Weight!

[Dawn V]

Hi everyone

I don't get to post very often but do try and keep track of whats happening on the boards.
Our precious little boy Josh is 15 weeks old today (where does the time go)!! and he weighed 16lbs 8oz on Tues!! He was 7lb 10oz at birth and was very long (is now 66cm) but very skinny. I'm a bit worried though because he only goes 3hrs between feeds during the day although he sleeps from 7.15 til 7am (has a dream feed about 11pm) and the health visitor said he should be going at least 4hrs. He's now on hungry baby milk and has 6 7oz bottles - does this seem too much? I can hardly leave him screaming to stretch him out to 4 hrs can I?!
Maybe he's just like his mummy and loves his food!
Hope you and your precious boys and girls are all well
love
Dawn & Josh
xx

[DebraP]

Dawn....sorry to hear you're worried about Josh and his feeds.

It's taken me this long (20 months as a mum) to start to relax about the the text book recommendations for our babies. I spent a lot of time worrying in my first 12m and I wish I'd been more laidback. My worrying made no difference to the 'problems' at all. Obviously your health visitor is an expert but all babies are different so perhaps the goals need to be a little less precise? I agree that leaving him to scream in hunger will only create more tension and stress (for you if not Josh). Could you try slowly increasing the time between feeds by 5-10mins a day? Just slowly eaking out the gap until you've got to 3.5hrs perhaps, leave it for a week or two and then start increasing it again by 5-10mins a day. Just an idea.

Some babies are hungry, others less so. We worry no matter what. If his weight and growth are not a problem, take it slowly and see how the next month go.

Good luck,
Debra

[bubblymichelle]

Hi There,

I know its still early but Alex used to cry and I couldn't fill him up but then when he was 16 wks I started to make him a rusk and keep it quite milky and it seemd to help alot, I know its up to you what to do for the best but your right you can't let ur baby scream if he needs feeding you have 2 do what u think is best your doing a great job just our job to worry.

Love
Shell.
xx

[DebraP]

Dawn, Shell's comment jogged my memory. As Josh is 15 weeks, has the HV mentioned starting solids? I did so around 16-17 weeks with baby rice porrage. Only slowly to begin with but I think 4m is a fairly common time to find milk isn't always enough.

Debra.

[Dawn V]

Hi Debra & Shell

Thanks for your replies.
I have started trying to last Josh out a few extra minutes at a time and he has gone 3.5 hrs a few times. I suppose babies have days when they are hungrier than others just like us! Bless him last night he slept right through from 7.15pm til 6am which was great although the 6am start was a shock!!
I'm going to see how he is in a couple of weeks then start weaning him if he's ready. It's difficult because apparantly the signs are the same as teething and he is constantly dribbling and chewing on his fingers and has little red cheeks so I think his teeth are on the move.
I know what you mean about worrying Debra, I stressed so much in the first couple of weeks that I didn't really enjoy the early days so am trying not to stress myself out now. I absolutrly love being a mum now and can't imagine going back to work although I know I'll have too but luckily only part time.
I hope Maya & Alex are both doing well
love Dawn & Josh