https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:21:35 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2185699 Thu, 21 May 2015 11:26:58 +0000 Kemma 2185699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Banana330: that's great news and long may it continue!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2185407 Thu, 21 May 2015 09:31:06 +0000 Astro Bee 2185407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Banana330: that's awesome! Glad to hear she's gaining weight. I didn't have any advice (LO has been gaining like crazy from the start) but was following and hoping things would resolve themselves. I'm happy to hear that they have! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2185307 Thu, 21 May 2015 08:46:37 +0000 Banana330 2185307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This week she's up to 7lbs 11oz! A gain of 6oz in 6days! Looks like she was just being a bit slow on the weight gain and upping her feedings really helped. Thanks everyone for your advice and support! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2174952 Mon, 11 May 2015 21:44:09 +0000 Kemma 2174952@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Banana330: it certainly doesn't sound like you need to panic and hopefully LO will start having better weight gain soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2174860 Mon, 11 May 2015 19:38:38 +0000 Jess1483 2174860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Banana330: Ah, ok, that makes sense, then. Hopefully she'll start gaining a little quicker, but I agree that gaining at all is great! My little guy was losing weight (when he was much older) and it was so scary! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2174802 Mon, 11 May 2015 18:29:07 +0000 Banana330 2174802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: the last two weigh ins have been naked on the same scale. She's definitely getting longer as she's filling out her newborn outfits more now. I'll ask the midwife to measure her on Friday. She's not sure what the issue is. The kid is a lazy eater so it could be that, but she did say if I wanted to try and up my supply a bit to see if it helps. </p> <p>@jedeve: thanks. It's good to know others have had this issue and everything was fine. It's reassuring for a FTM who questions everything.</p> <p>@Jess1483: I think she is draining the first side completely before I switch but she's still hungry after side one. Luckily the green poop is gone and it's back to yellow. My midwife though it could be because of the hot weather and she was doing lots of thirst quenching nursing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2174676 Mon, 11 May 2015 15:46:49 +0000 Jess1483 2174676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Banana330: If it's a balance issue, pumping to get your supply up is not what you want to do. Try nursing on just one side and letting her drain completely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2174674 Mon, 11 May 2015 15:45:05 +0000 jedeve 2174674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that all sounds pretty normal! My LO would get greenish poop if he got too much fore milk. Switch nursing is good for building supply, but if your supply is strong, let your LO stay on one breast to get the good fatty stuff at the end!</p> <p>Eta: My LO squeaked along at the minimum rate they want babies to gain until he was about a month. Some are just happy that way. But keep doing all the things you should be doing until your supply is established. Drink lots, eat oatmeal, rest, drink mothers milk tea (if you feel a need), try to keep your LO awake during feeds instead of immediately dozing off. But you sound like you are doing great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2174662 Mon, 11 May 2015 15:29:30 +0000 Kemma 2174662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Banana330: that's great that your LO is gaining, it might be low but gaining is good! Has head circumference and length also increased?</p> <p>Just curious, but does your midwife think the issue is with your supply or does she think the issue is with milk transfer? Is she weighing baby naked and on the same scale each time? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2174603 Mon, 11 May 2015 14:40:30 +0000 Banana330 2174603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So she's up another 2oz from Thursday to 7lbs 4oz. So she's gaining the minimum she needs to gain. I'm going to keep up the frequent feedings, and see how she is gaining on Thursday. If she doesn't keep gaining we'll look at supplementing. Until then I'm going to add pumping after feeds to try and increase my supply. I'm feeling a bit better about it, knowing she's putting on weight still and she seems happy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2173812 Mon, 11 May 2015 07:25:35 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2173812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Banana330: I would really question that advice and/or make sure you're understanding correctly. That sounds like a complete recipe for a fore/hind milk imbalance. It also may be why sessions are so long, she's always getting a tiny bit so she always wants to stay nursing. If you force her to fully drain one side, she may learn how to eat a full "meal". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2173648 Sun, 10 May 2015 20:17:26 +0000 Banana330 2173648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: I do switch back and forth between sides in the same feed. My LC suggested it. I do a longer session, rematch a few times then give the other side. If after that she still wants more I go back and forth between them.</p> <p>@Kemma: thanks. She seems mostly happy, lots of wet/dirty diapers and if you had asked me this before Thursday I would have said we're doing great. I'll try not to over think it too much but keep and eye on her and keep feeding as much as I can. </p> <p>Fingers crossed she's gained some more at tomorrow's appointment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2173621 Sun, 10 May 2015 19:46:57 +0000 Kemma 2173621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Banana330: how do you feel baby is doing? Do you feel like she's mostly content and doing well? Yes, weight gain is on the low side but if your midwife isn't overly concerned and baby is content and filling diapers then I would just give it some time and watch to see what happens. Let her feed / suckle as she demands and try not to over think it - you're doing great!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2173571 Sun, 10 May 2015 18:04:17 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2173571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Banana330: I get the need to re latch to keep awake but what do you mean "keep switching back and forth". Every time you unlatch do you switch sides? Or just switch after each session? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2173555 Sun, 10 May 2015 17:35:25 +0000 Banana330 2173555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: no pediatrican, the midwives do follow up care on both mom and baby here. Although if she hasn't improved her weight on Monday in sure they will refer us to someone. </p> <p>@brownie: I do feel like she's getting enough at each feed. But only when I feed her for longer 30+min), she's still screaming hungry after 15 min. I do think upping the number of sessions a day should help. </p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: I think the short session could give her an imbalance. She does tend to get sleepy as she feeds so I need to unlatch her multiple times. The LC I was seeing suggested just keep switching back and forth until she's full. She also likes to comfort nurse, nibbling without sucking for ages. I'm trying to stop nursing when she does that to help shorten the sessions but the only way it works is to calm her down after and give her a pacifier.</p> <p>@mrswin: she's definitely draining them, they go from quite hard and full to very empty feeling in the 30-40min. I'm hoping adding sessions in is helping her. </p> <p>@Mrs.Someone: her poops seems more orangish today so I'm less concerned now. Hopefully her extra feelings are making a difference.</p> <p>I see the midwife tomorrow so I'll let you know what she thinks and suggests. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2173533 Sun, 10 May 2015 16:48:15 +0000 Mrs.Someone 2173533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>2oz in a week really isn't enough... They should grow .5-1oz/day at that age. I wouldn't worry about poop color, our ped said that any "fall color" is OK besides red. I'd definitely go visit a pediatrician, since they are specialized in babies, whereas the midwife is specialized in women. Also, it may be a good idea to check in with an IBCLC to make sure breastfeeding is going well and baby is getting enough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2173521 Sun, 10 May 2015 16:21:03 +0000 mrswin 2173521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Banana330: Do you have a pedi appointment coming up soon? I would be hesitant to let her go 4+ at night until her weight is up. My DD was 6'13oz at birth and is up to 8'7oz as of Friday. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2173516 Sun, 10 May 2015 16:15:37 +0000 mrswin 2173516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Banana330: My LO is 4 weeks tomorrow and sounds very similar to your DD. Her usual feeds are 40 to 60 minutes in length and the LC I saw said not to "watch the clock" or force her to feed for a shorter amount of time otherwise we could end up with a foremilk-hindmilk imbalance which can cause frothy green poops and can impact your supply. I know what you mean about the lack of sleep if you have to wake her every 2 hours, I feed her every 3 because it takes her so long to eat but I also make sure she drains each breast before switching sides to make sure she is getting the hindmilk. She will nurse the right side for 30 minutes and then only 15 minutes on the left. At the next feeding I will start with the left and let her feed that side until it is drained before switching back to the right. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2173289 Sun, 10 May 2015 08:18:30 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2173289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One thing you can do with shortened sessions is to double up on the side. So do something like </p> <p>9 am - right side for 10-15 minutes<br /> 11 am - right side for 10 minutes and start left side if she wants a but more<br /> 1 pm - left side<br /> 3 pm - right side plus a bit extra from left </p> <p>That way you make sure you don't ende up with a hind milk imbalance and she gets the full Breast. </p> <p>She's still small so feeding every two hours ateast during the day makes sense. Over night you could ask to maybe stretch to 3 hrs. But for her size going four hours may be too long. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2173264 Sun, 10 May 2015 07:11:48 +0000 brownie 2173264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Banana330: happy is good. Do you feel like she is getting enough? There is a lot to be said for mothers intuition. I knew something was wrong with my son. With baby girl I am waiting for something but it isn't coming </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2173263 Sun, 10 May 2015 07:10:35 +0000 Truth Bombs 2173263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you seen a pediatrician? If she seems happy and satisfied and she's gaining (just not quickly) I would probably not worry about it. I would want a peditrician's opinion on newborn growth, rather than a midwife's. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2173258 Sun, 10 May 2015 07:01:35 +0000 Banana330 2173258@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jess1483: I was until I started upping the feeds. Earlier this week I was leaking at all the morning feeds.</p> <p> @Kemma: those articles are great!<br /> @brownie: she was happy. Last night she was fussy and unsatisfied all night long, but normally she sleeps really well. I'm hoping it was just the three week growth spurt. I was surprised she wasn't gaining much cause she was eating so well and we were focusing on getting drinks not nibbles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2173170 Sat, 09 May 2015 22:20:22 +0000 brownie 2173170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What happens if you shorten the sessions? My 3 week old takes about 30 min total eating. But she hardly sleeps so we nurse about every 2 hours.</p> <p>Is your baby happy? My son was not happy and gained weight until 6 months and then was failure to thrive. He was intolerant to milk and soy. I have been off milk and soy for this pregnancy and while breastfeeding. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2173152 Sat, 09 May 2015 21:45:50 +0000 Kemma 2173152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Banana330: I've come across the two articles below and thought you might appreciate them.</p> <p><a href="http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-IMB" rel="nofollow">http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-IMB</a></p> <p><a href="https://m.facebook.com/DrJackNewman/posts/243007675850286" rel="nofollow">https://m.facebook.com/DrJackNewman/posts/243007675850286</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2173148 Sat, 09 May 2015 21:35:57 +0000 Jess1483 2173148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How does your supply seem? Do you feel really full? Green poo can be totally normal, but it can also be a sign of a hind-milk fore-milk imbalance. If you're feeling really full, I'd think it's possible. I'd still try to follow the 2 hour feeding schedule, but maybe try to feed twice on each side before switching sides (my guy fed a lot more often, so I'd nurse however many times in 2 hours on one side before switching to the other side). Cutting feeds after 20 minutes makes me think that might be the case (that she's getting too much fore milk and not enough of the fatty hind milk.) Try feeding twice on each side for a couple days and see if the poo color changes back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2173144 Sat, 09 May 2015 21:28:43 +0000 Banana330 2173144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: thanks! She varies from 8-11 sessions but I've been aiming to get more in.</p> <p>She sometimes is fussy after feeding but doesn't seem uncomfortable and there's definitely no blood in her diapers. </p> <p>I was seeing an LC, but she was helping us with her latch and wasn't worried about the weight gain as much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2173131 Sat, 09 May 2015 21:03:12 +0000 Kemma 2173131@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats on the new baby!</p> <p>How many nursing sessions are you averaging in 24 hours? LLL recommends nursing at least 10-12 times in 24 hours so allowing for a longer stretch at night, feeding every 1.5-2 hours is about right.</p> <p>Newborn poo comes in a whole range of colours so unless you're seeing blood or your LO is suffering discomfort or other symptoms then it's usually not something to be too concerned about.</p> <p>Long nursing sessions are also pretty normal, your LO will be working hard to establish good milk supply and suckling is very soothing and instinctual for any baby! As long as baby's latch is good and you're ok with it then you don't necessarily need to limit time at the breast.</p> <p>Kellymom and the LLL website and message forums are great sources of info on newborn bf'ing so I'd highly recommend checking them out, you might also like to get in touch with an IBCLC if you'd like more expert help.</p> <p>Keep up the great work and happy Mother's Day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-week-old-ebf-issues-with-weight-gain#post-2173105 Sat, 09 May 2015 20:28:20 +0000 Banana330 2173105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So my DD is 3 weeks old now. She was 6lbs15oz at birth, went down to 6lbs5oz by 2 days old and by 14 days old was back up 7lbs. This week my midwife weighed her and she was 7lbs2oz. So she's gaining but not enough apparently. </p> <p>My midwife suggested feeding her every two hrs during the day (she was averaging just over 3hrs) and trying to keep the nursing sessions shorter. She was feeding for 40+min. My issue is she doesn't want shorter nursing sessions and if she feeds for 45min then she would barely get an hour of sleep before feeding her again. At night she sleeps really well (4+hrs), eats and goes right back to sleep. But during the day she can be very alert and up for a few hrs at a time. </p> <p>I've been doing the 2hr day time feeds yesterday and today, and I noticed her poop has gone from yellow and seedy to greenish. I'm trying to figure out if it's due to the new feeding schedule or perhaps due to something I ate yesterday (I had tofu and peanut sauce for the first time since breastfeeding)? </p> <p>I'm happy to feed her more often during the day but if it's messing with her system should I be? I don't want to wake at night or during her long sleeps cause thats the only time she gets her sleep. </p> <p>Is it possible she's just a slow gainer or will gain in spurts? </p>