

[Barb Glare]

After all has been said and done, babies will be what they will be. You should be patting yourself on the back - and others should be patting you on the back for breastfeeding. You've provided her the best nutrition throughout it all. And in our western world where obesity is the major problem there is little evidence to say gaining small amounts of weight is any more problematic than gaining large amounts of weight. I'm thinking in all that they've checked out the possibility of coeliac?
for personal experience my son never gained more than 100g per week from birth. He has problems with allergies and asthma. He is 17years old now and perfect

[Artechim]

My girl is 13.5 months now and still hasn't doubled her birth weight. She was born 10pound, put on weight slowly, didn't put any on between 3 and 5 months and I guess slowly after that. She is fine, perfectly healthy. She is growing how her body wants to grow. I know she is getting fed enough.

Your daughter has had all the tests, she is healthy. From memory you are a small framed person. She probably is too. You don't grow rats from mice! If she is petite then she will be near the bottom of the charts.

It sounds like this issue stresses you out a lot, but try to relax about it If the tests haven't picked anything up and she is meeting all the milestones, then the chances are it is just her body type.

[Jellyfish]

I have a tiny DD1 who was breastfed till 3. She has never been big, was born at 6lb 9oz and gained slowly along the 5th percentile with a few points of no weight gain. There were times I considered it might be me but now that I've had DD2 I realise 100% that babies just are the way they are as my second was born a whole kilo heavier than DD1 and gained 500g in her first week (traveling along the 95th percentile so completely different)!!! I have the same body, same diet, same milk, both demand fed, fed to sleep etc etc. The only difference is them. Different builds, different metabolism. Now that I look back it seems more obvious as my DD1 fed frequently and didn't sleep through the night till 2yrs 9mo and I think she was just hungry because food goes through her so quick. DD2 spaced out feeds fairly early on and yet still gains steadily.

[HotI]

My DD was born a good weight, but was a slow grower and slowly moved down the percentiles on the charts. I think she started at 75th and went down to about 10th and then between there and 25th for weight. Like Jellyfish, my dd just has a fast metabolism and is going to be naturally slim.

it was such a relief when i finally understood it was just her though.

oops, kids calliing.

[*The_Mrs.*]

Thanks ladies..it really does stress me out. Everytime I leave the doctors I feel horrible about myself. Our ped makes us see the nutritionist every month and I feel like Im trying to prove myself to her so they believe my milk is okay. I really want to walk away from this with good feelings but I honestly dont think one person in my real life has ever said "Youve done a great job Jess"...and I guess it just makes me feel like everyone thinks Im a bad mom because her weight isnt good. <<sounds crazy right? haha

[Artechim]

I am sorry that the people around you aren't more supportive.

FWIW, I think you are doing a fine job, she is just a little dot of a girl and there is nothing wrong with that.

[blessedatlast]

I can relate to stressing about weight! Although my bub was prem and since being on full suck feeds has always struggled, it really knocked my confidence as a Mum. Especially when you get people saying that if he was FF he would gain quicker.. Sometimes I felt like I was being selfish to keep breast feeding him when if I'd just give him formula he'd be bigger. It was hard watching so many of the other prems we were in hospital with gain weight and become 'normal' size for their age, but I had to keep reminding myself, that these babies were FF.

We still struggle with weight gain, (well my son does, I don't ) but we have just been able to wean some tube feeds. I have been adding coconut oil to his dinner, cream to his breakfast and making sure he has high protein at least twice a day. It has definitely worked and over the last 2 weeks he has gained over 400gms.. He is still under the 3rd centile for his adjusted age though.. Anyway, maybe you can play with her solids a bit more?

You are doing a great job, she sounds happy and healthy.. Just a little pocket rocket

[*The_Mrs.*]

Thanks and you are doing a GREAT job with Jett

Yeah I think I feel the same way...like am I being selfish by still breastfeeding? there is SO much guilt in being a mommy. If its not one thing its another. I have fed her more high calorie foods lately but then I feel guilty because most breastfeeding moms say less solids are best. I cant win for losing. but what I do know is that we wont regret breastfeeding them..it will just be more of a struggle

[LuluHB]

My second girl was born slightly above the 50th percentile but by four months she was down below the 10th, then the 5th, then off the chart. She was breastfed until she was 4 months old and then on formula so I wouldn't for a second say her lack of weight gain is "breastfeeding's fault". Now at 4.5 yrs of age she weighs just on 13kgs. She's tiny and doesn't have an ounce of spare flesh on her bones. She is also active, intelligent and has always been so far in front of her milestones its just not funny. I have always found her lack of weight gain worrying, especially when she gets sick because she just doesn't have any to lose. From the age of about 20 months until just over 3 yrs she literally didn't gain any weight at all, despite getting significantly taller so while there was no change on the scales there was effectively a loss of weight.

My little miss sees a paed regularly and I've given up interrogating him about my concerns over her weight. He is always happy with her and says that she just is how she is.

FWIW, DD3 is following in both her sisters' footsteps. She was born a biggish girl - just under 4kgs - but is now steadily moving down the charts and is currently on the 20th percentile for weight.

[Ladylove]

TM My DD is not as small as your darling but she's currently at the 25th percentile for weight (75th for height!) and she has slipped from around the 50 mark which she was tracking from birth. It's genetic with me as my stats were almost identical at the same age points as a baby but I TOTALLY get this motherguilt thing. Also DD has very light, almost non existent hair so she even looks little/young for her age. People always express surprise at her age when I tell them. I am supported in my decision to breastfeed though. For what it's worth I think you are doing such a stellar job. And someone told me that if they actually are on the charts then that's good and your baby is healthy. She's just part of an exclusive group!

I do think this modern desire to fatten up babies says something about the culture we live in... Bigger is better etc. and then we have an issue with so-called obesity.