Agree to Disagree
The longer I think about this issue with Bridget’s weight gain, the more I think I just have to listen to my gut here, and that tells me she is fine. I’m not going to worry too much. However, I have made some adjustments. First, I am now nursing her on a schedule, rather than trusting her to tell me she’s hungry. She gets way too interested in exploring to realize she wants to eat. But when I put the boob in front of her, she seems to say “Oh yeah, I could eat!” Also, I am pushing the solids in larger quantities than before. The lactation consultant said bananas and avocado were good foods because they are high in calories. Luckily, she likes both of those foods. And I have been giving her one bottle of soy formula a day, usually after she wakes up from the afternoon nap and has her vegetable for the day. I honestly don’t think that I could work pumping three times a day into this equation, and then to see her spit all my effort back up would be very upsetting.
I can already tell that things are getting better. She nurses for longer at a time. She spits up much much less, even after the formula bottle, and she seems to be a bit heavier. I had thought I would take her back to the doctor for a weight check this week, but I’m going to wait. Maybe next week.
I adore my pediatrician, and I don’t doubt that he knows his stuff. But I just can’t follow this advice. I will work to help her put on more weight, but giving her a bottle of formula after every feeding is just not feasible for her. It’s a waste of money and I think it will eventually lead to me giving up nursing, which I don’t want to do. I’ve come to realize that I love nursing her. Yes, it’s a bit of a pain, but I love to look down at her and have her look at me with those big blue eyes, and reach up to grab a handful of my shirt or try to grab my hair. It’s our thing and I cherish it and I’m not ready to give it up.
So I’m resting easy now about this. Thanks for all of your advice and support. I can’t tell you how much it’s meant to me.
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I’m so glad that you’ve found your zen in all of this. I totally know that feeling. I was like you were in regards to the Mini’s head. I was obsessing over it so much and spending every last waking hour making sure I was positioning him properly, and getting up 6 times a night to move his head the right way or prop him up. I was completely losing sight of doing what I should be doing most. Enjoying this time with him. Honestly, he’ll most likely end up in a repositioning helmet, and I’m over it. It’s not the worst thing in the world. And if he doesn’t and this situation corrects itself with our help, well then it’ll be a nice surprise. This parenting thing is a tad bit stressful, no?
I think you’re doing the right thing. No one knows your baby better than you. I can’t help but think that a plan that involved a lot of stress on your part (trying to pump) and her part (spitting up so much) may have done more harm than good, even if your doctor has the best intention. You are completely tuned in to Bridget and you have come up with a plan that seems to better suit you all. So you try it your way for 6 weeks and see what happens. I’ve seen the pictures and though she may look wee, Bridget looks mighty healthy and happy to me!
“it’s yo thang, uh, do whatchya gotta do!”that’s all i have to say
“it’s yo thang, uh!, do whatchya gotta doooo”that’s all i have to say, mommy
I’m glad that you’re feeling better about the whole dilemma. I was the spit-up-queen of babies, and I’m small and all is well - I think humans are all just DIFFERENT and therefore eat, poop, grow, develop, etc differently. You’re doing the right thing by following your mommy-gut instincts…IMHO.
I am glad you have come to a resolution that works for you and trying other options first because the formula supplement every feeding seems like a lot of effort.
Donna, I have been laying low on this topic…obviously Chloe has the opposite problem and is massive. Nothing to do with me…she is built like her dad. I do want to say that my brother’s daughter has never left the 3rd percentile in weight since the womb and is a very healthy, very active, and happy kid at 16 months. My bro fretted for so long about it and then let it go because she was super healthy, just very tiny. Again, I don’t give my opinion when it comes to this topic…but I can say from my brothers point of view that as long as Bridget is healthy, developing and happy..which she is…..she will grow to be a “normal” kid. On the positive side, your back will thank you that you aren’t hauling around a huge baby…so is positively adorable, I happen to dig little Peanuts…I was one myself.