Sara isn't gaining...again

[singin_mama]

Last Monday I took Sara to her6 month check. She had only gained 3 ounces since 5 mos her weight on Monday being 12 lbs 6.2 oz.

Other than her weight she is fine. She is doing all the things she should. Her head growth is fine. Her height did drop a little on the curve, but not much.

This time the ped pushed formula and said to try and get her to eat some food. The ped also ordered some blood word and a UA. The blood work came back fine, still waiting to hear about the UA.

I am just baffled. She nurses fine. She has plenty of wet and poopy diapers. I was pumping for awhile after her 4 mo check to try and increase supply. I tried to get her to take what I pumped but she wouldn't. She absolutely refuses to eat food. She clamps her lips and turns her head away. I have managed to get a few bites down her but I had to hold her head and give her fish lips to get it in.

I have tried using the lactation aid. I tried for 15 minutes one time and 20 minutes another to get her to latch on with it and she would not. As soon as I took it away she latched fine and nursed. It's like she KNOWS I am trying to get her to eat more and she doesn't want to.

I am just not sure if I should be worried. On one hand she isn't gaining and that does worry me. On the other hand she is fine otherwise, seems happy and content...Could it just be that sheis going to be small?

[blessedbythree]

I understand your frustration. My dd was much the same at that age. Had slow weight gain and little interest in solids. Otherwise just like your dd she was fine. The ped did keep an eye on weight gain with monthly weight checks. She'd have some months when she'd gain well and others when it was almost nothing. I just kept nursing often and offering calorie/fat dense food when she did eat solids. I found with my dd that once she hit 9 months and on her weight gain became more consistent. It was still slow but she began to follow her own curve even though it was not on the charts. Once she was began to follow a steady growth curve my ped was happy and did not have concerns. I'm sorry I don't have much advice other than to encourage you and say that with my dd it was worked out okay and I have accepted that she is just a tiny girl and that is how she is built. I'm not sure if your dd is sleeping through the night but if she is you may want to consider adding a nighttime feeding to boost her caloric intake as well.

[singin_mama]

Thanks, she does wake one to three times a night to nurse.

[Psyche]

Have you contacted a LC for advice?

[singin_mama]

I did speak with one after Sara's 4 mo check, I was already doing all that she suggested, but neversaw her in person. I plan to call tomorrow and get an appointment with one that was recommended to me.

[gravel10]

My dd lost 2 ounces form her 5 to 6mth visits, the Pedi said not to be worried it happens a lot with BF babies and as long as her head is growing and she is happy and nurses well that there is not an issue. However I just weighed her on my scale with me and i know she gained 1.2 this mth alone. I think that maybe the Pedi scale was off a lil too.
my doc also told me that he think my dd will be petite. I think you should trust your instincts and just watch her. try to nurse as often as possible and keep trying with the cereal.
I know that some mommies start with fruit cuase it is sweeter, or maybe sweet potatos.
Not sure how good it is but if it works y not.
Good luck and will keep u in our thoughts.

[gravel10]

ps i to have issues with the bottle of ebm ... she hates the bottle.

[Nipple_nectar]

I could have written your post with DD1. My PED insisted we supplement with pediasure when we went for a check from 12 mos. to 18 mos., and there was no gain whatsoever. She made me worry that there was something wrong. I regret following her advice, my little was fine.

I should have trusted my mommy instinct. As long as she is happy and meeting milestones, I don't think you should worry. There are things you can do: use breast compression while nursing. Use a nursing necklace while nursing.

If she is refusing solids, would she be more receptive, if they were in a bottle? Sassy makes a feeder for pureed foods that we used with DD to sneak in extra calories, she really enjoyed sipping on the bottle, in addition to her meal. This product is not intended to replace spoon feeding nor is it intended to replace finger foods, it should be used to compliment either.

I have a link, if you are interested:)

[dodoe80]

I wouldn't worry to much about it. Unless baby was acting lethargic or was slowing down developmentally she is probably just going through a slow growth spell. My son did.

[singin_mama]

Well, I just got back from the LC's office. Apparently it is just a supply issue. The weight showed that Sara was only getting about 2 oz. So the LC suggested upping my dose of fenugreek. I had only been taking it once a day and she said to take it three times a day. I feel bad. I wish I'd been paying more attention... I have a new appreciation for moms who have supply problems. I never have before and this is discouraging.

[Psyche]

Oatmeal is also really, really good for supply if you haven't tried that.

Hopefully the extra fenugreek will help.

[singin_mama]

Thanks Psyche, we have oatmeal at least 3 times a week for breakfast. I think the biggest problem is getting Sara to stay on the breast longer. She is 'done' so fast. Once the flow slows down she doesn't want to nurse anymore. Compressions helped with that some so I will get back to doing that at every feeding.

[Psyche]

Do you have a nursing necklace?

I wonder if you pumped some to get her to the hind milk, if that would help?

[jodyvo]

I had some supply issues recently. I found that adding blessed thistle to the fenu helped. Also I got a liquid herb and that seemes to also help.
I wish you the best. Supply issues can be very stressful

[rachelandtyke]

When I had supply issues I took Fenugreek 4 capsules 3x a day and Blessed Thistle 3 capsules 3x a day. It definitely helped.

[singin_mama]

Do you have a nursing necklace?

I wonder if you pumped some to get her to the hind milk, if that would help?

She gets all there is to get. If I pump after she nurses I do not get anything. She just will not nurse a little longer to stimulate more milk production.


Thanks for the tip on the blessed thistle. I may try that too.

[rachelandtyke]

If you are able to pump after she is done, even if you get nothing, it can still help to stimulate your supply to increase.

[whitnessforhim]

I agree if you can pump after her feedings that will boost your supply hence tell your body to store more milk per feeding.

When my milk supply was very low this is exactly what I did to boost my supply. Fenugreek and other herbs did not work for me. I picked a 48hr period where I knew I'd have help so that I could pump 10-15mins after each nursing session. This 48hrs of pumping did wonders for my supply. I hope this helps.

[jodibug]

I'm glad that you were able to diagnose the problem so that now you can go about fixing it! Good luck!