Re: Older baby fussy at breast, no weight gain

[Guest guest]



I'm not sure but mom says her breasts were more full after the measures to increase it. But I agree with you, it sure sounds like baby needs more. I am going to meet with her again to observe and see what we can figure out. Thanks,

Older baby fussy at breast, no weight gainTo: Date: Sunday, June 3, 2012, 8:46 AM

Permission to post:Does anyone have ideas for a mom of a 9 mo old baby that hasn't gained between 6 and 9 months, and is also very fussy at the breast? Baby is alert and active, appears developmentally normal. Parents were petite babies and have high metabolism. Baby was sleeping through the night (9-11 hours). Mom works part time. They had a good start with exclusive breastfeeding through 5 3/4 mo. I know slow weight gain can be normal, but *no* weight gain?My first thought was to increase the milk flow, so they've done that through more freq nursing, herbs and acupuncture. But baby is still just as 'fidgety' at the breast.It hasn't improved at all. Mom says:"Also, for the past couple months, besides the fussiness, she pinches methroughout nursing with both hands, squeezing and twisting the skin on mystomach, arms and breasts to the point where it can be painful and frustratingfor me. I tried a few days of telling her not to and removing her hands, but itdidn't seem to help. I'm trying now to cover my skin as much as possible."They have changed to 'dense' solids, including coconut oil, bacon and beef liver. The fidgeting is a little better at night, but although mom now wakes baby at night to nurse, still no weight gain, and baby still with very short feeds at the breast, very fussy despite the increased milk supply.They are working with a pediatrician on this. There aren't any obvious health problems in the baby- no anemia.Thoughts?

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[Guest guest]

,

Is there a chance mom could be pregnant? Any changes/additions in contraception? Baby’s probably trying to get milk to increase by kneading mom’s breasts and skin/belly. More nursing should help unless there’s something weird interfering with her supply. Good Luck!!

Beals

From: Anne

Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2012 12:19 PM

To:

Subject: Re: Older baby fussy at breast, no weight gain

 I'm not sure but mom says her breasts were more full after the measures to increase it. But I agree with you, it sure sounds like baby needs more. I am going to meet with her again to observe and see what we can figure out. Thanks,

Older baby fussy at breast, no weight gainTo: Date: Sunday, June 3, 2012, 8:46 AM

Permission to post:Does anyone have ideas for a mom of a 9 mo old baby that hasn't gained between 6 and 9 months, and is also very fussy at the breast? Baby is alert and active, appears developmentally normal. Parents were petite babies and have high metabolism. Baby was sleeping through the night (9-11 hours). Mom works part time. They had a good start with exclusive breastfeeding through 5 3/4 mo. I know slow weight gain can be normal, but *no* weight gain?My first thought was to increase the milk flow, so they've done that through more freq nursing, herbs and acupuncture. But baby is still just as 'fidgety' at the breast.It hasn't improved at all. Mom says:"Also, for the past couple months, besides the fussiness, she pinches methroughout nursing with both hands, squeezing and twisting the skin on mystomach, arms and breasts to the point where it can be painful and frustratingfor me. I tried a few days of telling her not to and removing her hands, but itdidn't seem to help. I'm trying now to cover my skin as much as possible."They have changed to 'dense' solids, including coconut oil, bacon and beef liver. The fidgeting is a little better at night, but although mom now wakes baby at night to nurse, still no weight gain, and baby still with very short feeds at the breast, very fussy despite the increased milk supply.They are working with a pediatrician on this. There aren't any obvious health problems in the baby- no anemia.Thoughts?

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[Guest guest]



I did have that thought..will ask her about pregnancy. Yes, it does sound just like baby's trying to increase milk- I was surprised when she thought her milk was up and that didn't help. Thought I might be missing something, but like said, maybe her milk really isn't up.

Thanks,

Older baby fussy at breast, no weight gainTo: Date: Sunday, June 3, 2012, 8:46 AM

Permission to post:Does anyone have ideas for a mom of a 9 mo old baby that hasn't gained between 6 and 9 months, and is also very fussy at the breast? Baby is alert and active, appears developmentally normal. Parents were petite babies and have high metabolism. Baby was sleeping through the night (9-11 hours). Mom works part time. They had a good start with exclusive breastfeeding through 5 3/4 mo. I know slow weight gain can be normal, but *no* weight gain?My first thought was to increase the milk flow, so they've done that through more freq nursing, herbs and acupuncture. But baby is still just as 'fidgety' at the breast.It hasn't improved at all. Mom says:"Also, for the past couple months, besides the fussiness, she pinches methroughout nursing with both hands, squeezing and twisting the skin on mystomach, arms and breasts to the point where it can be painful and frustratingfor me. I tried a few days of telling her not to and removing her hands, but itdidn't seem to help. I'm trying now to cover my skin as much as possible."They have changed to 'dense' solids, including coconut oil, bacon and beef liver. The fidgeting is a little better at night, but although mom now wakes baby at night to nurse, still no weight gain, and baby still with very short feeds at the breast, very fussy despite the increased milk supply.They are working with a pediatrician on this. There aren't any obvious health problems in the baby- no anemia.Thoughts?

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[Guest guest]

Has baby been examined for lip and tongue-tie (specifically posterior tongue-tie)? I’ve seen a few cases now where babies do okay for a while then things falter and it’s because baby is tongue-tied and can’t transfer well.Warmly,Fleur Bickford Ottawa, Canada From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of berybritSent: June-03-12 11:47 AMTo: Subject: Older baby fussy at breast, no weight gain Permission to post:Does anyone have ideas for a mom of a 9 mo old baby that hasn't gained between 6 and 9 months, and is also very fussy at the breast? Baby is alert and active, appears developmentally normal. Parents were petite babies and have high metabolism. Baby was sleeping through the night (9-11 hours). Mom works part time. They had a good start with exclusive breastfeeding through 5 3/4 mo. I know slow weight gain can be normal, but *no* weight gain?My first thought was to increase the milk flow, so they've done that through more freq nursing, herbs and acupuncture. But baby is still just as 'fidgety' at the breast.It hasn't improved at all. Mom says: " Also, for the past couple months, besides the fussiness, she pinches methroughout nursing with both hands, squeezing and twisting the skin on mystomach, arms and breasts to the point where it can be painful and frustratingfor me. I tried a few days of telling her not to and removing her hands, but itdidn't seem to help. I'm trying now to cover my skin as much as possible. " They have changed to 'dense' solids, including coconut oil, bacon and beef liver. The fidgeting is a little better at night, but although mom now wakes baby at night to nurse, still no weight gain, and baby still with very short feeds at the breast, very fussy despite the increased milk supply.They are working with a pediatrician on this. There aren't any obvious health problems in the baby- no anemia.Thoughts?

[Guest guest]

My neighbor had a baby like that. My theory was that he could not stand the let down when he was around 4 months and had very short frequent feedings (less than 4 minutes). The mother never followed my suggestions. He started to suck his finger to quest his hunger. He stop gaining weight at 6month check up and went from 50% to -15%. He got so low because the doctors were not concern as long as he was gaining in height because the parents are small. At 1year 3month, he stop gaining in height, so doctors started to look for reasons. Around that time she was in Miami for a few days and she took the baby to a very good pediatrician for a second opinion. He said that the baby was underweight for malnurishment (he learnt to live with little food). Treatment: 1- to force him to eat (we stuff food in his mouth and did not let him spit it until he ate it). It was a war that we ended winning. 2- bottles of pedisure every time he sucks his fingers. (He used to finish the bottle in minutes)It worked. After 2 months of hard work, the child started to ask for food on his own. Now at 3 years old, he is on 20% (remember he got to be -15%) Please, do not this to happen to any child. If he is not gaining, HE IS LOSING. Tell the mother this story, do not wait until is more difficult. There must be a reason why he is fussy at the breast. Try feeding him with other ways to he how he react. Mercedes BentolilaSent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

[Guest guest]

I forgot to point that my neighbor baby is tongue-tie. He was not clipped because he was nursing well the first 4 months. Even though, I suggest to clip him when problem started it was not done thanks to the doctors who told the parents that the baby was fine as long as he was growing in height. Mercedes BentolilaSent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

[Guest guest]

Hello,

Forcing a baby to eat by stuffing food in his mouth?? Not sure if I like

that idea....Not gaining weight is one thing, but I would think losing weight

would be more of an issue. Many babies plateau and being on the low end of the

weight for this babies age may be normal and is normal for many babies. What

percentile is baby? What's the baby's weight now compared to at 6 mos.? I'd be

curious to see what might help the fussiness, mom drinking caffeine(too much)

does baby have an ear infection, belly ache from something in mom's diet? How

fussy is baby actually, everything else sounds good, developmentally except for

the fussiness. Other things in family life that have changed?? Good Luck!!

Beals, RN, CLC, LLLL

>

> I forgot to point that my neighbor baby is tongue-tie. He was not clipped

because he was nursing well the first 4 months. Even though, I suggest to clip

him when problem started it was not done thanks to the doctors who told the

parents that the baby was fine as long as he was growing in height.

>

> Mercedes Bentolila

> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerrySent from my Verizon Wireless

BlackBerry</div>

>

[Guest guest]

For some reason all the mothers who have babies that fail to thrive AFTER three

months seem to end up coming to me, possibly because I like working with them

and because I customize the growth charts I do for them. Many of them have been

given FALSE reassurance that their babies are growing well and they actually

spotted the signs of slow down long before other health care practitioners.

While there are many causes all of which should be explored that many have

mentioned, the most frequent causes I have found to be:

a) nursing on one breast only because someone told them about foremilk/hindmilk

imbalance or because their baby only needed one breast when they were feeding 8

times per day -- and this resolves quickly when they start adding the second

breast

sleeping longer than 6-8 hours at night which makes it impossible for the

baby to feed frequently enough during the remaining hours of the day

c) breastfeeding less than 5 times per day

sburgernutr@...

[Guest guest]

I've probably written this here before, but moms need to get the actual thyroid hormones tested, not just TSH, which is not a reliable indicator postpartum. Also, some labs still use an outdated range for normal for TSH, but moms can feel bad with a TSH as low as 2, even when under 4 or 3.5 will be called normal. T3 and T4 should be in the upper half of whatever range the lab uses. Sometimes it takes a second opinion to get a good diagnosis.Lynn in MO

Yes, good point.

Re: Re: Older baby fussy at breast, no weight gain

Fatigue could be caused by anemia or by low thyroid levels, either of which can cause low milk supply which could be frustrating the baby.

Dee KassingHi all,

Thanks for your input, ladies.

I'm pretty sure this baby is not TT'ed (casually observed in LLL meeting, tongue very mobile/active), but will get together with them to do a real check.

I did see her at breast- mom said it was typical. Her little body was wiggling the whole time and she came off after 3-4 mins. I will get all the weights and chart on WHO weight charts. I think she started off at 50% and now is at 0 %.

Maybe more investigation will reveal a cause. Milk supply needs to be checked out. One thing I didn't tell you is that mom is fatigued (even when baby was sleeping through), so that might reveal something. Thanks again,

, LLLL, IBCLC

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