Baby Losing Weight

[skaul01]

I am 36 weeks pregnant with my fourth child. My first two DDs were no problem to BF - they ate well and gained weight with no issues. When my DS was born five years ago, he too took to the breast like a fish to water. I had plenty of milk; I could hear him swallowing; my breasts would be nice and soft after a feeding; he'd usually take both breasts at a feeding for at least 15 mins each; he ate almost once an hour - he was always fussing and acting like he was starving (so I fed him almost constantly); he had the appropriate number of wet diapers and stools each day; and I didn't have any nipple soreness, BUT with all these factors, he struggled to gain weight. He lost weight consistently in the beginning and even by 3-4 weeks, he was barely gaining. He started out a robust 8.5 lb baby and by his 3 week appointment, he was well below that. We were going to the dr for weigh-ins almost every other day, and all the pediatrician would say is 'hang in there'. I exclusively breastfed him until the day he was weaned, so there was no supplementation of any kind (although many times I thought there should've been).

After 8 weeks and he still wasn't gaining weight at the rate that was expected of a BF baby, the pediatrician said my son just wasn't thriving on my breast milk, so I should wean him and move to formula. The day I moved him to formula, he acted like a different child. He was happy, content, satisfied, slept well - for the first time in two months.

I wanted to BF my son long term, but his constant weight loss scared me to death. I am having a son in about a month, and I am determined to BF him long term, like I did my DDs, but I'm worried that the same thing will happen again. Any thoughts on why he wasn't gaining weight even though all the telltale signs showed that he was eating well and that I was producing plenty of milk?

Any insight is appreciated!

Stephanie

[Amy_G_]

It is so hard to second guess something that happened years ago.

first order of business is to find an IBCLC in your area. talk to her ahead of time of your previous issues. Plan to do EARLY intervention, weigh ins with her to see what is going on.

It sounds like a milk transfer issue if you think you had plenty of milk but baby wasn't gaining. Or you thought you had plenty of milk, but for some reason you did not. You'll, of course, be a bit uber cautious about this whole thing, but just be careful to not expect a problem, nor believe there is a problem before there is a problem.

I'd do a bit more on weight checks--if you weigh baby and then nurse baby and keep the diaper and everything the same--the difference in ounces is how much milk baby is taking in.
Poopy diapers are a better indicator of how much baby is taking in, cause it's so hard to tell a pee diaper with super absorbent diapers.

and let us know how it goes, we'll be here to worry with ya this time.