Over the weekend, my son had his 4 month appointment. This was a big accomplishment...we all survived the first 4 months with a newborn! Thank God! These first 4 months were challenging, exciting, intense, and most of all AWESOME! I can not put into words how life changing having a baby is! On to the details of the appointment...
Our Son is perfectly healthy, hitting all of the milestones for his age! The only thing that this neurotic mama worries about is his weight! Our son was small when he was born (if you wanna hear about it, check out my Birth Story) and really hasn't caught up to the normal...here are his stats!
Height = 25 percentile (stayed same)
Weight = 5 percentile (dropped from the 10th)
Head Circumference = 10 percentile (stayed same)
Everyone tells me not to worry about it, including my husband, but I can't help it, I am the mama! Isn't this my job?
I can't help but think maybe it's me (because I am breastfeeding), but at the same time, some babies are just small, and then all the sudden they just have a huge growth spurt!! Guess I will just try to leave it in God's hands!!
What is your experience with your check up's for your babies?
Were your babies above average, below average, average? How did this change over time?
My son is a little one too. He was 5-10% in everything for the longest time. He's now 2 1/2 and he's slowly catching up. He's 25th for weight, 45th for height, and 20th for head. The doctor has never been concerned...I think he's just a little guy :) Im your newest follower and would love for you to follow back!
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Thanks Candice! Good to know!!
DeleteCongratulations on your little bundle of joy! You know, my son was formula fed because I was on medications that were incompatible with breastfeeding, and he was HUGE... he was off the charts size-wise. My daughter was exclusively breastfed, and she's TINY. She also dropped from the tenth percentile to something like the third, and I was freaking out. But the lovely ladies in the La Leche group explained that the growth charts the doctors use are based on formula-fed infants, who are on average bigger than breastfed infants, simply because breastfeeding supplies the exact balance of nutrition the baby needs, whereas formula can pack on extra pounds, both because of the makeup of it and because babies who drink from bottles tend to take in more food than those that nurse.
ReplyDeleteSo most breastfed babies end up looking teensy on the growth charts. What's important is what's normal for HIM. As long as he's following the proper growth curve, he's getting everything he needs.
So anyway, I know this was a ridiculously long comment, but I wanted to send some words of encouragement your way. You're doing great!
I'm a new follower from the hop. Congrats on being the guest host! I write a humor blog about all things motherhood, and I hope you can drop in sometime! It's usually good for a laugh, and sometimes even a snort or two!
All the best to you and your sweet little boy!
Smiles, Jenn @Misadventures in Motherhood
I have heard about the different Percentiles/Charts for Formula Fed Babies vs. Breastfed Babies! I was actually researching it this past weekend! I am planning on doing a post for explaining everything I found! Good stuff! Thanks for your encouragement!! Love your blog too!
DeleteActually not all kids who are breastfed are tiny. All 3 of mine have been exclusively breastfed (never took a bottle really even with EBM, any of them) and I've also brestfed them for a long time - first one self-weaned at 22 months, second one I weaned at 20 months because I became pregnant. All 3 of them are huge (both height and weight have been in the 90%-tile their first year of life for the first two, and for the baby who is 4 months now.)
DeleteI'm just trying to say that while yes, I agree that breastfeeding is the best way to go and the baby will ABSOLUTELY get everything he/she needs, it's not an indicator of a small size. I also know quite a few people whose formula-fed babies are on a smaller size. It just depends on the genetics and the size of each individual baby, I think. Everybody can't be in the 90%-tile, otherwise the average just won't make any sense :) Some babies have to be small :)
Irina
My two girls were/are both small. Born 6lbs 9ozs and 6lbs 11ozs. My oldest stayed around the 50% until 6 months and just dropped but she was in the 95% for height, she's all leg, at almost 3yrs she weighs 28lbs now, each and every pound hard earned.
ReplyDeleteMy baby now is very tiny. 8 months old and 13lbs. She is in the 25% for height (I think). We have been to doctors for extra check up but both hit all their milestones ahead of "schedule".
I say trust your gut and mom instinct.
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Thanks for the encouragement! All these posts make me feel better! My son is hitting his milestones ahead of time as well! he was small when he was born too at 6lbs 3oz.
DeleteThanks again!! Following you too!
Dont worry yourself too much. I saw some chubby cheeks on your little guy today! I was also reading that if they stay on their curve its just what's right for them. Every baby is different and some are just naturally smaller or bigger.:)
ReplyDelete:) Thanks Heather!
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