He's Just Not Gaining Weight

sweet*life · #1 January 18th, 2010, 05:56 PM

**Also posted on Preemie board

I had a late term preemie so he was born at 36 weeks on the dot due to my antibody problems. We knew that there was a chance that I had some IUGR going on, but the doc confirmed at Layne's last weight check a week ago that they are pretty sure I did in fact have IUGR (Intrauterine Growth Restriction). We don't know what caused it, but strongly suspect my antibodies were to blame (I had the Parvovirus, anti E, and anti JKA antibodies). I've been taking Layne to weight checks every week. He weighed 5 lbs 12 oz at birth, and at 5 weeks old he still hasn't even gained a full pound. He is up to 6 lbs 10 oz today, but he weighed the same thing a week ago, so he went an entire week without any weight gain.

I've been working with an LC to make sure that he's getting enough breastmilk and we've also been supplementing a lot with formula. We know he's getting enough food, but he's just not gaining. Heck, today he got 80 cc's in one feeding which is amazing

I'm guessing the IUGR is to blame for the lack of weight gain?

I have another weight check this Wednesday, and hopefully I will get to talk to the doctor. I think this means he will probably push for the weight gain formula. The LC thinks I should try to breastfeed more often because he is getting more milk out of me than I think. She said breastfed babies usually gain really well in the first 6 months because of how fatty the breastmilk is.

I'm not sure where to go from here. I secretly kind of enjoy that he's so little because he's my last baby and my other kids were all huge and grew super fast so I didn't get to enjoy the newborn stage for very long. Layne is still in preemie clothes at 5 weeks old. One annoying thing is when I take him out in public people always say "Oh wow, he's a brand new one" and then they look at me like I shouldn't be taking him out so young. I'm constantly correcting people saying "Well actually he's 5 weeks" and then I get the weird looks like "Why is he so small then?" My other babies never got this much attention but Layne is very tiny. Even at 6 lbs he looks even smaller because his head is very small so all you can see sticking out of his carseat is his teeny, tiny little head, lol! Even preemie hats are a little big on him.

Anyways, I just figured i'd check in and vent

i3ai3ydanny · #2 January 19th, 2010, 07:44 PM

Aww...sometimes it can take a while for preemies to catch up. With IUGR I would assume it could take a little longer. I haven't had experience with either but my mom had 3 preemies out of 6 kids so she has experience with it and two of the preemies are 18 years younger than I am so I got help too. I hope he starts to pick back up soon for your sake though so you won't have to worry about him!

*tacii · #3 January 20th, 2010, 02:17 PM

My LO was also IUGR, not discovered or diagnosed until 38 weeks gestation. Was induced immediately and my little guy weighed 5lbs 2oz. He's been slow to gain, consistently staying on the 3rd %ile until about 6 months, where he then dropped off the charts. He's healthy, happy and thriving though.. just small. He's currently almost 32 months old and he weighs 22lbs soaking wet. I've talked to a few other mom's of former IUGR babies and it seems that they do take longer to catch up in weight. I hope your LO starts gaining soon!