Breastfeeding Support Group

All 3 of my babies lost weight after birth - if he is back to his birth weight at 2 weeks, he (and you!) are doing fine. You are not a bad mom! I know we want to see then growing from the start, but he will be growing like a weed in no time! Hang in there!

This is normal. MAinly what they look for is be sure he is peeing and pooping the way he should. Be sure he eats every 3 hours. My first two did not lose weight but my daughter did. But she had lots of wet diapers. Now at 3 mos she is just growing so FAST!

Sounds like baby is doing just fine, he really hasn't lost that much. Just keep it up, he'l be a giant before you know it!

Oh that is very normal! My son lost 13 oz. and then gained it back by two weeks. You ARE NOT a failure! You are a great mom!

one of my twins lost a lot of weight after birth...it took her almost a month to get back to birth weight(she was 6lbs10oz, other twins was 5lbs13oz).
It is normal to lose up to 10% of their body weight. Think of all the energy they are using with crying and eating, and all the weight in poo that's coming out!
Keep breastfeeding when baby wants, and he'll gain! Do watch his color tho...newborns can get jaundice really easy, which causes sleepyness, which causes them to eat less and get more jaundice and lose weight.
You could talk to your public health nurse (if they have one in your area..we're in canada) if you want to get baby weighed frequently to be sure of weight gain. The maternity ward in the hospital could probably tell you where would be a good place as well.

one more thing, are you waking baby at night to feed? i woke up my kiddo's at night for the first month or two, if they didn't wake up themselves. I did one 4 hour stretch in the first month and then 2 four hour stretches in the second month..but my kids are also really crappy sleepers. I definetly wouldn't let at 8 day old sleep through the night tho...that little body needs to eat!

Hey, don't feel badly. This is totally normal.....as you said, you know that. That's really not that much weight to loose for them. And my first child did a lot of "snacking" too. That seemed to be ALL she did. My second, he was the "big eater"! My first was always on the low end of the scale. Always in the 10th and 5th percintile. But I knew she was eating and my milk was good and I had plenty of it. She was happy and so was I so that was all that mattered. Don't worry. I understand about the hormonal part too. That can make you worry about all kinds of things and we do feel like failures at times, but I want to assure you, you ARE NOT a failure. You're doing what's best for your baby and I think that's so great. You will really start to enjoy this experience more as time goes on. The bonding between mother and child is just awesome. I really believe that women who can nurse, tend to have a stonger bonding experience with their little ones. You will know what I mean when your baby no longer nurses anymore and YOU miss it! Anyway, I just wanted to let you know taht you are not the only one to ever feel this way and I'm sure your baby is healthy and happy. When she cries, nurse her. There's nothing wrong with that. And you will know that she is getting plenty. Good luck and God bless you and you are doing great mommy!!

I'm so sorry, I said "her". You have a boy. When "he" cries, nurse "him".

Your feelings must be normal. I cried when my son went from 7lbs 5oz at birth to 6lbs 11oz at his first doctors appointment. He's now 7weeks old and about 11 lbs. He's a 'sleepy eater', too.

From what you described, it sounds like all is fine and normal -- you're doing great. You can do it!


(I also went through the same emotions/doubt with my daughter nine years ago.)

Aww, honey this is totally normal. I know it's so tough in the beginning. Just hang in there. It gets better. I promise.