Marsha, I know that this is not exactly what information you wanted, but from personal experience of two children with 'slow weight gain' (also blamed on breastfeeding) here goes. My second swg child was born on the 75th percentile and by 9 months fell off the charts. Having been through the situation with her older brother [he just dropped to the 5th percentile though], I was more prepared for the onslaught against breastfeeding. She was on line with all other developmental milestones, just small. As the Dr. (I think he was a FP) geared up for referrals and testing, I pointed out, that 1) we'd been there before with her brother, 2) that she by all other measures was doing fine and 3)my mantra through both - I weighed 15 lbs at one year and my husband weighed 18 lbs so I didn't think her 16 lbs was all that bad. In reviewing records, this Dr. discovered my son had been mischarted. He compared both charts and realized that both grew, consistantly and evenly - just along their own lines, if you will. He commented to me, that that was most important - consistant, even growth - no matter how small or weirdly placed. We settled on more frequent weigh ins. I even volunteered to bring her in weekly just to avoid referrals and testing, so he understood I was being cooperative and wanted to work with him. And he recommended 1 bottle of formula a day (just to be sure). I assured him until the next checkup, that indeed she was getting 1 bottle a day (not that it was formula every time). This child continued to remain below the charts although amazing healthy until she was about 9 when her height shot up. She was still way low on the weight, until I read (here on LactNet) about zinc supplements improving appetite. After just one bottle of chewable zinc tabs, her weight caught up to where now, at 12 she is just 5 pounds from being even on both height/weight lines (although still only between 5th and 10th percentile). She has grown exactly as I did as a child (another reason I wasn't worried). I did not catch up to where I 'should' have been until my senior year in high school. My growth pattern was always attributed to poor health and a rough start in life. My daughter, with a similar pattern and no health issues has shown me, it was more genetics than anything else. I was formula fed and she was completely breastfed until 1 year when she got that 1 bottle a day (just to be sure) for a few weeks. In my case, obviously, formula did not help add weight or contribute to a better growth pattern. I realize that with an IUGR baby, there might be other issues, but as her health seems fine, her development seems fine, I have to ask - if it ain't broke why fix it? If she is growing, steadily - is there a reason to worry? Or was I just lucky and foolish enough to believe that breastfeeding wasn't at fault? (Tongue firmly in cheek) To add to this one last thing, re: Jessica's response to extended bf causing homosexuality. My response to everyone about this child's smallness and the implication by a number of people that by breastfeeding I was 'causing' it - "God made her just the right size for what he intended her to do in her life" - once I started responding that way, most people stopped the comments on her size. Leslie Ward Fort Hood, TX *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html