My newborns underweight

[Mommytwo3]

Hello my new baby girl was 6lbs 11oz, four days later she was 6lbs 12oz, at her 2 week check up she was the 6lbs 12oz. and she first started eating every two hours now shes going longer like 4 hours each 3oz. I want her to gain weight but i don't know how. and when i try to feed her at least every two hours she crys and turns away from me.......... she don't want the bottle when try before the four wait.

[star queen]

It is normal for babies to lose a bit of weight then gain it back in a few weeks after birth. Breastmilk is an amazing thing.  After birth, your first breastmilk is mostly water with some calories in it.  Baby will lose some weight because the calorie content is low. The baby will also need to be fed more often at this time, about every hour or two.  In a few days your milk really comes in and the baby gets more nutrition and calories and will gain weight.  Each time you begin to breastfeed, the first milk they suck is mostly water, then after a couple of minutes the baby begins to drink the thicker sweeter milk with all the nutrition he/she needs.  If the baby is satisfied after the meal, the baby will not be hungry for a longer period of time, about 2-4 hours. Since baby turns away when offered the breast, that's okay. As long as they don't wait longer than 4 hours, the baby is doing well.   Beware of bottle feeding a breastfed baby.  Breastfeeding takes energy.  Baby needs to really suck and that works the muscles of the mouth, face, and neck.  Breastfed babies suck too hard on the bottle and get too much to eat all at once.  They figure out soon that they don't have to work too  hard to get food from the bottle and get lazy about breast feeding and may reject the better breast milk for the bottle because there is less work involved to eat.  Breastfed babies are fine with just breastmilk for the first 6 monts,but the bottle fed baby needs to include some food after about 4 months.  NEVER give a baby solid food when under 4 months of age, it's like cement in the stomach.  Good luck

[Renee Radenberg]

It is normal for an infant to loss a few ounces after coming home. That’s great she is eating every 4 hours instead of every 2 hours. I suggest you add an ounce (from 3oz. to 4oz.) to her bottle and see if she wants it or not. It is all right if she drinks only 3ozs. She will eventually drink more. Infants have a good gauge of the amount of formula they can tolerate. Thank you for your question.