Why isn't my baby gaining weight? Should I worry?

Question

My 12 week old baby boy isn't gaining as much weight as he should. He is only gaining about 4 ounces a week. He's in the 10th percentile for weight, but the 90th for height. He's very long and skinny.

At first, we thought I didn't have enough milk, so I pumped constantly after nursing, went on Reglan, and nursed as much as possible. He still only gained 4 ounces a week.

Next my lacation consultant had me supplement with 4 ounces of formula a day in hopes of getting him to gain more. He's still only gaining 4 ounces a week.

What do I do? The pedetrician promotes breastfeeding, so that's good, but alot of people are telling me to go straight formula. I really don't want to though. We got in for another weight check next week. I hope they don't want me to supplement more formula.

He is a very active baby. He never stops moving, and only sleeps at night. He doesn't sleep during the day. Could he just be burning off all his calories?

He soaks 8 diapers + a day and poops once.

His birth weight was 8 lbs, 5 ounces.
He left the hospital at 7 pounds, 9 ounces.

He now weights about 11 pounds and is 12 weeks old.

Answer 1

Formula and breastmilk have the same amount of calories. Stop the formula! Keep nursing frequently.

My daughter has the same issue and I never stopped nursing and I never gave her formula. She is only in the 3rd percentile for weight & 90th for height. She is healthy, happy and meeting all of her developmental milestones. She is almost 1 year old.

He should however be sleeping during the day. I recommend you read the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Weissbluth.
My doctor was never worried - she simply stated that babies grow at different rates.

Answer 2

Was your doctor concerned? Not gaining weight in 3 weeks is no huge deal. Maybe last time she was weighed right after a feeding, maybe this time she'd just peed/pooped before she got weighed. Also, it's typical for weight gain to slow down a bit around this time. She sounds like she's a very good weight, especially considering that she was barely 6lbs when she was born. I wouldn't worry about it! All long as she has plenty of wet diapers and seems fairly content most of the time, I'm sure she's just fine. :) Just keep an eye on her and see how she's doing at the next weigh-in.

Answer 3

Your baby is unique, he doesn't fit on a chart. If he's wetting, he's getting. You don't need to go to formula, you carried that baby, you birthed him, you will make the only milk he ever needs. You tell those people who want him to go on formula to...well, I don't know, something mean ;)

I agree completely with Ivy b. One thing no one has mentioned is that there are different charts for formula vs. breastfed babies. They figured out that breastfed babies grow at different rates than formula fed; a lot of doctors freaked out before and told the moms they were starving their babies when they *weren't.* NOTHING is as digestible and as tailor made as your milk for your baby.

As long as you aren't limiting how much he eats, stop any pacifiers or supplementing with formula, he'll grow at the right rate for him. People are all different sizes. He IS gaining weight, he's wetting, he's happy? I wouldn't worry if I were you, he sounds like he's fine. If you are truly worried, nurse him more.

From the link below:
Once baby is back to birth weight, normal weight gain is about 5-6 ounces per week, although 4-5 ounces is acceptable in some cases. Some babies may gain even more rapidly than this and still be within the norm. This rate continues for the first 3-4 months at which time most breastfed babies normally slow down with weight gain. From 4-6 months of age, average gain is 4-5 ounces per week. From 6-12 months of age weight gain is typically 2-4 ounces per week. At 6 months, the average breastfed baby has doubled his birth weight, At one year, he weighs about 2 1/2 times his birth weight. When figuring weight gain, remember to always figure from the lowest point, usually at some point in the first few days of life and try to weigh baby on the same scales each time in the same weight of clothing or with no clothing at all.

Answer 4

The growth charts are an indication of the possible ranges for the weight and height. Like adults, there are some whole are tall and skinny, others shorter and heavier. Weight is not the only measure of healthiness for a baby. How is overall health and demeanor, is he happy after a feed or does he want more, can he settle ok to sleep, how many times are you feeding him during the day and how often. Talk to your paediatrician about the weight concern but I think the other factors also contribute towards whether his requires supplements (formula).

Answer 5

how much "should" a baby gain a week? each baby is different and the "averages" are simply the highest and lowest combined- someone has to be at the lower end! Consider yourself lucky... my middle daughter (who is now 32) and her youngest son (now 5 and a whopping 28 pounds!) weighed 15 pounds at a year and 18 pounds at age 2. Thirty-two years ago, the doctors wondered what I was doing wrong to make her "not grow"- but she ended up being a 4'8" adult (I'm only 5' and her dad is only 5'7") Some people are just small. NOW, my grandson's Dr. thinks he's dooing just fine, even though he's not even big enough to register on the growth charts, because he's active and smart and acts exactly like any other 5 year old boy. Just remember, that it's healthier to be on the thin side- as long as your doctor is okay with your baby's progress, try to not worry so much!

Answer 6

Stop giving formula- that is going to seriously hamper your supply. Nursing is supply and demand. That is to say the more you nurse, the more you will make. By introducing formula you are hampering with that. All babies are different just like all adults are different. The percentiles are an average- your baby may be above or below average but for your baby it is "just right".

I gather that he is very long and lean- and that is just the way he is.

What to do?
Nurse on demand
Lay down and nurse your baby at naptime
Comfort nurse- do not offer a pacifier of any kind.
Get rid of the bottles of formula as this is hampering your supply.

This is YOUR baby. If you do not want to supplement with more formula just say no. Our older son dropped a ton of weight in the first week and our pediatrician mentioned the formula word. He was our first and I listened. Big mistake. The formula caused all sorts of digestion issues and tummy aches for him. For our next 2, no formula at all. All 3 had slow but steady gains as your baby is.

Try not to worry and DO ask questions.

Good luck!

Edited:
If he is wetting that many diapers a day- that is good. Here is what I want you to do: only nurse tomorrow do not offer formula at all. How many diapers then?

http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/growthcharts2/f/breastfeeding.htm

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/growth/weight-gain.html
According to this chart here and for his age, he is 1 oz. off from the "norm". Not bad at all.

I would copy these and take to your next weight check.

Answer 7

well your dr will most likely just watch your baby growth curve, as long as it does stay the same and doesnt go down, then really there is no reason to worry.
also does he have reflux? or spit up a lot?
my son was never on the growth chart for weight, he was so small, always looked a few months smaller, and then all of a sudden at 12 months he just started gainning weight. and now he is 18mo and 28lbs. at 3 months my son was 9.4, at 11 months he was 17lb. so just watch your babys growth curve, and of course listen to your dr, and dont be afraid to tell them that you have a concern, and or dont want to go to formula. unless they really think he needs to be switched they will let you bf as long as possible

Answer 8

i would talk to your childs doctor. dont take what people on here say to heart because some people dont know what they are talking about!!! but i can definetly recommend some things.


my son was also in the very low percentiles of weight and was 95th for height..so i understand that. he was only on formula though. i talked to my doctor and he suggested that he needed to eat more often even if it meant i was trying to feed him every hour or every half hour.

i would also talk to your doctor VERY SOON about your baby not sleeping during the day. thats not a good thing at all. it can start to overtire your baby and can cause health problems so that coudl be part of the problem! good luck and congrats on your buddle of joy!

Answer 9

I understand you not wanting to go to the bottle. I wouldn't either. Stay away from the bottle as long as you can, beleive me. Plus breastfeeding helps to suck the tummy in....Anyways......I think my son is the same, when he was around that age, he hardly gained weight, but he is a very active child..Nothing is wrong at all, I think it happens.....
My son is now 3, and this boy hardly eats..all he wants to drink is pediasure

Answer 10

i have the same problem with my 15week old. at first they had me give him formula along with the breastmilk because my milk didnt have calories. weird i know but now that he is almost 4months he only weighs 11lbs and when he was born he was 8lbs 3oz. but he is really tall. they said he is praportional and the only thing they wanted me to do was start him on rice cereal at 4months. how much does your baby weigh?and birthweight?