it is really common and normal for babies to swap percentiles after the birth. In utero a baby's weight reflects the mothers nutrition and effectiveness of the placenta. After birth they move towards their genetic potential and are affected by factors in the environment (ie their diet etc) The fact that he has dropped compared to his original percentile doesn't mean he is *underweight* (anymore than if he increased his weight in comparison to that original percentile would mean he was *overweight*) In the first 3 mnths it would be normal for babies to put on 150 g per week, and then over 3 mnths you would expect weight gains in the order of 70-100g per week.
Often family history can give you a really good starting point. Are their people in either side of your families who have intolerances or allergies? Eczema? Asthma? Coeliacs? Are you and your partner big people/small/average?
Yes I'm coeliac and his dad is lactose intolerant, there are also family members on my side with lactose intolerance. I also get eczema but that is from dry skin. We are both fairly small builds. I'm waiting on the result of his buccal swab to see if he carries the genetic mutation for coeliac disease. I'm on the GF diet so he should be right even if he carries that mutation.
Over the last couple of days DS has drank between 650-680mls a day. This doesn't include the 60mls I put in his rice/veggie mix - I'm not sure if I'm supposed to count that towards his milk consumption. I've gone back to offering the bottle every 3-4 hours to try and help keep up his volumes so this works out to be about 7 a day.
You count the amount of milk in his food in his total milk intake - that's fine, milk is milk. 7 per day is great, I think you are doing the right thing. He needs milk at this age. He sounds like he is *your child*. Has your paed dietician given you information for introducing solids with a family history of coeliacs? Have you had a look on the ABA website at Joy Anderson's fabulous paper on lactose intolerance? (go to the "breastfeeding information tab at the top of the home page - the artical is under "speical situations"
Thanks again Barb. I'm relieved to know that the milk in his food counts towards the total volume. I've had a look at the ABA website at the article on lactose intolerance which was an interesting read. The paed dietician has been giving advice on introducing gluten. We are doing that close to 6 months using weet bix and whilst I am still BM feeding. She has asked me to do it a tad prior to 6 months because I'm EE and she wants to get it in whilst I"m definitely still BM feeding. Coeliac disease is one of her speciality areas.
Hi, Are you planning to stop expressing for her? If you are OK to keep going I would, especially in your case. EE can be tough going, but it makes such a positive and valuable contribution to your little one's health - in babies like this it is hugely important. She is right - it's vital that solids be introduced while a mother is still breastfeeding, but I am wondering if she is assuming you will stop or if that came from you?
Barb - the 6 month thing came from me as I told the dietician that I was setting myself small goals for EE, but as 6 months is approaching I think I can go for a bit longer.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks