BF baby stopped gaining weight (long)

DD is going to be 4 months next week. At her 1 and 2 month visits, she was in the 95% for weight. At 3 months, she dropped into the 90%.

I weighed her yesterday and it seems she has only gained a few ounces in the past 3 weeks.

I'm still feeding on demand, which is usually every 3-4 hours, sometimes 2 hours and she sleeps from 8:30-6:00. I used to wake her up around 11:30 pm for a feeding, but if I don't wake her, she sleeps straight through.

I don't know what to do. I'm nervous when she goes to the dr next week, she is going to tell me to supplement. I really don't want to supplement with formula at this point.

As far as I know, she is satisfied after eating and I'm usually able to pump another ounce or 2 after she eats. She has plenty of wet and poopy diapers.

What do I do?

Re: BF baby stopped gaining weight (long)

I doubt they will tell you to supplement. As they get older they don't gain as much weight per month. Last dr. appt w/ ds he only gain a half a pound. Not a lot considering he's only a few pounds away from tripling his birth weight.

Re: BF baby stopped gaining weight (long)

It sounds like her weight is fine if she is at the 90-95 percentile. I don't think a pediatrician would ever suggest supplementing unless your milk supply is dwindling or your baby's weight is below the 25 percentile.

Re: BF baby stopped gaining weight (long)

a drop from the 95th to the 90th is not a cause for alarm , I wouldnt worry.

Mabye she is growing longer faster than she is putting on weight.

Re: BF baby stopped gaining weight (long)

My babies have never even been on the percentile chart they are so small, lol.

At their 4 month appointment, DS lost weight from his 3 month appointment. I supplemented with pumped breast milk (I had been pumping since they were a few weeks old and had a freezer stash.). After he finished nursing I would give him 3-4oz in a bottle. He gained 10oz in a week.
DD however, did just fine with her weight gain. Dr. said DS might have been distracted and was latching or eating correctly. I stopped supplementing after a few weeks, and he was fine after that.

I wouldn't worry until after you see your pediatrician! But, if you do have to supplement you can use breastmilk!

Re: BF baby stopped gaining weight (long)

You do not have to stop BF or supplement because your ped tells you to without a true medical condition. Your child sounds fine. They slow down their weight gain at various points. Are you noticing supply issues?

Re: BF baby stopped gaining weight (long)

Please don't worry.

Babies don't gain as much all the time.

Your baby is gaining something and that's what matters. Percentiles mean nothing. My son was born at 11 1/2 pounds. Do you think he could stay at that percentile?!!?!? He was down to about 75% around 4 months. At 2 years he is now at about 60% in weight and he is just fine.

Re: BF baby stopped gaining weight (long)

A change in percentile means nothing - you should not strive to be in the highest percentile. Being in the 90th percentile for weight means that they are heavier than 90% of babies their age. And as babies get older, they do not gain as much weight as they do in the first few weeks. DD is in the 50th percentile for weight and 25th for height....she had been in the 25th for weight all along, but once she started cereal she moved to the 50th percentile. She is also EBF. If your baby is happy and sleeping normally then I am sure they are just fine.

Re: BF baby stopped gaining weight (long)

A change in percentile only matters if it's a drastic and consistent drop. If DD went from 95% to 15%, I could see a doctor suggesting you supplement, but not for a 5% drop. BF babies tend to slow down in weight gain as they get older. DS had a huge weight gain of 5 lbs the first 2 months. It took him 7 more months to gain another 5 lbs. My doctors have never brought up supplementing.

Re: BF baby stopped gaining weight (long)

Thank you for your responses!

Just wanted to clarify...I'm not concerned that she dropped from 95% at 2 months to 90% at 3 months. I'm worried because since her 3 month visit 3 weeks ago, she hasn't really gained any weight. She is going to be 4 months next week. I would have expected her to gain something in the past month.

She seems happy and doesn't seem hungry. I'm still able to pump an ounce or two right after she eats so I know there is milk available.

Re: BF baby stopped gaining weight (long)

Larger babies grow more slowly after birth.

DD was in the 95th% when she was born. She gained weight the first 3 months and then she slowly tapered off, gaining much less than the "recommended" amount. At 12 months she was in the 10th percentile.

Is your ped concerned?

Re: BF baby stopped gaining weight (long)

don't supp unless you have to or want to ....it completely screwed up my dd!!! now she prefers bottles and it has been such a battle! if you think your dd is happy and content - listen to you heart, we have been through he L L with our second dd, despite our first being a slow gainer too...and now the drs have finally agreed that she is also just a slow gainer...if your dd is doing fine and reaching all the milestones, don't let them make you doubt yourself!