Baby not gaining weight - Anyone have a scale?

I am trying to breastfeed, and we are not doing so well. It seems she doesn't drink enough, and didn't gain weight. When we supplemented with my breastmilk from the bottle - she gained. But, she gained A LOT - giving us an indication we may be overfeeding her. I def. have milk - I pump 6oz out - And only have a 3 week old baby!

So.. my question is, anyone has a 'baby scale' they would like to sell? I'd like to weigh her before and after feeding to see how much she takes in - and make sure she is gaining weight.

Do you know which scale will work? I need to see ounces so it has to be a pretty precise scale I think.

Thanks for your help!
Every time she cries I wonder - is she hungry?

Re: Baby not gaining weight - Anyone have a scale?

I dont know that you are over feeding her with the bottle...I think she may not be getting enough when you are breastfeeding. At 3 wks. DS was drinking 3-4 oz. (sometimes more) every 3 hrs. (sometimes every 2 1/2 hrs) which I think is pretty average for most baby's. If she is gaining weight when you bottle feed her that is a good sign! My ped. always told me to feed on demand and that you can't really over feed a baby...they will let you know when they are full.

ETA: Back to your question, did your ped. recommend you buy a baby scale? Or is your ped. concerned about her weight? I dont know that you need to spend the $$$ on a baby scale. 3 wks. is still early and I think you will figure out her feeding schedule and she will start gaining more and more weight.

Message edited 12/17/2007 10:15:40 PM.

Re: Baby not gaining weight - Anyone have a scale?

Re: Baby not gaining weight - Anyone have a scale?

I swear...some LC's are such fanatics when it comes to not giving a bottle...its ok to try different things...You baby will not refure your breast if you give it a bottle. In fact, my son is 3 months old and takes bottles of BM all day long and I nurse at night and he LOVES it. Since your baby is not gaining weight I would giver her 3-4 oz every 3 hours...and the spit-up - maybe you should try different bottles like the Playtex drop-ins to eliminate the air intake and it will decrease the spit-up. Also, after your baby finishes the bottle, try waiting a bit before you burp her to let her settle in.

ETA: As far the overfeeding goes, I agree with the above poster...you can't overfeed your baby. It may take in more milk at one feeding and less at the other...eventually it will regulate its intake.

Message edited 12/17/2007 11:18:43 PM.

Re: Baby not gaining weight - Anyone have a scale?

Unless your ped is worried about your DC gaining too much weight, I wouldnt worry about it to much. Breast or bottle, the baby should refuse when they are full.

Re: Baby not gaining weight - Anyone have a scale?

I had soooooo much anxiety about BFing and weight gain that if I had it to do over again I would definately have gotten a scale just for peace of mind. I had been taking DD for weekly weight checks and even just waiting the week was too much for me. I even tried weighing her on a postage scale

Did you ask your ped if you could do weight checks between regular visits?

So I guess I'll be the only one that says go for the scale. I saw the scales maybe at BRU for about $50....pricey but I would get anything that might help with BFing stress.

Good Luck.

Re: Baby not gaining weight - Anyone have a scale?

Message edited 12/18/2007 12:46:49 AM.

Re: Baby not gaining weight - Anyone have a scale?

If your baby hadn't been gaining weight it is NORMAL for him/her to gain more up front when they are getting the proper nutrition....they have to catch up. DD had lost too much weight in the beginning b/c of her milk protein allergy....once she was on a better formula she gained fast in the beginning, and then it settled down to normal.

You need to speak to your Ped, not the LC. LCs are usually not MDs and most (although not all) are so obsessed with breast feeding only that they may not be giving you the correct advice here. A 3 week old SHOULD be gaining a lot of weight. Babies spit up, it is not a sign of overfeeding. Until 6 months of age the flap between the stomach and esophagus is not fully closed, which can cause spitting up after any amount of feeding. Don't buy a scale, schedule a weight check with your MD and ask all of your questions. You can then properly weigh the pros and cons.

Re: Baby not gaining weight - Anyone have a scale?

Re: Baby not gaining weight - Anyone have a scale?

I noticed with both of my kids that they gained the most the most weight from birth to the one month visit. Both was 2lbs. DD now average's about a .5lb to a 1lb a month. As long as she is growing I think she is fine. She might be growing in length and not so much in weight gain. I think that is what happened with my DD last month. She had grown an inch but only about 8oz. in weight. She definitly put weight on this month and I EBF.
I also think you should feed your DC how you want to whether you want to introduce a bottle or not. If she is spitting up after every bottle then maybe try cutting back by an oz. or burp her every 2oz or so.

Re: Baby not gaining weight - Anyone have a scale?

thanks so much for replying!!!
I am so confused and worried..

The LC was recommended to me by the ped - so wouldn't one think they are on the same page? The LC were not against using bottle and showed me how to feed her. Its just that after weighing her before and after meal from my breast she really didn't feel that an addition of formula was needed. But, I don't have a scale at home.. and not sure if she is drinking as much at home as at the LC office.

Next Monday is our weighing appt. I had to go every 3 days for weight checks. Now, I have till Monday, that I have to wait, and see to make sure she doesn't loose weight - but gains something. I guess I should wait a week and see...?

Re: Baby not gaining weight - Anyone have a scale?