4 months stats and weight question...should i be worried?

Emma will be 4 months on Christmas day. Today she weighed 12 lbs. 11 oz. Her last visit, Nov. 22, she was 12lbs. The ped said she didn't gain enough, and she dropped from the 50% to being in between the 25-50%. She said to up her ounces (I exclusively pump), but I offer her 4 oz., every 3 hours (or if she's hungry sooner, every 2.5hrs). sometimes she finishes the bottle, sometimes she has 3oz, sometimes only 2.5oz. I don't know how else to get her to take more if she doesn't want it. Last week she started STTN, so now that's one less bottle a day too.

Should I be really worried? She was only 5 oz. short of gaining a whole pound. The ped said to start solids soon, but I think it's too soon. We didn't start Ethan until 5.5 months.

She's chunky...she looks healthy...she feels heavy lol. So I'm hoping it's not too big of a deal.

What did your DDd's weigh @ 4 months? TIA

ETA: she grew about 2 inches since last month...she is now 24 1/4 inches.

Message edited 12/20/2010 2:26:41 PM.

Re: 4 months stats and weight question...should i be worried?

honestly a drop from 50% to 25-50% is not that big a deal, DS fluctuated 25% of his weight almost every month.

My only suggestion, and its going to sound crazy, is to try to stretch her to 4 hours instead of 3. The reason is if you hold her off a little longer, she'll be even hungrier and ultimately take more ounces. Maybe start by stretching to 3.5 hours, just a little longer to see if that helps her be hungrier to eat more.

If you don't feel she's ready for solids, I wouldn't do it, a mothers instincts far overreach a physicians schooling. (DH is a physician, he tells me this all the time, well with regards to feedings and things like that)

eta: DS gained inches like crazy, which my ped said accounted for the weight fluctuation

Message edited 12/20/2010 2:49:09 PM.

Re: 4 months stats and weight question...should i be worried?

I had to look. Ds was 17.13 90% for weight and height.I dont know the exact amount of oz per feeding, but i know it was close to 10. Ds was a chow.

Re: 4 months stats and weight question...should i be worried?

My DD at her 4 month visit (she was actually like 2 weeks past 4 months at that point) was 14 lbs even and 25 inches.
48 ish percentile for weight
70is for length.

Dr was happy.

We started solids right after that visit.

Not sure what she weighs now since her next visit isn't until after the holidays (no 5 month visit)

Re: 4 months stats and weight question...should i be worried?

JUST had my DD's 4 month visit. She is exactly 14lbs now. She was 12lbs 8oz. at her 3 month visit. She is 55% for weight 50% for height. Dr said to start cereal & oatmeal at 3 months but i held off, now at 4 months im still debating it.

I pump and supplement w/formula. DD takes 6 oz. every 3 hours (5 bottles/day).

HTH

Re: 4 months stats and weight question...should i be worried?

DD was 13.07 lbs at her 4 mo visit and 24.25 inches, which is between the 25th-50th percentile, so your DD doesn't sound that much off from mine.

My ped did not say anything about her weight and said to start solids if we wanted to, but didn't say we had to.

It sounds to me like she is doing fine.

If she continues to drop in percentile, then maybe I would start to be concerned, but you can't make a baby drink.

For the longest time, my DD would take 3 ozs, not a drop more. now she is up to 5, but there are still bottles where she will only take 3.

Re: 4 months stats and weight question...should i be worried?

Ds is 3 days younger than your DC. He eats every 4 hours about 7 ounces of breast milk. He does sttn from 3 months.

He was 15 lbs at 3 months. Chubby kid.

Re: 4 months stats and weight question...should i be worried?

At DS 4 month appt last month, he was 17lbs 2oz...He was in the 50th percentile. At that point, he was drinking 5oz every 3-4 hours.

Just had a 5 month appt today & he is 19lbs 5oz & drinking 6oz every 3 hours along with cereal & fruits/veggies

Re: 4 months stats and weight question...should i be worried?

My DD is 4 months and eats 3.5oz every 2 hours. Your DD may just not be a huge eater! I don't believe in forcing food down, especially if you've offered, and she didn't want it, unless it's medically necessary. It doesn't sound like that's the case, since she did gain weight. I wouldn't be worried as long as she seems happy and healthy, and is meeting her milestones. She may just be a little peanut!

Re: 4 months stats and weight question...should i be worried?

my kids, both of them both ebf- got bottles of pumped milk while i was work, i nursed at home, never took more than 4 ounces at a time. btw, BF kids gain weight differently that formula fed - gain a lot the first couple of months, then slow down. and 50% to 25-50 is not htat big a deal. my kids both dropped from 50% to 25% aroudn that time, ped wasn't worried. i wouldn't start solids if oyu dont htink hes ready

ETA: i dont remember how much they weighed, but it was waround 12 pounds

Message edited 12/20/2010 8:34:50 PM.

Re: 4 months stats and weight question...should i be worried?

My dd is on the small side for height she is only 23 inches at 4 months and 13.2 lbs, My ped said she is perfect for her height but expects she will always be on the smaller side. He told me I could start cereal with her rice/oatmeal if I wanted to but I could hold off to month 5 if I didn't feel she was ready. Honestly I tried it for 2 days and she was able to handle the spoon well but spit the food out so I'm going to back off for a few weeks. I think you dd is on track, she isn't losing so that is the important thing. She sounds like a healthy weight to me

Re: 4 months stats and weight question...should i be worried?

I think what you are doing is fine...in the beginning my DS fluctuated on the scale...but my ped was never concerned...a gain is a gain!

I never fed my DS over 5.5 oz his whole first year!

Sounds like you are doing great! I bet your DC will have better numbers next month

Re: 4 months stats and weight question...should i be worried?

DS is 4.5 months - he is a BIG eater. 8oz every 3-4 hours during the day. At his 4 month appt he was 17.1 pounds (80%).. at his 3 month he was 15.13 pounds (80%)

Re: 4 months stats and weight question...should i be worried?

DS will be 4 months on the 28th.
At his 3 month appt he was 12 pounds 14 ounces, 26 1/2 inches. 50th percentile for weight, and 97th percentile for height. He is very long and skinny!
I expressed concern to my ped that his percentiles were so off and she said that as long as they gain about a pound a month it was ok.
DS eats 7 1/4 ounces 4 times a day..and 2-3 ounces before bed.. so about 28-32 ounces a day

Re: 4 months stats and weight question...should i be worried?

my ds will be 4mnths this week and had his 4 mnth appt last week. weighed 13lbs 8oz, 25 1/4 inches. my dr was fine with this and did not want me to start him on cereal yet. i am still nursing

Re: 4 months stats and weight question...should i be worried?

Well, DD just turned 4 months yesterday and at her last appointment 2 weeks ago she had gained and grew that same amount. So I'll assume she is just a little ahead of yours now. But she is taking 4-6 oz every +-3 hours for about 6 feeding a day. Maybe your ped will start her on cereal soon since it looks like she doesn't have much interest in milk. The only suggestion I would make in trying to get her to drink more is to let her drink all that she can, wait just 5-10 minutes and try giving her the rest of the bottle. This works for DD sometimes when she just needs a break to burp or catch her breath. Don't drag it on, just give her a little break if she starts turning away. HTH

Re: 4 months stats and weight question...should i be worried?

You also have to take into consideration her Genes. Are you small or dh or family members. She sounds like she's just small. I wouldn't worry about it unless she takes a huge drop and weighs even less. I hate these percentiles. They can make you crazy

And my dd is now 7 months and only take s5 1/2 oz (for about 2 months now) and gets cereal 2 x's a day

Message edited 12/21/2010 1:38:58 PM.

Re: 4 months stats and weight question...should i be worried?

DD was 14 lbs. 8 oz. at her 4 month and 2 day visit. I started her on Stage 1 fruits that same day and introduced a new fruit every 3 days. After 2 weeks I started to introduce veggies. At that point she was taking 5-6 bottles a day still, drinking anywhere from 6-7 ounces per feeding. I don't think there is any concern YET...if she keeps not gaining weight or loses a drastic amount over the next few months then maybe it should be a concern...not this once! Geez, they sure know how to work a Momma up! lol