Pediatrician Keeps Saying Baby Is “ Small”

[Anonymous]

OP your baby was bigger than mine at birth and at all of your reported weights and my doctor was perfectly happy that she be on her own petite little curve. I’m small, and she was 6oz larger than me at birth. I EBFd, the only “extra” thing we did was one weighted feed in the pediatricians office to make sure she was getting enough, since little babies have less margin. No supplementing, no pumping. My pediatric practice is more old school.

I was monitored for IUGR during my pregnancy, and I had one really great nurse say to me basically, they now treat all small people like we’re aliens because the averages are moving upward. She pointed at me (I’m 5ft and about 105lbs when not pregnant) and said “where were you even going to put a 10lb baby?!?” I found her comforting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just got back from my 2 month appointment for my son today. Born on 12/9. His weight today was 10lbs 8 oz and height 22inches. So technically even smaller than your baby. My pediatrician didnt say anything about his size at all. She went on and on about how great he looked and how good he was doing. Dont change a thing she said.

I think your doctor is causing you unnecessary stress and worry!

OP here. Can I ask his birth weight? Is he breastfed or formula fed?

My baby is EBF and his birth weight was 7lbs 4oz.

[Anonymous]

The issue is that the ped is talking to you but not making it clear whether she is identifying a real medical concern that requires action or whether she's just observing his size and saying well, you might try to goose him up the chart by doing XYZ if you want to try it but no harm either way.

It's really a shame that she doesn't know how to be clear because you shouldn't have to exist in a state of uncertainty and resultant anxiety about this.

That would be the reason why I'd think about a different ped. You want someone whose cues to you are not equivocal.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We have an appointment with a new pediatrician today. I explained everything going on and all the measures I’ve taken and my concerns and the pediatricians concerns. She looked at me like I was nuts. She weighed him, asked a bunch of questions about birth weight and weight at other appointments,
how much he eats, diapers, and his development. She said everything was fine, and while small, he is on his growth curve and growing. She also advised me to return to nursing if I’m more comfortable doing that than breastfeeding. She said to keep the formula for now but don’t cut back on the breast milk he is eating now. We plan to switch to a this pediatrician.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We have an appointment with a new pediatrician today. I explained everything going on and all the measures I’ve taken and my concerns and the pediatricians concerns. She looked at me like I was nuts. She weighed him, asked a bunch of questions about birth weight and weight at other appointments,
how much he eats, diapers, and his development. She said everything was fine, and while small, he is on his growth curve and growing. She also advised me to return to nursing if I’m more comfortable doing that than breastfeeding. She said to keep the formula for now but don’t cut back on the breast milk he is eating now. We plan to switch to a this pediatrician.

What does this mean? I’m glad you found a better pediatrician!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The issue is that the ped is talking to you but not making it clear whether she is identifying a real medical concern that requires action or whether she's just observing his size and saying well, you might try to goose him up the chart by doing XYZ if you want to try it but no harm either way.

It's really a shame that she doesn't know how to be clear because you shouldn't have to exist in a state of uncertainty and resultant anxiety about this.

That would be the reason why I'd think about a different ped. You want someone whose cues to you are not equivocal.

If someone is genetically destined to be thin and small, isn't shovelling in extra calories actually harmful? In a nation with rising obesity rates I'm surprised people are still leaning towards pushing more calories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We have an appointment with a new pediatrician today. I explained everything going on and all the measures I’ve taken and my concerns and the pediatricians concerns. She looked at me like I was nuts. She weighed him, asked a bunch of questions about birth weight and weight at other appointments,
how much he eats, diapers, and his development. She said everything was fine, and while small, he is on his growth curve and growing. She also advised me to return to nursing if I’m more comfortable doing that than breastfeeding. She said to keep the formula for now but don’t cut back on the breast milk he is eating now. We plan to switch to a this pediatrician.

What does this mean? I’m glad you found a better pediatrician!

OP here. I meant to write that she said I can return to nursing instead of pumping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We have an appointment with a new pediatrician today. I explained everything going on and all the measures I’ve taken and my concerns and the pediatricians concerns. She looked at me like I was nuts. She weighed him, asked a bunch of questions about birth weight and weight at other appointments,
how much he eats, diapers, and his development. She said everything was fine, and while small, he is on his growth curve and growing. She also advised me to return to nursing if I’m more comfortable doing that than breastfeeding. She said to keep the formula for now but don’t cut back on the breast milk he is eating now. We plan to switch to a this pediatrician.

What does this mean? I’m glad you found a better pediatrician!

OP here. I meant to write that she said I can return to nursing instead of pumping.

I am so relieved you got a second opinion with someone you seem more comfortable with!!

Do YOU feel better? (I hope you do!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We have an appointment with a new pediatrician today. I explained everything going on and all the measures I’ve taken and my concerns and the pediatricians concerns. She looked at me like I was nuts. She weighed him, asked a bunch of questions about birth weight and weight at other appointments,
how much he eats, diapers, and his development. She said everything was fine, and while small, he is on his growth curve and growing. She also advised me to return to nursing if I’m more comfortable doing that than breastfeeding. She said to keep the formula for now but don’t cut back on the breast milk he is eating now. We plan to switch to a this pediatrician.

What does this mean? I’m glad you found a better pediatrician!

OP here. I meant to write that she said I can return to nursing instead of pumping.

I am so relieved you got a second opinion with someone you seem more comfortable with!!

Do YOU feel better? (I hope you do!)

OP here. Yes and no. I feel relieved that my feelings were validated that we were doing everything right and that he is fine, but a little part of me worries to return to nursing. It’s a pain to pump but I like that I know exactly how much he eats in a day. It gives me relief knowing how much he is eating and that he ate enough. I’m considering pumping for another 1-2 months until we see the pediatrician and I know he is still gaining weight. My worry is I will nurse and then he will lose weight or not gain enough and I won’t know how much he eats. We will still supplement but I’m not going to cut his breast milk intake. I do like that my husband can feed him and other family members. He does seem to like nursing but I feel it’s more of a comfort thing now that he’s used to getting milk from bottles. I’m unsure how I will stop pulling to nurse or continue for another 1-2 months to be sure he is gaining weight and staying on his growth curve.

[Anonymous]

Have you started him on solids yet? Obviously, it's not his main food source at this point, but it's an added way to get more calories in him here and there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We have an appointment with a new pediatrician today. I explained everything going on and all the measures I’ve taken and my concerns and the pediatricians concerns. She looked at me like I was nuts. She weighed him, asked a bunch of questions about birth weight and weight at other appointments,
how much he eats, diapers, and his development. She said everything was fine, and while small, he is on his growth curve and growing. She also advised me to return to nursing if I’m more comfortable doing that than breastfeeding. She said to keep the formula for now but don’t cut back on the breast milk he is eating now. We plan to switch to a this pediatrician.

What does this mean? I’m glad you found a better pediatrician!

OP here. I meant to write that she said I can return to nursing instead of pumping.

I am so relieved you got a second opinion with someone you seem more comfortable with!!

Do YOU feel better? (I hope you do!)

OP here. Yes and no. I feel relieved that my feelings were validated that we were doing everything right and that he is fine, but a little part of me worries to return to nursing. It’s a pain to pump but I like that I know exactly how much he eats in a day. It gives me relief knowing how much he is eating and that he ate enough. I’m considering pumping for another 1-2 months until we see the pediatrician and I know he is still gaining weight. My worry is I will nurse and then he will lose weight or not gain enough and I won’t know how much he eats. We will still supplement but I’m not going to cut his breast milk intake. I do like that my husband can feed him and other family members. He does seem to like nursing but I feel it’s more of a comfort thing now that he’s used to getting milk from bottles. I’m unsure how I will stop pulling to nurse or continue for another 1-2 months to be sure he is gaining weight and staying on his growth curve.

You can buy a scale and do weighted feeds. If he is hungry he can work harder at the breast and get more fatty hind milk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you started him on solids yet? Obviously, it's not his main food source at this point, but it's an added way to get more calories in him here and there.

He just turned 8 weeks. Solid are not recommended until 4+ months. He will get such litter from purées or BLW that it wouldn’t make much of a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you started him on solids yet? Obviously, it's not his main food source at this point, but it's an added way to get more calories in him here and there.

OP here. He is 8 weeks old. Way too young for solids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We have an appointment with a new pediatrician today. I explained everything going on and all the measures I’ve taken and my concerns and the pediatricians concerns. She looked at me like I was nuts. She weighed him, asked a bunch of questions about birth weight and weight at other appointments,
how much he eats, diapers, and his development. She said everything was fine, and while small, he is on his growth curve and growing. She also advised me to return to nursing if I’m more comfortable doing that than breastfeeding. She said to keep the formula for now but don’t cut back on the breast milk he is eating now. We plan to switch to a this pediatrician.

What does this mean? I’m glad you found a better pediatrician!

OP here. I meant to write that she said I can return to nursing instead of pumping.

I am so relieved you got a second opinion with someone you seem more comfortable with!!

Do YOU feel better? (I hope you do!)

OP here. Yes and no. I feel relieved that my feelings were validated that we were doing everything right and that he is fine, but a little part of me worries to return to nursing. It’s a pain to pump but I like that I know exactly how much he eats in a day. It gives me relief knowing how much he is eating and that he ate enough. I’m considering pumping for another 1-2 months until we see the pediatrician and I know he is still gaining weight. My worry is I will nurse and then he will lose weight or not gain enough and I won’t know how much he eats. We will still supplement but I’m not going to cut his breast milk intake. I do like that my husband can feed him and other family members. He does seem to like nursing but I feel it’s more of a comfort thing now that he’s used to getting milk from bottles. I’m unsure how I will stop pulling to nurse or continue for another 1-2 months to be sure he is gaining weight and staying on his growth curve.

You can buy a scale and do weighted feeds. If he is hungry he can work harder at the breast and get more fatty hind milk.

OP here. Which scale do you recommend. I had read many are inaccurate and not worth the money.

[Anonymous]

OP don’t let this make you obsessive. You don’t need scales, tracking oz, etc. feed to hunger. Baby will cry if hungry. Track wet and dirty diapers. Go back to basics. It’ll be ok. Use a lactation consultant if you need support.