Any Bfing experts who can help me? 9wo and slow weight gain.

[FruitSaladIsNotPudding]

Hello,

My almost 9wo is ebf and doing ok, but is gaining slower than I would like. She was born at 9lbs 1oz and is now 11lbs - some weeks she's made good progress but has only put on 8oz or so in the last 3 weeks. She has dropped from 75th centile to between 25th and 50th. Is that sort of gain a concern?

She only feeds about 6-8 times a day, but will feed for able hour at a time so I'm struggling to fit more in what with making sure she naps and also doing nursery runs etc with my toddler. She also is close to sleeping through the night - sleeps midnight to 6 ish. I haven't tried to get her sleeping through, she just did it on her own.

So, I'm not sure what to do. Should i just try and feed her more? Or should i try and cut down the length of the feed to make more frequent feeding more practical? I'm fairly sure she's comfort sucking for quite a bit of that hour, which is fine to an extent, but i have another child and can't just sit on sofa all day, unfortunately!

And what about night feeds? Should i be waking her??

[tiktok]

Fruit, not possible to say if the weight is a problem or not as it is within normal to drop 2 centile spaces (ie in your case from 75th to 25th).

If you are concerned, then yes, more frequent feeding is the way to go, using at least both sides (or at least offering them) each session. You could 'switch nurse' when she slows down her sucking and swallowing - this boosts supply and intake.

The 6 hour gap at night is long, but with a healthy baby who is gaining weight there would normally be no need to wake, if you can make the 'extra feeding' in the day.....what does your HV think?

[FruitSaladIsNotPudding]

Thanks tiktok. I hadn't thought of switch nursing, although i do already offer both sides. Do i just keep swapping until she won't take more?

I haven't been seen by hv - dd is being treated for clubfoot so we can only weigh her at hospital when her plaster casts are changed. She is well.otherwise - weeing and pooing, alert and smiling.

Tbh, the few times i have seen hv their Bf advice hasn't been amazing (eat loads of cake or you'll have to top up!)