I saw a mom this week with a baby who has what I'd call slow weight gain. Baby is gaining, although not as well as I'd like. Baby is three months old, exclusively breastfed, and is actually my partner's patient, who is a pediatrician. My partner is more or less neutral on breastfeeding issues, and doesn't have a lot of knowledge on helping to solve problems. She is quick to recommend supplements. Baby was 7#14oz at birth. At 2 mos was 10#2oz. She had happened to have been weighed 2 weeks prior to the two month visit, and had gained only a few ounces in 2 weeks. Partner told her to nurse more frequently and advised weighing baby before and after feeds, and supplementing if not taking adequate amounts (but no advice to mom on what an adequate amount is, nor does mom have a scale available) Mom never did either weigh baby or supplement. Mom went to midwife for a check up and weighed baby there last week. On the midwife's scale, baby had not gained any weight in 1 month. (Different scales used for weights, though) Mom brought baby to me for an urgent visit. Baby weighed naked on same scale as 2 month visit was 10#12oz now. This was a 10 oz gain in 30 days. Baby is alert, active and beautiful. Is now between 10-25% for weight, and also grew an inch. My only concern is that this baby nurses only every 3-4 hours. Also, mom is back to work and baby takes just 2 4oz bottles of EBM in about 9 hours. Mom reports that baby just won't eat more frequently, and if offered, sucks just a few times and falls asleep. They co-sleep, but baby often nurses just 1 time at night. I recommended more frequent nursing, breast compression, and offering more pumped milk at daycare. Mom is concerned about not pumping enough. She currently leaves just the 8 oz because that's usually all she has available. I gave some tips on pumping more. Any advice on getting this munchkin to eat a little more frequently? Mom has a follow up appt with my partner, so I'm sure will be getting more pressure to supplement if weight hasn't picked up. I'd like to say I can influence my partner, but that's a story for another day. Also, her elderly mother in law accused her of starving the baby, and printed out an "appropriate" diet for her from the internet, which listed huge volumes of milk baby is supposed to be drinking. (of course this web site also stated baby should be receiving infant formula or breastmilk, in that order.) I did give mom some tips for dealing with unsupportive family members, which I've had a fair amount of personal experience with! Jennifer Tieman, MD Family Physician Mom to 3, and new baby #4 expected 5/31/03 *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] 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