Addison is 6weeks old and LESS than her birth weight..

[mumofmany]

Addison was born 4.5kg and discharge weight was 4.1kg. That is all ok as 10% loss is cool.

I had her weighed at my GP at her 7day check and she was 4.2kg. He wasn't overly impressed that she wasn't b ack up to birth weight, but i have a really good relationship with my GP and I let him know if she was unsettled, I'd comp feed to out some more beef on her.

She's BF and feeds ok. Not a fantastic feeder, but is giving me wet nappys, has time asleep and awake. She pulls on and off all the time, often has hiccups and is a real fidget bum. She isn't grizzly, but had her days of course. She sleeps for 3-4hrs at a time, but none of my kids have slept thru.. my 4yo still gets up.

I fed her last night off both sides, then gave her a comp feed and she scoffed 70ml.

I want to stay on the boob.. not sure if i'm looking for advice.. words of encouragement.. or just to vent that lil bugger should be fatter!!!

thanks for listening..

[Oorki Galoorki]

how much less is she then her birth weight?
i would recomend waking her so she is feeding 2/3 hourly rather then 4 hourly. that will increase her intake of the good stuff..
try that for a week then weigh her again..

[alioops]

How many wet nappies is she giving you hun? It might be worth looking into ways to increase your supply. Try expressing after each feed and ask you GP about Motillium which increases prolactin levels. You could also try fenugreek and Aktivite.

My DD was below BW at 5 weeks, but she also wasn't weeing or pooing. She was admitted to hospital for Faliure to Thrive, so do investigate and if she does need to go to hospital at all to stack on some weight, don't hesitate to contact me

[Kailani]

Hmm I don't have any advice as I'm new to this mummy thing, but just wanted to say that if she's feeding well and having lots of wet nappies, there's not a lot more you can do is there?? Does your doctor know about her current weight? What does he/she recommend? If not, maybe ask them... all the best anyway, hope she beefs up for you soon. I'd love to share some of DS's weight gain with her - I've been told he's gaining too much (almost 100g a day recently!)

[MantaRay]

Hun, it sounds like you are doing all the right things. However by 6 weeks she really should be above her birthweight. It doesn't mean that you need to stop bfing, but you do need to get that weight up. That meets the criteria for Failure to Thrive. How much below her birth weight is she now?

Sorry for all the questions, but how many feeds does she have in 24 hours? How many wet and dirty nappies in 24 hours? If she is sleeping for 3 -4 hours at a time all day, she probably needs to feed more often. Some babies can be very sleepy, and then because they don't feed often enough they don't have the energy to feed, and it all goes downhill.

I would suggest waking her to fit more feeds in, and try to get at least 8 feeds in 24 hours, at this stage more would be good. Once she gets some milk, she should start getting hungry and feeding better (and possibly sleeping less, sorry about that!). It might also be an idea to see your GP again, or an MCHN, preferably a bfing friendly one also.

GL hun.

[mumofmany]

She only poos 1 time a week and that isn't a huge one either. I gave her some brown sugar in water on thurs as she was really windy and wincing in pain alot. It moved her and she cleared her bowels that night. But that's all she does.. once a week.

Wet nappies.. they aren't flooding ones like my other babies has given.. but I'd only change maybe 5-6 a day.. if that..

feeds.. hmmm.. maybe 6-7 feeds a day.. but they aren't huge ones. USually only 1 big one. She comes off about 20 times during the feed. So I know she's only getting the skim milk, not much of the full cream (hehehe.. what i call fore and hind milk).

Her weight yesterday was only 4.4, so since discharge, only put on 300g. And since 7days, put on only 200g.

My GP has asked me to comp feed her once a day and see how that goes for 5 days and asked me to come back.

I just thought of something.. this is the 4th bub and I have BF number 1, 3 and 4. But didn't on 3.. lots of attachement issues.. bleeding nipples.. tongure tied baby.. agrh.. anyway.. The biggest thing I think I've changed in MY diet this time compared to last time is caffine intake. As I'm so tired.. caffine is my friend. I'm not have huge amounts.. about 4 coffee's a day. but I normally only have 2. Would this be affecting my milk supply???

[MantaRay]

I don't think your diet is a problem - in fact your supply is probably fine. It sounds more like your DD is too tired to feed, which does sometimes happen. At this age, she really should be having mulitple poos a day still, and at least 5 heavily wet disposables. So I would say she needs more milk. Formula top ups might be necessary in the short term - are you doing this now? The key though is to get the number of bfs a day up. As I said, 8 a day is usually the minimum at that age, but given the weight issue you would probably be better off with at least 10. I know it's very hard to wake a sleeping baby, especially with other children, but I don't think you have a choice at this stage. Once she starts drinking better, she should get less sleepy and continue to feed better. How does that sound?

[Janie]

I'm hoping Barb will pop in here, she will be able to give you some excellent suggestions, as she did for me when I was in a very similar boat to you!

I wouldn't be so concerned with whether they're 'good' feeds (although they need to be a reasonable length of time), rather, getting plenty of feeds into her. I would try to add another 2 feeds in, so she's having 8-9 in 24 hours. I think you'll find that will make the biggest difference. I agree that she needs to be comp fed for now to help get her weight up. All of this is best done under guidance, I would strongly recommend finding a good LC and getting them to help you through this. Unfortunately it's not as simple as it sounds, and you will need good support and advice. Definitely doable though! Once you start seeing at least one poo a day you can celebrate LOL.

Motilium might be something to think about if the extra feeds don't help. But I would be immediately giving her some extra feeds, and seeing how you go with that. I would suspect that within only a few days you will notice a difference in your baby.

[Trillian]

I remember something my Mum said once about when she was weaning she would drink extra coffee to 'dry her up', I assume because of the diurectic properties of caffeine, but I don't know if that's just an old wives tale or if there is some truth in it - I'm googling it ATM but not finding it much help.

BINGO! There is some truth in it afterall...

Caffeine
Some breastfeeding mothers report that their baby is unsettled, irritable, or even constipated if they drink large volumes of coffee, strong tea, or cola. However, there appears to be individual variation in how much caffeine is found in breast milk after having a high caffeine drink.

Poor milk supply may sometimes be related to caffeine intake. Caffeine can also affect the nutrient make up of breast milk. The iron levels in the breast milk of a woman who drinks more than three cups of coffee a day during pregnancy and the early phases of breastfeeding, are one-third less than that of a mother who does not drink coffee.

It is advised that during breastfeeding, caffeine consumption should be limited to 2 to 4 cups of coffee, tea or cola per day.

Note: It has been found that cigarette smoking compounds the effects of caffeine in breastfed babies.

For more information about the caffeine content in food and drink:

• Food Standards Australia New Zealand: Caffeine

• Australian Breastfeeding Association - Breastfeeding and the use of recreational drugs - alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and marijuana

Bare in mind that even though you are only having 4 cups a day, it will be metaboloised differently in every person, so what may not be a high level to one person, will really affect another, so maybe if you try to cut down on the coffee to maybe a decaf and try using a probiotic to keep your energy levels up it might make a difference.

[Pandora]

She only poos 1 time a week and that isn't a huge one either. [/quote]
that can be normal is shes not haveing formula

Wet nappies.. they aren't flooding ones like my other babies has given.. but I'd only change maybe 5-6 a day

if they are sposies thats great, DS rarley had more than 5

6-7 feeds a day.. but they aren't huge ones. USually only 1 big one. She comes off about 20 times during the feed. So I know she's only getting the skim milk, not much of the full cream (hehehe.. what i call fore and hind milk).

How do you know they arent big feeds, are you just going on time alone? Some bubs can drain the breast in 3-5 minutes when they want to.

How is your baby sleeping? Is she settled and sleeping between feeds?

On the caffeine, Im not sure but it is a diuretic, and water is good for milk supply, so if the caffeine is enough to be flushing most of your other fluid intake out, then maybe? Barb or a LC or b/f counsellor might know.

[MantaRay]

RayRay, babies at 6 weeks of age or less should be pooing at least twice a day. Fewer poos than that at 6 weeks or under is a sign that they are not getting enough - especially when the baby isn't back at the birth weight yet.

[mumofmany]

U guys are great.. thank you!!

Addison was jaudice and we had to be admitted for 2 days when she was 7-8 days old. She is generally a really sleepy baby. BUt i put that down to the jaudice at the start. She really is only awake for an hour solid once a day and has awake period of 30min then a sleep for about the same... if that makes sense.

i was going to just comp feed her once b4 bedtime.. but.. maybe I should do it 3 times a day and try get in 6 BF also? What do u think?

I'll cut back my caffine drinks to 2 a day as well. I'm really low on iron anyway, so the caffine isn't helping me there.. and i know that.

I'm just really tired.. having 3 under 5 and all of them still get up. Most nights I'm up 6-7 times in an 8 hr period.. so not getting much solid sleep. My DH isn't home with me during the week, so I don't get a choice... i have to get up to them. Plus I'm returning to work next week.. only 3 days a week.. but.. still doing that..

i always thought to myself.. that a bub that is BF could never fail to thrive. i used to think mums who took bub off the boob due to lack of weight gain gave up to easily.. but.. it seems that even though i'm doing what i can, and have BF 2 other kids, that maybe addison might need to be on formula??

[alioops]

Hun I would be more inclined to go on an iron supplement (like spatone) for tiredness than to increase caffine intake. Milk and caffine also reduce your ability to absorb iron so they are not the best choices when you are tired.

It is not easy but you will get there hun.

[Pandora]

well milo didnt, and he was putting on 200g a week? not sure then now im confused

[mumofmany]

Addison is a really cuddly babe too.. The most she's slept when not in my hug-a-bub is about 4hrs. Other than that, she doesn't settle for long periods. Though last night when she had a comp feed at 10pm after having a BF she slept for 6 hrs.

As for thinking she's not getting a good feed.. she only feeds for maybe 5-10mins, but comes off about 20 times during that.. and.. **** farts around when re-attaching.. if that makes sense?

I get the lovely let down sensation at feed times, as well as at least 5 times during the day when i leak. WHen I have a shower, I can hand express a fair bit too..

I've got my SIL electric breast pump.. maybe I should start to pump and see how much I can drain in 5 mins or so? hmmm..

sorry i'm rambling.. and if i've repeated myself.. sorry.. i'm up and down to the housework and kids atm.

[Trillian]

It's really hard when you have a DH that works away from home Another thing is to make sure you eat as well as you can - try to limit highly processed foods and make sure you get your 2 and 5 of fruit and vege each day. I know how hard it can be to cook when your DH isn't home and you have 4 little ones, so make the most of him being home on weekends and cook up a heap of meals to freeze for you and the kids to have during the week and maybe invest in a slow cooker - one of the best things ever invented for time-starved tired mums, so come meal time all you have to do is either reheat a frozen meal or just serve a slow cooked meal. It makes a huge difference to how you feel at the end of the day if you don't have to cook each night.

Even just cutting up and preparing snacks for the older ones early in the day can really help too - especially if you're really putting the effort into BF - that way they can help themselves to snacks while you BF bub.

[mumofmany]

thanks tillian

i'm pretty nifty with the cooking, and have a good stock pile of frozen pre-made meals most of the time.. tho i admit, i tend to snack on the wrong snacks.. i should eat more fruit. .
agrh..

i make sure my kids eat all the correct RDI's each day... plus that is my job too.. i'm a cook for a centre, so i have to make shre everyone else kids get their RDI's!

but i agree.. i need limit the processed snacks and will made a HUGE effort to do so..

I'm jumping up now to grab an apple.. i'm really hungry as i type!

[Visitor8]

sounds like your on the right track.
I would try taking some fenugreek. It works wonders. You get it in capsule form at the health food shop, take 3 tablets 3 times a day for a week, it will up your supply.
I would express. Remember though that pumps don't work like a baby. I have a medella twin pump and when I started pumping OMG I was lucky to get 25mls but I know there was much more than that.
Also drink lots of water. 3ltrs a day if you can
Sup feed her once a day and see how she goes.
You don't have to give up BF, maybe just comp for a while until your supply is better and she is gaining weight.
BF babies should be pooping at least 2 times a day at that age, Ash was almost every nappy change! Aim for the poop!
I know what it's like to have 3 under 5. I had 3, 4 and a baby and it was tough. Try and sleep if you can during the day. Sometimes a movie in bed with mummy while you have a little nap can make all the difference.

Good luck hun.