Babies Born October 1st-15th 2008 #6

[Moi]

Re : weight - I'm with you on this one - 100 gms in a month is not much, and considering she is not a big chucker (I dont recall anyway???) and fully b/f - i dont think there is necessarily something wrong, but worth checking it out. She sounds like she will be like my Giselle, good size at birth, but little and dainty now - she is nearly 4 and 13.5kg - which Riley was at 1

No she doesn't chuck much. Fully b/f. I just don't know why she's not gaining much weight. I feel like I should rule out medical reasons. I also posted on here in the breastfeeding support section so I'll see if someone has some good advice. So far everyone I've talked to though has given me different advice.

[SamiH]

Tanya - like any "advice" - even mine - take what you can from it and if some part works for you that is great. Let us know how you go though - would be interested to see what the GP says and because she is growing so beautifully with being happy and milestones etc as the MCHN thought - just going to be Maya!

Have you given thought to what you would do/say if the GP just says, introduce formula for the fat - start solids asap?

[Moi]

Have you given thought to what you would do/say if the GP just says, introduce formula for the fat - start solids asap?

Actually my MCHN wants me to start solids now. But I can't see that helping her weight gain. I'm now trying to feed her some extra EBM I have in the freezer but she normally doesn't take it. Though tonight she finished with the bbs and then took 40 mls of EBM from DH. Then we did offer her formula out of interest (we have those made up packs JIC) and she drank about 40 mls of that! So I wonder if my supply is just very very low now after a long time of fussy feeding. Anyway, it makes me even more confused as to what to do. I'm going to try and do a dream feed tonight (well she'll wake fully so it's not really a dream feed) to try and get some extra calories into her. I might offer some formula then too. I know starting formula though is a path to possibly ending b/f cos of interference with flow. But if I don't have the flow and she's not trying to increase it what can I do?!

[SamiH]

Glad you have thought about it though - then you wont feel surprised. Zander's weight gain has been fine - but I am highly doubtful he would take 150mls per feed from me - but of course hard to tell, he just doesnt seem to be at the breast long enough etc. I am trying not to think of that cos if i start to think about "mls" I will get obsessed etc lol.

What about the ABA?? You can chat to a someone for free if you are not a member and get some advice re the top-ups. At 4/5 months our supply usually adjusts again so the content of the milk changes to suit bubs.

No wonder we start to notice lines on our face and the odd grey hair after we have kids!

[SunnyRain]

Tanya: See what the doctor says first and consider solids because some babies are just fussy and introducing solids at this age is fine and dandy. Jude gobbles down his rice cereal in the morning.

You should know that the choice to start with formula is a difficult and painful choice that will keep you second guessing yourself for a long time. However, you will be able to continue breastfeeding for a couple more months with formula supplemented, so it won't be an instant end to breastfeeding (this is, of course, based on my experience).

Jude is now fully formula fed, but he is always content and happy after his feeds now (he never used to be when I BF him) and I've finally accepted the situation after months and months of guilt and frustration and an inability to completely let go, despite how stressful and soul-destroying breast feeding became for me.

But breastfed babies do dramatically decrease their weight gain from 4 months on, so there's a good chance you have nothing to worry about. The growth charts are based on formula fed babies, so ignore them if you're breastfeeding and listen to the professionals.

[Moi]

kuraiza - I'm not against giving solids at this age. I just don't think she'd be interested in solids yet. But then maybe she'd surprise me. The other thing is that breast milk has a much higher fat content than solid food so if I want her to gain more weight getting her to have more breast milk is the answer.

Sami - I rang the ABA yesterday and they went through a check list of what signs to look for and she is healthy by their list. But I really feel like something is wrong. Why would she drink EBM and formula after a b/f if she was satisfied? I'm just so scared that it means she's not been getting enough. I might ring again today and ask about the top ups and see what they say about that.

[[M]umma[M]ia]

took more pics of Mia today https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...0&ppuser=13682

[amy_o]

I don't know if I can make it through today!! Bethany has been screaming since...wait for it 8am it is now 11am our time. She is quiet for now in her cot but I am not holding out a whole lot of hope. I think her teeth are bothering her and she is still feeling yuk. I feel like I have been hit with a truck train and bus. I think the term is carers fatigue I also have the cold that I was warned about. The docs at the hospital said that it was more than likely we would get RSV too but it would just show up as a congested cold. Yup my sinuses are killing me. I have always had sinus problems, had 2 lots of surgery on em they are that bad and when I get colds like this they get pretty painful. So I am stressed and miserable and well miserable. Didn't mean to start everyones day on a downer. I think I will go and have a lie down while there is silence in the house....who knows how long it will last. *sigh* surely it wasn't mean to be this hard, I know it isnt meant to be all easy but this is just sooo tough.

[SamiH]

Tanya - I just watched the footage on FB re Maya rolling - I made a comment - girl, I reckon she will be an early crawler - for what it's worth She looks gorgeously happy and bright and very mobile - maybe she just likes experimenting with the bottle after boob cos 1) she doesnt have to work it to get a let down 2) something different and new at this age they will be interested in exploring. So if she doesnt have the bottle every day - might be the WOW factor - cos 40mls in bottle is about what they could drink - what kind of teat do you have on your bottles - medium or superslow etc??

Hollye - Mia is looking lovely - what a head of hair!! Zander's head now has fuzz all over it, but hard to see cos I have another blondie on my hands!

amy - just hugs for you, easy for me to say "hope it gets better" - I do empathise how hard it is to get through those days when you look forward to the sun setting and the day is over

kuraiza - its nice to see the little ones enjoying their food isn't it! I have tried Zander 4 times - and not interested at all - then last night tried him when kids were sitting at table for dinner (I tried day time to avoid any potential upset tummy) - he probably ate two teaspoons - and two on his bib - so will try that time of day from now on - thoguht he might be too tired etc ...oh well

Georgi - thinking of you, how is the back and where are you hmmmm??!!! You've been on FB so I think you are ok

[1MOREPLZ]

5 months old today!!!!
we just had piccies taken..want to buy them all!!!

[SunnyRain]

I took a sleeping pill last night and I slept through for the first time, yay I'm growing up! No I won't be doing drugs every night, but I was exhausted after yet another night of not being able to get back to sleep after the 2am feed. My husband took care of Jude and I took the 6am shift.

I realised that I haven't slept for about 8 months because my entire third trimester I had pelvic displacement and couldn't sleep through the pain, so I might well be the single most tired person on the planet (that's what it feels like).

Amy: Don't really know what to say ... Can you leave Bethany with anyone and go out and sit in a cafe and drink chai tea really really slowly for a few hours while you watch Hamish the Cyclone blowing over the sea?

Sami: I was a bit surprised how well Jude took to food because I wasn't sure if he was showing interest or not, but he eats perfectly ... nothing gets spat back out and now he reaches out for everything I'm eating. He even drinks water from a glass (he refuses to drink water from a bottle for some reason). Cute kid that boy of mine.