Big baby at birth now dropping through percentiles?

My boy was 10lb 2oz at birth, which is 99th centile. He dropped to around 78th in the week after, and since then has stuck at around 70th centile (he’s now 12 weeks). I was also worried because he’s technically crossed three centile lines, but the paediatrician we saw said it’s normal for larger babies as you say to catch down a bit. My health visitor suggested that I could have had undiagnosed gestational diabetes as that can lead to big babies that don’t hold their weight after birth, as they’re artificially large if you like, due to the blood sugar of mum. I wasn’t screened for GD this time as I was with a trust that doesn’t routinely screen without the risk factors. I was tested with my first, and was negative. No. 1 came out at around 65th centile and has stuck to exactly that (she’s now 3). Both have been EBF. If they’re feeding, peeing, pooping and still gaining weight (even if not as quickly), then I think there’s unlikely to be too much to worry about. How has feeding been?

So your little one stuck at the 70th? I feel like the fact he's dropped to 25th is just such a big drop 🤷‍♀️
He suffered really bad with silent reflux so the first 5 weeks were a struggle to feed until he was on medication..then it was a slow improvement up to about 9 weeks, he would only take 1/2/3 oz at a time here and there it was so sporadic. Then when he hit 9 weeks he started to actually finish 5oz bottles and be settled with feeding and since then has moved onto 7oz feeds 4 times a day with a top up feed before bed sometimes and he sleeps through the night. He is gaining weight just slowly. From his 7 week check to his weigh in at 11 weeks he put just over 1lb on and then this time again just 1lb in 4 weeks.

To add I was tested for GD all the way through my pregnancy as I had it with my first son but all tests were negative in second pregnancy

Yes, he has so far. I have to admit I’ve become a bit neurotic about it and weigh him quite a bit (I bought a proper scale after the kitchen scales became too much of a faff). I’m keen to know if he changes from that line so I can try to do something about it, like paying more attention to feeding (though I don’t know how much even that would change things, I do believe they take what they need). We’ve been having issues with allergies (suspected CMPA with constipation and reflux), so that adds to my anxiety over it all. It must be very stressful for you - I would trust your instincts over it and ask for a second opinion, if you think it would help. That’s good that he’s taking more milk on. Does he seem to be holding at the 25th now, or is it too early to tell? What centile was your first, and how has it changed as they’ve grown? I know no two babies are the same but I figure it’s at least an indication of the size of baby you would tend to produce, given the shared genetics.

I had a piece of paper on the fridge with times he drank and how much he'd had that feed as I was getting so panicked he wasn't getting enough...I stopped once he seemed to settle with his feeds but I don't think he was having near what he should have been? Oh gosh we had the constipation too due to his medication for reflux so had to prescribe lactulose for him too 😭 it's just so horrible for them when they are so small and you treat one thing only to cause another issue for them! So I feel your pain with all of that! It's too early to tell as it's literally been this week he was weighed again...he looks a normal healthy, extremely alert baby but I think because they said at that initial weighing that if he drops he should really be referred it's played on my mind. My first was just under 75th percentile and followed that line through all his checks so this is a first for me. However he was smaller in length, my second was born 7cm taller than my first, maybe my 2nd is just going to be tall and slim 🤷‍♀️

Wowee, 7cm! A long tall boy - mine is the same, just like Daddy! It’s really stressful - we also have him on lactulose, though I’m hoping to reduce that now he’s pooping a bit more normally (he was going only once every 10 days). This newborn shit is hard - I thought having done it once before it would be easier, but I think it just gives you something to compare to. That sounds very similar to our experience - we keep being told how healthy and content he is, so health professionals haven’t taken anything too seriously. Don’t be afraid to put your foot down - I paid to see an IBCLC about the allergy stuff as no one was hearing me, and she had me go to A&E and demand to be seen by the paediatrician for reassurance. It’s still obviously great that he’s alert and developing normally, but that doesn’t mean things couldn’t be improved. Has he been checked for tongue tie? I know that can impact reflux. Are his poops generally normal without the gaviscon? Have you looked into CMPA at all?

I know CMPA parents can be a bit trigger happy and attribute everything to it, but it could be something to explore. It can cause weight gain issues, particularly if it causes bad reflux and diarrhoea, and refusal to feed.

@Sarah I feel you there!! You think having done it before you know what you're doing....how wrong was I?! 🤣 I spent the first 5 weeks just crying to my partner saying why can't I cope and why can't I settle him when I've done it before with my eldest....but then you understand why when you know they have silent reflux.
Docs said he doesn't have CMPA as he doesn't show any of the signs for an allergy. With tongue tie can't say I ever asked to be checked as it doesn't look it to me but then again I am no professional and he did used to click when feeding on all bottles but that seems to have stopped the past few weeks now.

@Lucy ahh are they putting your little ones down to a milk allergy then? Jenson has no symptoms for allergy and has silent reflux so he doesn't bring up milk it's just the acid he suffers with

That’s interesting, because silent reflux is absolutely a potential symptom of CMPA. I’d be wary with GPs as they seem to know bugger all about it - I was also told it’s not CMPA because my boy was constipated, and didn’t have the explosive diarrhoea they were used to seeing. Also, my baby didn’t have the rash which can go with it - I’m not saying your baby has it, but bear in mind that they can still have it even if they only show one or two of the whole list of symptoms (despite what GPs say). My friend’s daughter didn’t get diagnosed until 1 because she only had projectile vomiting as a symptom, with no other signs.

https://kingstonhospital.nhs.uk/healthcare-professionals/paediatrics-referrals/cows-milk-protein-allergy-in-children/ here’s a link with more about it

Given that you’re formula feeding anyway, it could be less of a crapshoot - if you request a paediatric review, which you’d be well within your rights to do on the basis of the slow weight gain, you could ask to be prescribed hydrolysed formula. Over here I’ve had to eliminate egg, soy and milk in the name of finding the culprit, and each elimination takes weeks - I certainly considered switching to formula for the love of cheese 🥴

Of course you could ask your regular GP, but it sounds like they won’t be supportive. You could also ask for a referral to your local infant feeding team for their opinion, and a tongue tie check. I opted not to in the end as he’s feeding well now, but it’s good to know the options are there.

And lastly, I feel you on the crying - baby blues mixed with the whole mystery of it, parenting two babies and feeling like the rug has been pulled out from under you all gets a bit much! You’re not alone!

My boy was born 8lb 8 on the 75th percentile he’s now 14 weeks and at 12 weeks was just above the 50th but worried that he’s dropped more, when I next go back. I have type 1 diabetes so he was quite a big baby when born and maybe he’s just finding his line. But I constantly worry. He’s EBF and doesnt know how to take a bottle so can’t even do top ups. What are the symptoms for a cows milk allergy?

from NHS:
• skin reactions – such as an itchy rash or swelling of the lips, face and around the eyes
• digestive problems – such as stomach ache, vomiting, colic, diarrhoea or constipation
• hay fever-like symptoms – such as a runny or blocked nose
• eczema that does not improve with treatment

It’s a murky world and they can be mild through to extreme. Mucus and/or blood in poop is another one. This link has a lot of good info: https://www.allergyuk.org/about-allergy/allergy-in-childhood/cows-milk-allergy/

thank you 😊