Well...my GP has just recommended we look at topping up with formula!

[loonylovegood]

I know there is a thread similar to this already, but I'm feeling a little peeved and didn't want to hijack!

My ds is 4 weeks tomorrow, he was born on the 99.6th centile at 10lb 8oz and has dropped to the 75th centile at 11lb 5oz. The HV weighed him yesterday and because he has dropped more than 3 centiles she told me to take him to the GP.

I took him this morning and the GP said he was fine, a little skinny maybe, but nothing to worry about. She then said if he has not started "thriving" by next week then we would have to look into topping up with formula!

This is not something I want to do and I don't feel it is neccessary, but because the GP said it, not just the HV, I now have a niggling doubt in the back of my mind! Grrrr....she has made me quite cross!

[cornsilk]

Why are you cross?

[NeverTickleASleepingSoupDragon]

Is he content (but not sleepy)?
Is he gaining weight, not losing it?
Is he having plenty of wet and dirty nappies?

[lulumama]

11lb 5 oz doesn;t sound skinny at 4 weeks...! surely thriving means more than gaining pounds... a happy content baby, weeing and pooing, alert when awake, settled between feeds, is surely thriving...

[loonylovegood]

I'm cross because I'm sure this is not good advice. Surely if I start topping up with formula this will decrease my supply of breastmilk and make bfing more difficult.

He seems fine in himself, poos everyday and is weeing a lot. He does sleep a lot, but when he is awake he is very alert and happy and smiley.

[MarsLady]

ditto soupy's questions!

Also... how are your breasts? The nipples?

Is he attaching properly?
Does he feed well?

[CarGirl]

My friend had a dd who weighed over 11lbs by a year old she weighed around 20lbs and is absolutely fine - many women just grow big babies on the inside and once on the outside find their centile to follow. My last 3 were all big at birth - 98th centile, one dropped to 75th, one to 50th to where they are meant to be.

As long is your baby is happy, showing interest in milk etc, wet nappies he is almost certainly fine.

Stop going to the HV!!!!!!!!!! Also find the chart for bf babies I believe the weights are different?

[MarsLady]

also... how often is he feeding? (or did I ask that already?)

[CarGirl]

Kellymom.com has breastfed average growth charts see if they help at all. TBH I think it is probably quite typical that a lot of big babies at birth to drop through the centiles quite rapidly, they wouldn't be worried if a 2nd centile baby was now on the 25th would they (like my dn!) her growth was almost verticle!

[loonylovegood]

I'm sure he is attaching ok, it does take a few attempts sometimes, maybe I'll go back to the bfing counsellor just to make sure. He is feeding every 3-4 hours or so.

I bfed my dd for over a year and want to do the same with my ds, so I don't want to do anything to jeopardise this, but at the same time I want to make sure he is getting enough food!

[tiktok]

This is probably your baby doing 'catch down' growth which is a well-known phenomenon and common in babies who start off very big....it's a physiological return to what the baby is 'programmed' to be, and it makes no sense to interfere with it if the baby is healthy, happy and thriving.

Shame your GP isn't aware of this.

There is an academic paper on it here which you might want to share with her.

You are of course quite right about the craziness of topping up with formula - if there is a real issue with your baby's growrth, you can increase his breastmilk intake - see the other thread - by offering more feeds ad/or 'more breasts' at a feed. But honestly, if you are happy you are feeding him responsively and he is showing all the signs of health and well-fedness....why bother?

[loonylovegood]

Thanks everyone. I'll see what he weighs next week and if he is ok I'll stop going to the HV! I became quite obsessed with growth charts with my dd (the HVs kept telling me she was too big!) and I'm determined not to let myself get that way again!

[CarGirl]

Why go to the HV next week??? Just curious,if you don't go it will give you nothing to worry about?

[LittleBellatrixLeBoot]

Next time you have to see your GP, go with a print-out of Tiktok's link and some info about the effect of topping up on milk supply.

Honestly, it shouldn't be up to nursing mothers to educate medical staff about breastfeeding, should it?

[CarGirl]

Have had a quick look at my red books one of mine dropped to 75th by 8 weeks, and 50th by 16 weeks (where she still is) and my HV never said anything at all.