My 7 months old has been having horrible weight gain. She currently weighs 12.12 1/2 pounds. My Dr. doesnt think its my supply because of her wet diapers and poops. Plus she sleeps 8+ hours a night and they dont think she would sleep so much if my supply was so low. She also eats 3x a day of solids. Here is her past weight gain.
4 months -12 lbs
5 Months - 12.9 lbs
6 Months - 12.12 lbs
7Months - 12. 12 1/2 lbs
Her height is fine. always in the 30% percentile
My family is anti-breastfeeding. So Ive received multiple phone calls about how I should just TRY and give her formula to see if it helps. My Dr. has never suggested this so I dont know why I should? Plus I worry it will be the beginning of the end and ruin my supply. I feel like nobody besides the Dr.s are in my corner. I feel like ppl treat my breastmilk like its arsenic. Her milestones are being met and she is a happy baby, but its obvious something is wrong with her because her weight gain is non-exsistent.
So the Dr.s are now looking into running tests to discover if its something she was born with or hormonal issues or what-not.
My family and friends have been nasty suggesting that if I only give her formula first she wont have to go through those tests.
Am I crazy? I even called a LLLI and they ALSO dont think tis my milk. I just dont understand even if my milk supply DID suck how she could gain 1/2 an ounce from eating 3X a day on top of that.
It's not your milk. If she wasn't getting enough nutrition from milk her weight would have jumped up nice she started solids. Is she a very active baby? It could be that she has a fas metabolism and is using a lot of calories. Or it might just be th she is going to be a petite little lady. If her weight and height are on the same percentile that's good. My sister had a similar issue with her first baby, an he is a healthy 5 year old who is small, but energetic- nothing wrong with him.
If your doctor is thinking of doing tests great, if not maybe theres nothing wrong.....
Firstly ((hugs)) you sounds terribly stressed (from your family & friends) and let down by their lack of support. Given your Dr has no issues overall with you continuing bf & soilds I can't see what the issue is.
FWIW my DD was ff from 8 days old. These are her stats at similar ages:
Sorry, I don't have the stats between 4 & 8 mths but as you can see between 8 & 12 months her weight gain slowed significantly and she was introduced to solids at 6 mo and eating pretty much what we were eating by 12 mths (no allergies or intolerances).
My DD dropped into the bottom percentile due to her height. Born she was below avg at 49.5cms (avg. is 51 cms) and she is still petite today.She still only weighs about 16kgs and has since about 2 yo. She eats a varied diet and goes from eating vast amts to little at all - depending on her physical activity and development (growth etc...)
As I said above my DD was fed forumla and like your DD, met milestones had good wet nappies etc... All babies grown and develop differently and introducing forumla IMO will not improve your DD weight gain. I think this would be worse for you as you will be able to see how much she is (or isn't) drinking from the amt of mls. I know my DD never drank as much as what they said to on the tin and it stressed me out to no end.
Introducing formula may introduce a host of other issues - like intolerances/allergies and may have no affect on her weight gain, then you would have weaned her and be more upset. Stick with the bf, get the tests done and rule out anything else that may be going on. You might have to still do that if she goes on forumla anyway.....
What a worrying and upsetting time for you
You're doing a good job and I think you're right to hold this course.
Weight gains do typically plateau around this time and she's still growing well, which is good news.
If there is an underlying condition, however, then it's imperative that you discover what this is before introducing something else into her diet. It sounds like you're doing all the right things and taking medical advice. I'm sorry your family is not supportive of you. That must be very difficult.
My second daughter put on 100g between 3 and 6 months. Nothing wrong with her at all, it was just her changing from the fat bubba I grew (10 pound) to the body size she is supposed to have. When I look at the charts she was much bigger than the other two kids at the start, but by 6 months she was tracking along pretty similar to her siblings and continues to do so.
ETA, if people aren't being supportive of breastfeeding, just don't mention her weight gain.
Is she happy & healthy otherwise? From your initial post, it appears this is the case. If so, I would be inclined to throw away the scales. Don't mention feeding or weight gain to well-meaning relatives that are just missing the point. It's great that you are BF your DD. You know she is getting lots of nutrients and other benefits. Maybe like PP's have said, she will be a petite little lady.
I'm so sorry your family are making you feel like this. As others have said tell them to butt out. Changing to formula is NOT the right thing to do. I suspect if you did change some family members would just find something else to criticize.
If your daughter is active and healthy the weight may not be an issue at all. Get your doctor to investigate it if you are worried.
Oh hun, what a stressful situation You are doing a wonderful job standing strong while being attached by your family. I'm so glad you contacted LLL and that they were helpful! You're arming yourself with information - LLL, the Drs, good for you. Hang in there - it must be so tough without the support of your family but be confident that you are doing the best for your LO.
Sounds like the Drs have a plan for testing etc - do you know where that path is leading?
Progress on the tests is good. If it is coeliac, it isn't the end of the world - just a slight diet change. And picking it up now is better than in 10, 20 or more years!
So let me start by saying that I am VERY happy to say her tests came back all negative. What makes me ssad is that her normal blood panel showed her proteins WAY down. She just isnt getting enough food. So since I alreadt feed her 3X a day of fatty foods (avacados, meats, yogurts etc.) DH and I decided to supplement her at night. One bottle of formula mixed with breastmilk.
It honestly BREAKS my heart... ((((((
I have been trying to up my supply for 3 months now and this is the best I can do.
I feel like a failure in breastfeeding...like my milk sucks
I am glad to hear all her tests have come back negative - that is truly awesome and you have done a great job so far in bf and introducing solids.
I am not sure if food is the issue, why the introduction of a bottle of formula - why not up protein rich foods and continue bf? Is this is what was suggested you do? - I am just a little confused that is all, not having a go.
BTW - your milk doesn't suck, your supply is what your bub needs - again it is food that is the culprit or like Kateo suggested earlier - perhaps an allergy/intolerance is stopping protein from being abosorbed? Don't confuse fat rich foods with protein - they are two different things. Protein is usually found in meat, fish, some dairy....
Her wet diapers are starting to decrease she is in cloth diapers and gets about 4-5 wet diapers a day...and not soaked. I have been doing everything to up my supply and it wont budge. You name it Ive done it. Ive looked into donor milk for a nighttime bottle but until then my baby girl needs some supplementing. Believe me...Ive been researching since she was 4 months. Until todays test results I had hope that it wasnt my supply. Its only 2oz. If we dont notice a HUGE change than I plan to take her off of it. Im not taking any BM away just adding a little formula to help her weight gain.
Hi, At this age, milk or formula is only another food. To be honest, I would bulk up her food - put oil or butter in her vegies and give her 5 solid meals rather than 3. (Most of us eat 3 meals and a couple of snacks) She can drink water, too, with meals. I would consider seeing an experienced LC to really get to the bottom of it. Has she got eczema or asthma (bronchialitis?) Has anyone in the family? was she colicky as a baby?
To be honest it is likely to be because of your breastmilk that she is going so well. You are doing such a great job, please don't devalue yourself or your breastmilk
So sad and upset beyond words
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What a worrying and upsetting time for you
It sounds like you're doing all the right things and taking medical advice. I'm sorry your family is not supportive of you. That must be very difficult.
((((((
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