So sad and upset beyond words

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.....


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DS1- 2.8kgs 37+4 weeks
DD - 2.9kgs 38+2 weeks
DS2 - 2.7kgs 33+3 weeks
Baby 4 - due sep 14.

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:

Born: 7ld 5oz
4 mths: 13lbs 12oz
8 mths: 17lbs 9oz*
12 mths: 19lbs 13 oz*

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.....

:hug: 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.

How you feed your baby is none of the family's business. Tell them to butt out. You're doing a great job. Xo

Liebling: mass at 6.5 months: 7.52kg. Mass at 7 months: 7.62kg. Mass about 3 weeks later, just under 8 months: 7.42kg.

Your child is gaining mass. That's fantastic. My child managed to lose about a month's worth of mass in under 3 weeks. And I was not told to stop BFing, nor was I told to BF more. Just add a few more fats and carbs to Lieby's diet.

Looking at the baby book, I do have it noted when he didn't gain mass when younger that I fed him and bam, increase. Looking at his current mass and the charts, he is at the bottom. Oh well, someone has to be. Might start getting some empty calories in the house though...

Don't do it. My daughter was on formula due to failed BF and she didn't put on any more weight than she was when BF. So sorry your family are making you so stressed :( I know it makes it really hard.

Formula is not the be all and end all of a soloution to no weight gain, perhaps your daughter is just slight? I told our Dr's to button it when they commendted about my DD, as my husband is 6foot something and thin and she was to me just following in her daddys footsteps.

If she is gaining, thats all she needs to do, dosent matter if its .5 of a kg or 5kg, all the charts they use are still from teh 60-70s are are of exclusivley formula fed babies. I wouldnt sweat it if she is otherwise HAH.

Take care x

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.

:hugs/

Oh hun, what a stressful situation :hug: 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?

If she's been always on the 30% centile, then that's a good thing. It's when they drop many centiles that it is a worry.
Maybe she's just a petite little thing. It takes heavy and light babies to make an average (50th centile). From memory (and stalking your lovely wedding photos) you aren't a heavy person and neither is your DH.

Hi,

If she makes an appearance anywhere on the charts - that's a good thing. The growth charts are charts of normal baby weights. So if she is on the charts she is normal. There is no reason at all why she should stop breastfeeding. at this age, substantial solids are the key to sustaining growth - not formula. Tell me, what is she eating? At this age she can have all family foods - is she eating some meat? 3 meals? Snacks? You are doing great, really!

Hang in there and keep BF'ing. If there is an allergy problem or some other intolerance the best food your little one can have on her side is breast milk.
I would think getting some checks done would be a good idea even if it's just for your peace of mind. Keep in mind people with gluten allergy (like my hubby) don't metabolise food properly and if they eat gluten it means they don't get nutrition properly from other foods they eat.
I have yet to brave feeding my little lad any gluten!
He was a tiny little bubba and I had pressure to stop BFing he's now a year old and still being BF'd.
Good luck to you and know you are doing everything you can.

Good point Kateo! Any history of coeliac disease or other allergies or intolerances in the famiy?

So we are running a blood panel tonight for celiacs, thyroid, and turners syndrome. Fingers crossed its none of them

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!

Keep us updated.

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

Have you tried adding butter and full cream milk to her foods you cook her? Also offer her scrambeled eggs for one meal with butter and milk. Give cheese as a snack inbetween meals. My DD has 3 meals and 1 snack a day most of the time.

Try offering her orange juice when she eats her meat and dont worry about your BM :)

I plan to do all of of those plus add the 2oz of formula. She needs everything right now. I have tried all of them. I have seen3 experienced LC's. Im not saying 2o of forula is the answer..im just saying that it should help a little bit along with more foods. If her weigh picks up next visit we will cut the formula out.

If you need to do it just do it. Don't beat yourself up. There is nothing wrong with your milk at all. I hope things get better soon xx

Hi,

As formula is just another food in your daughter's soiid diet - in addition to the breastmilk, consider giving it to her in a sippy cup or a straw cup. She'll probably love a "big girl" drink, and it won't interfere with her sucking time at the breast. Often when they get a little more to eat it stimulates their appetite and they realise they *were* hungry after all. Hang in there

UPDATE

She wont take the extra bottle at night. She is so full and she just plays with it. We see a dietician tomorrow morning (not by choice :( I cant even explain how stressed out I am. Everytime she nurse i keep imagining I have like low fat milk and that she is practically drinking water. I feel so negative towards my breastmilk :(((((((((((((((((

So she's getting plenty to eat - that's great!
It's so hard not to doubt ourselves sometimes :hug: Mrs, I promise you, your milk is perfect for her. It really is - no such thing as low-fat breastmilk.

I just wish everyone in my family would lay off of me. My mother is constantly telling me i have a poor diet and that my milk sucks.nNow with her blood tests coming back low protein Im starting to feel like she is right. I just want to nurse my baby and I feel like everyone is trying to tear us apart :(((

I wish they would, too, Mrs. :hug:
It may be that there's an issue with your daughter and you're investigating that with the help of doctors etc, so you're doing all the right things. Hang in there.

Your milk is just fine - there may be something that is making it harder for your daughter process food and milk to gain weight - but if that is the case then it will apply just as much to formula (which is essentially BM with some of the fancier bits taken out and some of the other bits replaced with the cow-version) as it does to BM and food.

sweet heart *hug*
dont beat your self up so much.
I had simmlar issues (On DJ's end and well now we know why)
but you are doing the best you can - i had family telling me "its ok to give up" i did everything within my reach to help him. some kids are just smaller. DJ - as part of his syndrome spends alot of time tenceing himself up (he has abbs i would KILL for)
like barb said - butter and oil in veggies! another thing we did was make muffins. - healthy ones (apple and oat, bran and rasberry) but the one i made had oil in it rather then butter and i'd replace the milk with cream - with his mash i'd load it up with cream and his veggies where often done in garlic butter.

if any one tells you she needs a bottle - tell them its another food and you are giving her as much food as you can before you start force feeding her
:hug: i hope the dietition can offer some help in upping her caloric intake.

I have SUCH great news!!!!! We went to the dietician this morning thinking her weight would be a disspointment and we would get screamed at BUT baby girl gained 6oz in 6 days!!!!!!! Its not my breastmilk!!!!!! We only gave her 2oz all week because she wouldnt take the bottle. What we DID change was the fact that we have been giving her more table food and adding olive oil to all her food!!! I was so happy I started crying in front of her and telling her I thought my breastmilk was water. She sat us down and explained that when we tried to wait to give her baby food until 6 months thats probabaly why her weight plummeted. She explained that though breastmilk is amazing some babies have high metabolisms (Violet) and need food earlier. Now that she has been eating 3 high calorie meals for 2 weeks e should see a huge change. We have another weight check in 2 weeks to make sure it stays the same. NO MORE formula!!!!! :))))))

That is such wonderful news. I'm so relieved and excited for you

Awesome to hear Hun!

That is wonderful news. And now you can tell all those who weren't supporting you where to stick it ;)

Fantastic!!!! Great to hear :)

Fantastic!
And yes, make sure you let your concerned family and friends know the good news!