Exclusive breastfeeding and weight gain

[pastdue]

Hi all,

My son is 7 months old and is exclusively breastfed.The issue is that he hasn't gain anything since 5 months mark.He's been very sick recently and I could tell he lost some weight,so he probably has gained some back but not more.I've tried to introduce solids to him, he tastes a bit, makes a face and refuses to eat more.We've already tried rice cereal,apple sauce,banana,oatmeal,sweet potatoes, but he didn't like anything.He spits out or gags.He nurses quite frequently,every 2-3 hours with 4-5 hour night break.No teeth yet.He's probably not ready for solids but I'm worrying my milk supply is not enough for him at this point.
Should I supplement with baby formula or...?Please help!

[alegna]

If he's been sick that may account for it. My ds is 7 months also- he's only about a pound or so over where he was at 5 months.

Your milk has more calories by volume than most other solids. I would offer very frequent nursing.

Do you have any reason to think your supply would be low? How are his diapers?

-Angela

[MaryJaneLouise]

Ditton on the frequent nursing.

Other ideas include high-fat semisolids, like avacado chunks.

Here's more ideas on increasing baby's weight gain:

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns..._increase.html

especially breast compressions:

http://www.kellymom.com/newman/15bre...mpression.html

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by alegna

If he's been sick that may account for it. My ds is 7 months also- he's only about a pound or so over where he was at 5 months.

Your milk has more calories by volume than most other solids. I would offer very frequent nursing.

Do you have any reason to think your supply would be low? How are his diapers?

-Angela

:

Recent illness can explain the loss of weight. If you are worried that your supply is low, you can take steps to increase your supply - there is a great thread as a sticky at the top of this forum. Also, spending a full day or even a weekend in bed together when you really concentrate on nursing often helps to bump up supply.

I would not supplement with formula - I would supplement first with breastmilk and then with high calorie solids before formula with a 7 month old. There is a great kellymom chart on the calories of different foods. Avocado is really high.

[wild fire child]

EBF babies often gain a lot in the first six months, but then they get more mobile and start some solids, which means they gain weight much slower. Take a normal slowing gain and add a sickness that made him lose weight, and it looks like he hasn't gained at all.
But first and foremost, trust your intuition. Keep an eye on diapers, and if you're really worried get a scale and weigh before and after feedings to see how much he's eating. A scale won't be that much more than a can of formula anyway, and will give you important information.

[marrymeflyfree]

My baby only gained a few ounces between months 5 and 7...she did gain 3 inches, though, and also become very active in that time, so we and our ped all thought it normal. (She had been quite chubby before this.)