My son isn't gaining weight

Our twins are six months old now and my ds is still having weight issues. He's a string bean! He has fallen off his very small growth curve and is now way below the charts for weight (30% for height). At our last check-up the Dr. started showing a lot more concern about his lack of weight gain(12 lbs at 6 months) and had him tested for allergies. He's negative for everything. So the next plan was to start him on reflux meds. He does spit up a lot after every feeding--but he's never fussy, has a great appetite, doesn't seem to be in pain, and is all around a super happy kid. That doesn't seem to *fit* with what I've heard reflux does to a baby. It seems so weird that he'd just now be showing signs of it when most babies are getting better at this point.

Does anyone have any advice? I'm just worried about the little guy. I don't know how to help him. It doesn't have anything to do with the amount of food he's getting (we're BF'ing....and he eats really well). Any experiences with a late reflux diagnosis? Does it sound to you like reflux? We just started the meds yesterday, so I can't really say yet if it's made a difference.

I am hoping some of you have good news for me. Thanks for the help.

Reyna

 

Well the meds will only help with pain of reflux, they wont help with the spitting up. What about maybe something in your diet thats getting to him?? Are you giving cereal yet??

 

Hi Reyna,

If he is spitting up, he does have reflux, and even if he wasn't he could possibly still have the silent type. The meds will only alleviate any pain he is feeling due to the reflux, it won't eliminate the actual refluxing. But, if he is in pain, and not eating well, the meds could alleviate that pain, and cause him to eat more=more weight gain.

Have you added solids yet?

I don't know if this is an option, but have you tried pumping, and first letting him bf, then giving him a bottle of ebm to see if he is still hungry after nursing?

:hug99:

 

My DD did the same thing. I BF her as well. She eat all the time and never gained. I was so worried it was the BFing, but fortunately I had a doctor who reassured me and had me continue. At one year of age, she only weighed 14.5 lbs. We then started to supplement her with pedisure and continued to BF until 18 months. At that time, we switched to pedisure 3 times a day PLUS solids. She only went up to 18.5 lbs at 2 years. We did all the tests at this point, genetics, allergies, etc. Nothing showed up. She is still small, but back on the growth curve in the 20% range. She is 5 yo.

I would have the tests done to make sure since he is so far outside the norm. But being outside the norm doesn't necessarily mean there is anything wrong

 

To answer some of the questions:

He has been tested for allergies--he has none. So cutting stuff out of my diet wouldn't make a difference. I do offer a bottle of ebm after nursing sometimes...but he's usually satisfied after a feeding and doesn't really eat any more. We've started solids and he loves them. He eats like a champ. He seems to have a great appetite...but maybe he'll eat more if any pain he was experiencing during a feeding goes away.

Reyna

 

QUOTE
but maybe he'll eat more if any pain he was experiencing during a feeding goes away.


I hope it helps Reyna. :hug99: It sounds like you have covered all of the bases.

 

I don't know....the only thing I can think of is to offer him EBM fortified with Neosure powder, the way they do to help preemies gain weight -- but of course, that would be something to discuss with the ped. And, I would hate to have to do that, since he nurses so well.

I hope you find the answer soon. Could it be some crazy metabolism problem or something?

How much bigger/heavier is his twin? My DS has some feeding issues, and has been pretty consistently 2 pounds lighter than his sister, even though he was a full pound heavier at birth....

 

QUOTE(Becca34 @ Oct 30 2007, 02:48 AM) [snapback]472929[/snapback]
I don't know....the only thing I can think of is to offer him EBM fortified with Neosure powder, the way they do to help preemies gain weight -- but of course, that would be something to discuss with the ped. And, I would hate to have to do that, since he nurses so well.

me too! I will ask the ped. about it

I hope you find the answer soon. Could it be some crazy metabolism problem or something?

I joke that he has the metabolism I WISH I had! We haven't looked into that possibility yet--reflux was the first thing we were treating for.

How much bigger/heavier is his twin? My DS has some feeding issues, and has been pretty consistently 2 pounds lighter than his sister, even though he was a full pound heavier at birth....


He was 6.5 at birth, and my dd was 5.11 by their 4 month check-up they were neck and neck, and by the 6 month check-up she had passed him up by 1.5 lbs. Her growth curve is going up, and his is going down.

Thanks for the suggestions

Reyna

 

We have a friend with a 7 yr old daugher, who's just tiny! She's totally healthy and happy, just always been a "lil bit". I don't think she even weighs 40 lbs at this point. I think there are some people who are just little, and they're totally fine, even if they don't measure up with the averages. I totally understand your concern when they're this little, but just thought i'd throw that out there....

I'm sending him some of my calories your way

 

QUOTE(littletwinmom @ Oct 30 2007, 02:58 PM) [snapback]473454[/snapback]
We have a friend with a 7 yr old daugher, who's just tiny! She's totally healthy and happy, just always been a "lil bit". I don't think she even weighs 40 lbs at this point. I think there are some people who are just little, and they're totally fine, even if they don't measure up with the averages. I totally understand your concern when they're this little, but just thought i'd throw that out there....

I'm sending him some of my calories your way


thanks! It's not the fact that he's small that concerns me. It's just that he's falling off his growth curve. He has had a steady decline. So that's the main concern. If his genetic make-up is to be a lil'squirt, then I'm totally ok with that (although it just seems unlikely--I'm 5'11'', and all my brothers are 6'4''. My sister is 6'1''.....and my first son is off- the -charts -big. So it just doesn't quite make sense.)

I'll keep you updated about the reflux. Thanks for the concern!

Reyna

 

Maybe he has primordial dwarfism? j/k

My boys are both really small. (They STILL aren't on the charts!) For many months Sean would only gain a few ounces at a time. He's 15 months old and barely weighs 18 pounds. I think it's an eating issue for him, he loves to eat, loves food, but he doesn't eat that much at each feeding. James will gobble up as much as an adult easily, but Sean eats about as much as my 3 yo. Recently he's gotten into the habit of throwing his food on the ground. I offer him snacks and make sure everything he eats and drinks is full fat. I also make sure he doesn't get an empty calories since he eats so little. I sprinkle additives on his food, like cheese or wheat germ.

 

My son did the same thing. He was finally gaining and doing great then fell right off the charts, thought it was a bit later than yours, mine happened at 18 mos. When he was still in the nicu though he did have a lot of trouble gaining and we had to put the neosure in the ebm as well. It just added 4 more calories per ounce or something like that. But it helped a ton. And I felt okay with it since it was still breast milk. I was able to breast feed him most of the day he just had to get a bottle 3/day. As he got older he fell off the charts completely, lost 2lbs in 2 mos or something like that. They tested him for cystic fibrosis which was neg. He does have reflux as well and is on reflux meds and always has been and doesn't help him to gain at all. He is on medicine to stimulate his appetite and when he doesn't have it he seriously doesn't eat. He does get 3 bottles of pediasure a day and is still tiny. \
I too wouldn't be concerned that he is tiny (all mine are tiny), but falling off the charts is concerning and I would see a GI dr to rule out any issues.
Good luck!

 

So sorry you are worried about your little guy.

My ds is in 50% for height and below the chart for weight. No concerns. He fell off the chart at about 12 months and 3 months later was doing his own curve. The doc said that because he is doing his own curve (just below most) he is not concerned.

My 1st ds did the same thing and finally got back on the chart when he turned 5 y/o.

Jenny!! :laughing:

 

my DD has never been on the growth chart - at nearly 18 mos she's barely 19 lbs...her brother is finally between the 5th and 10th percentile - but back to DD - since she's not losing weight and is consistantly growing on her own curve pedi's ok with it.

 

I appreciate you all sharing your experiences. I am glad to know I'm not the only one who has dealt with it---and I'm glad to know you all have happy healthy kids who are just lightweights!

Reyna

 

BFing babies usually drop some between six to 12 months. Those growth curves are designed for bottlefeeding babies! It is really hard when you have string beans when they hit this age.

First - if he is a good eater and he is still gaining height - try not to worry.

Next - to all baby food/table food - when you heat it up add about 1/8 pat of butter. I prefer real butter to margarine (if the flys wont eat it maybe we shouldn't either!) This will add a few more kcals to everything he eats.

If he ever takes a bottle, add an extra scoop of formula to it. You can even do this if it is breastmilk. Just add a scoop to the milk and go from there.

My seven year old had silent reflux. He spit everything up but it never seemed to bother him. You can have a baby with reflux who it doesn't seem to make feel bad. Try the reflux meds to see if they help!

Finally - try not to worry! As long as he is eating right he will gain what he needs to gain. Active breastfed babies just have a hard time growing! Personally - I try not to worry when I see this - since every breastfed baby seems to do this. Most have a little more chub to start with - but I think it is normal

 

Our reflux didn't clear up until 7 months - maybe you're almost there? I used to go through easily 6-8 baby outfits a day (and I had to change my own clothes most days!!) but now the babies can happily wear the same puke-free clothes all day. Phew. I never thought we'd get there! Of course we still have the occasional bit of spit up, but nowhere near the level we used to (I'm talking, major puke - my sofa is toast!).

 

I'm glad this got bumped up again---I was going to say that we've been on the reflux meds (zantac) for a little over a week now, and I can tell a huge difference!! He's not spitting up near as much (like maybe 1-2 times a day instead of 8-10) and he's eating more! I'm so glad. We're going to the Ped. today to get a follow-up weight check and the flu shot, so I'll let you know what he says too. Thanks for the support ladies,

Reyna