Expert: Sally Wendkos Olds - 2/16/2007

Question
My name is Fauziah. I am from Malaysia and I had given birth on the 14th of April 2006 and I have been breastfeeding my baby girl until now. I am working full time and I expressed milk while at work. But I have no problem with my milk supply because I'm using quite an efficient pump - Medela Advance Traveller Breastpump.

I wanted to asked your advice on something. I'm really in a lot of stress and dillema now. My baby is losing weight and I can't figure out why. I had just been to the clinic to do check up on my baby and the nurse said that my daughter is losing weight.If the trouble persist, in a month, she says she has to refer my baby's case to a doctor. My nanny keep insisting that I've mix another milk into my baby's diet because she says my daughter drink only a bit of my milk during her care. She says my baby refuse to drink my milk although at home, she never had any problem while breastfeeding or even if I gave her my milk using the bottle.  

I had gave my baby rice, with chicken/fish and vegetable (blended) everyday and some baby's biscuit but she's still losing weight.

I don't know what to do anymore although I think her weight lost is actually because of her sleep time. She sleeps so little and she likes to play a lot.

And at night, she seems to fuss a lot. I don't know wether that is  because she is hungry or she's having colic. At night, she wakes up and she drinks from me and then she move away from me crying and a bit later she went to my breast again and repeated the process of crying and moving away for several time until she quiten again.  

I don't know who to turn to and I'm also losing sleeps and rest because of this.I feel so tired and tension because of this.

I really wish I will be able to breastfeed until she is two years old but I don't know how to answer to my nanny anymore.(because she thinks my baby is losing weight because of my milk).
  
Thank you for your advice and assistance and any advice you gave is appreciated.  

Answer
Dear Fauziah,

First, congratulations for giving your daughter the best start in life by breastfeeding her!

It's hard for me to tell why your baby is losing weight, but this is a symptom that you need to check out with a doctor. You want to rule out any kind of medical problem. I urge you to make a doctor's appointment for your baby right away. If she/he says that the baby is healthy, then you can start adding more milk or more solid foods to her diet and stop worrying and losing sleep. I don't think that your milk is the problem if your baby is nursing well, but as I said, this is something you should see a doctor for, not just your nanny.  Please call the doctor today!

Good luck to you and your daughter!

Sally

Sally Wendkos Olds
Author, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING: Eiger & Olds, 3rd edition 1999, published by Workman Publishing & Bantam Books, and available in most public libraries, bookstores & La Leche League chapters.