Help! Don’t Know What to Do ...
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22058
Printed Date: 26 June 2025 at 9:01pm
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Topic: Help! Don’t Know What to Do ...
Posted By: Zebra7
Subject: Help! Don’t Know What to Do ...
Date Posted: 30 October 2008 at 9:43am
Hi Everyone ... just hoping for some advice as usual 
Amy has started sleeping through the night from around 7.30pm to 6.45am. She's done it 5 nights in a row now. I thought this was fantastic and the long term goal for any baby but the Plunket nurse isn't so sure as Amy isn't stacking on the weight. At her last couple of check-ups she first put on 120g in 1 week and then only 160g in almost 2 weeks. I feel like in the last couple of weeks we'd really turned a corner with her being much more settled, feeding better (or so I thought) and sleeping through. The Plunket nurse suggested waking her again in the night for an extra feed but i'm hesitant to do so. Help please! DH thinks it's all rubbish and we're doing fine but i'm the one who has to "face the music" each week with the scales. I should mention that Amy was a sizable girl at birth (4.3kgs) and is now almost 5kgs. The Plunket nurse was torn as to what to do because she thinks maybe Amy grew larger than she would have inside me and is going to be a smaller girl in the long run. ??????  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 30 October 2008 at 9:52am
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I'm no expert, but I would stick to what you're doing unless Amy seems unwell.
If she were lethargic and pale, and not feeding well or much throughout the day then it would make sense to keep feeding through the night, but if she is hungry when she's awake and feeding well, interactive and happy, then why fix what's not broken? How often does she feed during the day? ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: Zebra7
Date Posted: 30 October 2008 at 9:57am
I guess i'm feeding her on demand through the day but I don't let her go longer that 3 hours from the start of one feed to the next one. She's always been quite a slow lazy feeder and gets worse towards the end of the day. We're currently doing a feed around 5.30, followed by a bath, more feeding and then a top up bottle of EBM by DH before bed. It's an exhausting couple of hours 
I'm thinking of maybe giving the 10pm dreamfeed a go with a bottle ... probably of formula at first until I can build up my expressing. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 30 October 2008 at 9:57am
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Sorry, but once Issy started sleeping through the night there was no way in hell I was going to wake her lol
My mw said to wake her during the day, but at night to feed her if she woke, otherwise leave her. (Although we didnt have weight issues) Surely if she needed food she would wake for it? ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: first
Date Posted: 30 October 2008 at 9:57am
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Yeah plunket can be a bigger pain than good sometimes. I think as long as she is gaining some weight at each weigh that you shouldn't worry. You know you daughter best - is she happy through the day because she is obviously happy at night?
I wouldn't wake her personally I think that she would ask to be feed if she needed it. Maybe if you were concerned you could feed more often through the day but then I would be concerned about her getting into a cycle of snack eating. It will be interesting to see what people say on this one. Good luck whatever you decide to do. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/"> 
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Posted By: Zebra7
Date Posted: 30 October 2008 at 9:59am
Totally agree on the Plunket thing first! If it wasn't for the weigh-in i'd think I was doing brilliantly  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 30 October 2008 at 10:04am
We had the same situation when Daniel was 3 weeks - his weight platueaued (he was 4.2kg when born, and plateaued at 4.5kg). He was sleeping through the night (bliss) but we were concerned by his weight. After about 5 nights he started waking in the night for feeds, so did it himself. So I didn't have to decide to start waking him (luckily, cos it would have been a hard decision to make!). Is Amy on track with all other developmental milestones? If I was in your shoes, I'd probably give it another week or two and then review the situation. Mum's sleep is important  ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 30 October 2008 at 10:28am
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I would be reluctant to wake her, she is gaining weight. If she had gained nothing or had lost weight I would worry. If she is alert and happy during the day and has lots of wet nappies I honestly wouldn't worry about it.
If you do decide to try and give her extra food then I would do the dream feed that you are talking about, if you are awake for it (as opposed to your DH doing it for you) then I would just pop her on the boob instead of giving formula. The rooting and sucking reflex works when they are asleep and she will quite happily feed off you without even waking up. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 30 October 2008 at 10:31am
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I have to say Im with lilfatty! Once Caden started sleeping through there was no way in hell was gonna wake him for feeds either. The way I see it is that if they are hungry they will wake up!
Amy is obviously happy with sleeping through, so in my honest opinsion I would leave her be. Also-Plunket kept telling me to not give caden solids until 6 months, but I KNEW he needed them sooner, so he wa son babyrice just before he was 4 months, and a MUCH happier boy for it! Plunket can be a pain in the ass sometimes. Id go with mothers instinct(I always have). ------------- |
Posted By: Zebra7
Date Posted: 30 October 2008 at 11:36am
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Thanks so much guys
I've just spent the last hour and 15 minutes trying to get as much food as possible into her. Maybe i'll try doing that during the day and leave her at night. Maybe she'll have a growth spurt soon and start waking up herself at night needing extra food. At the moment she does wake during the night but quickly settles off to sleep again. Surely if she was hungry when she woke she'd cry out? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 30 October 2008 at 12:13pm
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Yep!
One thing I have learnt is that a hungry baby will not sleep ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 30 October 2008 at 12:17pm
I agree! ------------- |
lilfatty wrote:Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 30 October 2008 at 12:51pm
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dont worry too much about how much she weighs. she could be growing in length instead, my boys always did. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: Charlis_Mum
Date Posted: 30 October 2008 at 1:36pm
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Plunket did the same thing to me - put me in a right panic.
I thought I was doing great as Charli had been sleeping 10 or 11 hours at night consistantly for ages and although she was gaining weight at a slow but steady rate, they still thought she wasn't drinking enough in a day and to encourage her to drink more. I'm sure you all know how hard it is to force a baby to drink!! As long as she was a happy baby, then we had a happy family and I have learnt not to take things Plunket say too seriously. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: cat007
Date Posted: 30 October 2008 at 2:19pm
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I agree with everyone - plunket occasionally gets it wrong. I wouldnt wake her. If she wakes herself though I would feed her but as long as she is putting on weight then it doesnt matter. In the first few months, babies apparently should put on 100-200g a week. These can fluctuate though, some weeks only 60-80g and others well over 200g. As long as she is not loosing weight I wouldnt worry too much. Go with your instincts on this one! I do suggest though that if she starts waking in the wee hours of the morning then wake her up for a dream feed at approx 10pm instead - give her a top-up and hopefully she will start to sleep through again. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  [/url http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Zebra7
Date Posted: 30 October 2008 at 4:23pm
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Such good advice as always. I love Ohbaby
Thanks everyone  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 30 October 2008 at 6:46pm
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Sometimes a baby will not put on so much weight for a couple of weeks and then growth spurt (and then they'll often wake in the night again too!). Keep on doing what you're doing for another two weeks, then go back and get her weighed at the Plunket centre (just drop in, people do it all the time, you don't need to explain it) and if you're still concerned about her weight increase then go with the dreamfeeds.
She was a pretty heavy baby at birth but was she overdue or on time? -------------  |
Posted By: BugTeeny
Date Posted: 31 October 2008 at 9:31am
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Personally, I wouldn't worry.
5kgs for her age is in the 50th percentile. At 2 months Hannah was 4.72kgs and wasn't sleeping through the night - so she was getting that extra feed. While Plunket can say things you disagree with, they're just going on what's average for babies at the same stage. They don't know your baby like you do, so just take what they say with a grain of salt. They're there to help guide you, so just take what info you find useful and leave what you don't
You're doing a fantastic job, follow your instincts and enjoy the sleep 
*eta* Hannah's just had her 9 month check and is 7kg on the button - so not quite a 3kg gain in 7 months. But she's happy, healthy and sleeps though the night. PLunket nurse was a little concerned, but she knows Hannah better now, so is a lot more relaxed about her size. Keep up the good work  ------------- 
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Posted By: Zebra7
Date Posted: 31 October 2008 at 9:38am
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Thanks MamaPickle
busymum, she was overdue by 6 days and still didn't want to come out when I was induced! I ended up having a c-section ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: tamiem
Date Posted: 31 October 2008 at 9:46am
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Hi - our DD arrived a whopper at 4.5 kgs, and started sleeping all night (11-13 hrs) from a month old.
She didn't put on terribly much weight from around 2 wks - to maybe around a month old. She was born in the top percentile, but then over this time shot down to close to the middle one (in her Well Child book). I was a bit worried at first, but she was happy and healthy and really settled so I figured she was okay!!! (and our Tipu Ora nurse was happy with her). Now she's 5 + months old and growing really well (up and out) and still sleeping well during the day and at night. Hope this helps! ------------- The Sale Fairy is a weekly email newsletter, advertising online sales & specials for baby, children’s and maternity products. www.thesalefairy.co.nz info@thesalefairy.co.nz |
Posted By: Zebra7
Date Posted: 31 October 2008 at 9:50am
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It does help - thanks tamiem ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Zebra7
Date Posted: 04 November 2008 at 1:10pm
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Okay so now i'm all horribly worried again and upset
Took Amy to Plunket this morning for a weigh-in and she's only gained about 20grams this week! Obviously the Plunket nurse is now worried so we're off to the GP this afternoon. After spending almost 2 hours (!!) feeding Amy when I got home i'm now exhausted and emotional. She's such a lazy feeder and i'm not sure what I can do about it. Even when we feed her a bottle of either EBM or formula she's painfully slow and we have to keep waking her up to make her continue. I really want to continue with breastfeeding so am worried that too much bottlefeeding will mess with my supply but don't know what to do ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 04 November 2008 at 1:53pm
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Oh hun that's no good! Maybe the dreamfeed might be a goer then just to get a little bit more into her? We used to have to do it for Jack, because although he wasn't at risk (was in the 50th percentile to start with) his rate of growth diminished and he ended up at the 25th percentile so we had to get as much as we could into him.
I would be tempted to do the dreamfeed and then you still get a full nights sleep. You don't want to have to wake her in the middle of the night for a feed, that's just crazy
let us know how you get on though. I always just thought of it this way - Jack was the same as I was as a baby with his growth and I was considered normal. It's just that these days babies are so huge that as soon as a normal sized kid comes along they go on and on about how skinny they are etc etc. Drove me batty for the first 8 months until we got the all clear. Hugs hun. |
Posted By: Zebra7
Date Posted: 04 November 2008 at 4:02pm
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Thanks emz
I just wish she would feed. Feel like i'm going to be in a straightjacket if this continues ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 04 November 2008 at 4:13pm
Ahh sounds like my little boy! 2 weeks over due, 48 hour labour ebding in c section, 
ETA-Just saw your last post. Hun i went through the same thing with Caden, right from birth he was only gaining round 20-40gs a week. I ended up changing him to formula and he thrived. However I have just found out today that he has a tongue tie, this is the reason why he couldnt feed off me very well, tongue tie babys cant latch well, and when they do they cant suck well, so they dont gain much weight and are grumpy cos they are not getting what they want. So i wouls get plunket to have a little looksie to rule out a tonge tie. If Cadens had of been picked up soonerwe could have had it fixed and I could have fully breastfed him, so Im really gutted. ------------- |
Posted By: Zebra7
Date Posted: 05 November 2008 at 3:29pm
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Sorry to hear that that's what was little caden's problem sheza. It's so annoying that it wasn't picked up sooner as you say. This whole parenting thing is so hard!
Our little girl seems to be a bit of a mystery. Took her to the GP yesterday and she was just as puzzled as the Plunket nurse because despite not putting on much weight she is very settled. So we're hopefully getting an appointment with a paediatrician at the hospital ... at some stage! Having said all that today she's not settled at all so maybe she's having a growth spurt (fingers crossed) and will just be one of those babies who plateaus and then spurts  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: MissCandice
Date Posted: 05 November 2008 at 8:48pm
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Hey, Big hugs!
My girl was born 6 pount 12, for the first 3-4 weeks she put on 100g a week.. then it was about 0g. Shes 15 months old and weighs 8kg, she grew tall instead of out. My MW was never worried.. ------------- ~ Mummy to a beautiful girl ~ |
Posted By: Zebra7
Date Posted: 06 November 2008 at 9:03am
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Thanks KylahsMum
It's all so crazy isn't it? Amy is the picture of health and what i'd consider to be very content. If it wasn't for all this weighing i'd think she was doing brilliantly! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: BugTeeny
Date Posted: 06 November 2008 at 9:12am
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The weight issue can drive you batty, huh?
At the end of the day, as long as Amy is happy and settled (as she is, from what you've said), then I don't feel there should be cause for concern. At Hannah's 3 month check, she's only gained 50gms in the previous month. I know each baby is different, but I hope it's comforting to know that my happy, thriving wee lass was "weight challenged" like your wee Amy. (I hope that makes sense). Have you got a breast pump? Perhaps you could try expressing and then feeding her? That way you can see how much she's drinking (if only boobs came with a gauge!!) and go from there? She could be a super efficient feeder - while it doesn't look like she's taking much, she may be a little gutz with a fast metabolism
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Posted By: Zebra7
Date Posted: 07 November 2008 at 10:17am
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Thanks MamaPickle
Boobs definitely should have a gauge ... although that would be a little icky, haha. Have been doing the 10pm dreamfeed again and so far it's going really well. I was actually expressing around that time of night anyway so I think my supply is quite good then and she seems to have a good feed and then goes back to bed with no dramas. Hopefully it shows up on the scales next week. Not enjoying my weekly Plunket visits! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: BugTeeny
Date Posted: 07 November 2008 at 10:47am
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Keep us posted
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Posted By: kmarie
Date Posted: 09 November 2008 at 2:01pm
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Hey big hugs - it's not easy when the experts advice seems to contradict what we thought was all good
If it's any consolation... one of my nieces only just doubled her birth weight at 8months old. I think my sister in law had a few ppl say similar things to her, but she took the angle that as long as she seemed happy and was putting on weight, then she must be fine. And she's a lovely, happy, petite lil girl :) Sounds to me like you're doing all the right things. And the best thing you can do is try to relax, cuz the more stressed you get, the more stressed Amy will get, and that's no good for either of you! I know that Kiwilaurie in the September 2008 thread has been having similar probs with her wee Jackson, maybe lurk in there or send her a PM and you might be able to swap ideas? Oh - and fingers crossed with you that she's going through a growth spurt now!! Hugs again ------------- 
twins in heaven Oct07 Is 40:11 "He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart." |
Posted By: Zebra7
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 5:35pm
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Great news everyone! Went to Plunket this morning and Amy has gained a very acceptable 160g in the last week
I guess the dreamfeed is working and i'm completely stoked. Thanks for all the support ladies ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: BugTeeny
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 6:26pm
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Oh YAY!
I'm so pleased to hear this! Keep up the good work, Mum!
*edited for crap spelling -------------
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Posted By: kmarie
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 7:32pm
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That's so great to hear! Keep up the awesome work You're obviously doing all the right things -------------
twins in heaven Oct07 Is 40:11 "He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart." |