help--is he getting enough?

[colleentara]

DS is 7 1/2 months old and still not gaining well (5th percentile). He initially had trouble sucking and I nursed/pumped/fed for the first couple of months. He also has reflux and didn't gain well from months 3-6 because of crazy amounts of spit up. I've never had a great milk supply... but now it might be worse. The ped is questioning it....
so I rented a gram sensitive scale to see how much he is actually taking in. He gets small amounts at a time (2-3 ozs) but nurses so often that he gets at least 24 oz/per day. This is the amount the dr. told me he should get. DS looks good (just small)...is generally happy...except he is up so often at night. I think he learned to eat small amounts at a time b/c of the reflux...but couldn't it also be that I don't produce enough?
ugh. I'm stressing about this b/c I have to return to work next week. Any advice?

[kiara7]

Does he have plenty of wet diapers?

[luvmi4]

24 ounces a day is about average. 5th percentile is not necessarily a bad thing. If he's hung out around there since infancy that is just his normal. It is only a concern if the baby drops percentiles over time. Some normal babies have to be in the 5th percentile, and as long as they continue to grow and behave normally - no worries.

If he's peeing, pooping and meeting his milestones - appears lively and happy and continues to stay in the 5th percentile (i.e. is not dropping off the chart) then you need to let this go. He can increase his solids intake if he's hungry anyway.

[colleentara]

The concern is that he was in the 10th percentile until about september and then dropped to the 5th. I think he dropped because of the increased reflux (reached the peak)--but he hasn't jumped back up since.
He is generally happy/lively/fun! Definitely meeting all milestones...and He's peeing like crazy! poop every few days or so-- but it's big and soft.
I do want to let it go... but the dr. keeps getting me worried.

[CallMeMommy]

I bet your doctor is using the old CDC charts - they're based off of formula-fed babies. Plot your baby's growth on the WHO charts (http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns...wthcharts.html) and see where he falls.

[prettypixels]

Have you been doing anything to try to gently increase your supply? Like eating oatmeal, plenty of rest, offer to nurse often, pump or hand express in between feedings, etc. My concern is that if you have low supply already (sounds like you are borderline) and heading back to work, that could deliver a further blow to it. I'm so glad you've been doing gram weights! I would definitely make working on supply my number one focus. The only other thing I'd suggest is offering to nurse even more often if possible; maybe your LO is becoming more mobile and distractable and hasn't been getting enough?

: I wouldn't try to go crazy with worry, but definitely take it seriously.. if that makes sense?

[suzywan]

For weight, my kid was 25th percentile until 6 months and then dropped to about 5th at 9 months, and is now about 8th percentile. He also started off at 90th for length and is now about 75th. It's totally normal for breastfed babies to fall off their newborn curve in the second half of their first year. My ped didn't say a thing about it (except in the early days, but now she knows that this is just how my son grows).

I second checking out the WHO growth charts. Also, look at the baby - if he is hitting milestones, obviously growing in some capacity, happy and satiated, he's probably just fine.

:

[luvmi4]

Originally Posted by prettypixels

Have you been doing anything to try to gently increase your supply? Like eating oatmeal, plenty of rest, offer to nurse often, pump or hand express in between feedings, etc. My concern is that if you have low supply already (sounds like you are borderline) and heading back to work, that could deliver a further blow to it. I'm so glad you've been doing gram weights! I would definitely make working on supply my number one focus. The only other thing I'd suggest is offering to nurse even more often if possible; maybe your LO is becoming more mobile and distractable and hasn't been getting enough?

: I wouldn't try to go crazy with worry, but definitely take it seriously.. if that makes sense?

It's pretty hard to appreciably increase your supply 8 mos pp with anything other than a HGP or domperidone/reglan. The baby is taking in an absolutely normal and typical amount of breast milk. I really, really would not worry unless the baby fails to thrive.

[colleentara]

What's HGP?
Thanks so much for all of the advice/support!
I am doing things like: oatmeal, eating well, taking fenugreek, rented a hospital-grade pump to pump after feedings AND I ordered Shatavari and More milk special blend.
I want more rest, but am not having much luck getting it considering he is up every hour and I'm not the best napper...

Fortunately I'm only working away from home until about noon each day--so I should be able to nurse often each afternoon.