What do you think?

[lozie2]

Hi all

Cassie is almost 6 months, i am still wanting to breastfeed her, but i weighted her at home on our scaled yesterday, she has only put on 200grams in 1 month. i am feeding her solids although she is just spitting them back at me :(
i have been making my own food and she wont eat it so i have got some tin crap, i mean food, and mixed it with my home made food and she had a tiny bit before spitting it back at me.
Her day normally goes ...
7am bf
8am food
sleep
10am bf
11.30am sleep
1pm bf (sometimes has a longer sleep and will feed at 1.30-1.45)
2.15pm sleep
4pm bf
5.30pm bath
6 or 6.30pm bf
bed

We have just started at dream feed at 9 or 9.30pm or she doesn't sleep through and we are up at 5.45.

Do you think if i gave her one formula feed at 9 or 930pm she would put on more weight and still be happy to take the boob during the day?
I really want her to be putting weight on but i really want to bf. she is slipping on the charts and is now around the 10th%. she weighs 6.4kgs, i am getting her weighted at the health nurse next week. i just wanted to see you opinions 1st.

Any advice would be great!

Forgot to mention she is around 63cms long and is feeding on the breast for any where between 5 and 15 mins per side, if shes on for 5 mins i try to put her back on and she just bites!

[demeter]

Weight gain is only one aspect of a healthy baby. Some babies put on weight slower, it doesn't mean anything bad. As long as your bub has the following you need not worry:


6 to 8 pale, very wet cloth nappies in 24 hours/5 wet disposable nappies in 24 hours
Good skin tone (when you pinch his skin does it spring back into place?) and colour
A very young baby will usually poo daily, as weeks pass the frequency will decrease to once or twice a week. Poo should be soft and unformed.
Alert, reasonable content for parts of the day, waking for night feeds.

Feeding on demand will ensure a healthy baby who gets enough milk to grow strong. If you're worried she's not eating enough you could offer the breast more regularly.

I would strongly recommend against giving her any artificial supplements. She most likely doesn't need it and there are health risks of ABM feeding that need to be considered before introducing it to your baby's system...
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/milk/infant-formula.html
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/1999/07/19/formula/index.html
http://www.breastfeeding.org/bfacts/bottle.html
http://www.exacteditions.com/exact/browse/307/308/1267/3/22/0/

But if you want some reassurance from someone wiser I recommend calling the ABA helpline 1800 686 2 686. They won't tell you what to do, they'll listen to you and make suggestions that might be helpful to you in making your choice.

HTH :)

[Mrs Nietzsche]

THe growth charts are based on formula fed babies - breastfed babies have a different growth pattern. Basically because htey self-regulate, whereas formula fed babies are always given the same amount so they tend to have a more even rate of growth.

As PP said, if she has wet nappies and seems happy and so on then she doesn't need more.

It's really normal for weight gain to slow at that age.

Breastmilk has more calories in it than any other food so if you are worried just bf her more.

[EquineMum]

Going by your schedule, it looks like bubs is on 3 hourly feeds. I would be really keen to offer the breast more and back off on the solids, especially if she is spitting them back at you. Babies have an extrusion reflex that stops them from choking - it is a reflex action to automatically push food out of their mouths until they are actually ready to eat it. If she still has this reflex, then leave the solids for a bit longer and increase the BF's.

If she is having 6 or so decent wet nappies per day, has good skin tone, is alert and happy, then there really is no need for concern - especially if the only issue is that she's not 'conforming' to the growth charts, IMO.

Good luck!! :thumbsup:

[lozie2]

thanks for your replies, she is having 3-4 wet nappies. some times they are very strong smelling. and they are not full, we use cloth.

[demeter]

Hmm that sounds like bub is needing some more booba :) I agree with what EquineMum said about 3 hourly feeds and foods. I think at this point offering the breast more frequently will improve things. Good luck to you and the littlie :hugs:

[kuddles]

If it makes you feel any better my DS didn't gain any weight between 4 & 6 months. He still grew 2.5cm but now weight gain. The doctor said it was okay at this stage because they are starting to move more often and learning all about food.
Do you put EBM in her food? It might help her take to solids. Other wise have you been demand feeding or just feeding every 3 hours? Has she been moving more?

[lozie2]

kuddles- No i didnt think to put ebm in her food, wow i sound a little clueless now hey! i have been feeding her every 3 hours as she doest call out for food, she is a very placid happy to lay there kind of a baby, so i check her around the 2.5-3 hour mark after a feed if shes awake ill feed her if shes not i leave her sleep. she has been moving in 360's not really rolling lots, she prob rolls once a week. shes happy just to be on her tummy

demeter- Would you suggest feed, play then snack (one side) before bed, and do that all day? i dont really know where else i can fit feeds in while shes awake, and i have tried feed play feed sleep she just bites the 2nd side.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions.
Im a little worried what the health nurse will say, coz i really dont want to stop feeding i love it. Considering i didnt really want to feed her im shocked that we are still going and im enjoying it so much!

[demeter]

demeter- Would you suggest feed, play then snack (one side) before bed, and do that all day? i dont really know where else i can fit feeds in while shes awake, and i have tried feed play feed sleep she just bites the 2nd side.Hmm hard for me to answer since I've never done a routine and have followed DDs lead. A friend of mine who was having BF problems with her first adopted the moto "if she makes a peep, stick a boob in" for her second :laughing: she has found thats worked really well.

Honestly I would ring the free ABA helpline, they'll have helpful suggestions, better than mine.

As for your health nurse, remember that they don't always have the best breastfeeding info (mine was a shocker for recommending ABM for all kinds of things that it was actually better to breastfeed through :rolleyes:). If she makes suggestions you're not comfortable with you can thank her and say you'll consider it and then get a second opinion from a breastfeeding counsellor or lactation consultant (who do have the most up-to-date info).

Also, not realising what issues you were having I left off one dot point about ensuring bubs gets enough milk which is:


Very undemanding babies who have little active awake time should be woken for feeds (at least 3 hourly during the day and once during the night).

This may be relevant to you?

And as far as feeling clueless, I think that comes with the turf :) You're doing great, asking for info and help when needed and making choices after looking into your options. That takes guts. I remember really struggling to get my head around asking for help! Anyway, kudos to you and good luck! Let us know how you go chatting to the breastfeeding counsellors on the ABA helpline, yeah?

[kuddles]

kuddles- No i didnt think to put ebm in her food, wow i sound a little clueless now hey! i have been feeding her every 3 hours as she doest call out for food, she is a very placid happy to lay there kind of a baby, so i check her around the 2.5-3 hour mark after a feed if shes awake ill feed her if shes not i leave her sleep. she has been moving in 360's not really rolling lots, she prob rolls once a week. shes happy just to be on her tummy


Don't worry I had no idea what to do to start with. I have learnt so much from Bub Hub. You are definitely on the right track asking for ideas. I hope things get a bit less worrying for you.

[lozie2]

thanks girls i was told to offer the breast every hour or so during the day, she said it sounds like my supply might be dropping:(

[demeter]

Don't stress! You're on top of it! You've taken action before it became a problem so: nice work :thumbsup:

Every time your bub feeds your boobs know to make more milk, so more regular feeds will ensure you don't end up with supply issues (and did you know that during one feed baby will on average take 65% milk from the breast, so there's still 35% milk left and your breasts start making more milk before that feed is finished!). Your breasts have it under control :yes: