To think giving expressed milk in bottles doesn't mean 'breastfeeding and supplement feeding'

[Ems101]

ARGH!!!!!!!

So this is kind of stupid and not that serious but it's really pissed me off!

I went for my 6 week check today at the docs and was sitting in the waiting area feeding my baby boy a bottle of expressed breastmilk. The doc came out to call me in, so saw me with the bottle. When we were going through his red book, she asked how many bottles he had, I said he maybe has one a day to get him used to them (he's going to nursery in September for a few hours so will have to have bottles then) but that I was using EXPRESSED MILK! Anyways, when I got home and looked at the page she filled in I see she's ticked the box 'Breastfeeding and supplement feeding'.

Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely nothing against formula, I will probs have to use it at some point, but I got really annoyed that she's put I'm using formula. My boy has done so well with his weight gain and I want it to be recogised that it's down to me and my milk! Breastfeeding hasn't been easy for me but I've stuck to it, and now when people look at his records they're gona think he's put on so much weight becuase I give him formula!

I'm seeing them again next week for his jabs so I will make sure it's changed.

Sorry, I just felt the need to vent :o

[HollyFP]

Does it matter what's in the book? I never take my DD to get weighed any more, just not needed since she was consistently on 75th centile and EBF
You will know the difference, that's what matters

[Lilithmoon]

YANBU. Congrats for your new baby!

[5ofusLookingForHorcruxes]

Change it - no-one looks at them anyway

[ragged]

What 5ofus said.

[TastyMuffins]

It bloody well does matter, that's her statistics on breastfeeding reflected on that! Statistics are collected from GPs on how many babies are breastfeeding, artificial feeding or mixed feeding. These are used by the local health services.

Be proud of your achievements too, they shouldn't be diluted by a doctor reporting them wrong.

[MrsHicks]

Supplementing doesn't necessarily mean formula. You can supplement with expressed breastmilk. It refers to the fact he's getting bottles, not what's in them, although top-ups are frequently formula. You can ask them to add 'with expressed breastmilk' maybe? By the way, are you making sure you pump for every bottle he has? It could make a difference to your supply when it switches from endocrine driven at 12 weeks.

[Clueless79]

I'd also be irritated if not given full credit for the progress my boy is making on bf alone! Seems to me that so few people actually do EXCLUSIVELY breastfeed whether expressed or not. Can I ask what you mean about the change in supply, MrsHicks?

[ragged]

How do those statistics matter to OP, TastyM?

[hairfullofsnakes]

Yes just ask them to add 'with expressed milk'

[ZombiePlan]

YANBU to want them to specify that it's an EBM bottle feed. Expressing can be hard work - a little recognition of what you're doing is nice!

Clueless - in short, removal of the placenta triggers milk production hormones, which kick off the whole thing. Your hormones continue to govern milk production for a while, After approx 3 months, the drive for milk production changes from endocrine to autocrine control systems (i.e. it switches form hormones to demand-and-supply). So basically, if you don't put the demand there then the supply will dwindle. Ideally, when expressing, you should mimic the baby's demand for milk (expressing at least as often as they feed is best). HTH

[ZombiePlan]

Sorry, some words vanished - that should read "at least as often as they have an EBM feed" - you don't need to bf and express at every feed , just express for each EBM feed to "cover for" the missed bf.

[MrsHicks]

Clueless, in the first 12 weeks of breastfeeding supply is largely controlled by hormones (endocrine control) - this is why lots of people have an overabundant supply to begin with. At 12 weeks it switches to supply and demand and some people experience supply problems at this point when things were previously fine. It really depends on the person though.

[InfestationofLannisters]

That's interesting.

And bloody well done OP for BF and storing BM, sterilising and washing bottles

[TastyMuffins]

Ragged, the statistics help to know where children are getting the full benefits of breast milk and where more help and support is needed it also reflects the support and advice being given in the local area. If large numbers of babies are being only partially breastfed it implies that the right information and support is not getting through. Mothers who supplement breastfeeding are likely to give up breastfeeding sooner than they want to and babies are not getting the full imuno protection of exclusive feeding.

How do they matter to me? I work in the health service.

[pyjamababe]

Sorry, I have to ask, why imply that breastfeeding your child is an achievement tastymuffins, thereby implying those who don't/can't have failed? Is that what you meant or have I misunderstood? I admit I am sensitive on this issue but I find the implication upsetting, in fact I am a bit sick of reading that kind of flippant remark.

OP congrats on your new baby, change the book if it bothers you, but no-one has looked at mine so far! (ds 18 months).

[NurseSunshine]

The OP mentioned that she had found it difficult to bf, Pyjamababe, therefore to have been able to work through those difficulties is an achievement.

I am finding bfing easy, therefore not much of an achievement, more just something I do IYSWIM.

[HandDivedScallopsrgreat]

I exclusively expressed (DS didn't latch on) and that was always noted as EBM. Although one of the paediatricians we saw in hospital thought that meant FF which caused no end of bother as they were measuring his blood sugar levels at the time and apparently they should be different for FF and BM.

I would be pissed off too as expressing is bloody hard work as each feed (I used to express everytime DS fed) used take over an hour.

[Quis]

Congratulations on your baby ems101. Definitely get the HV to change it, it's totally reasonable to want the correct info in your ds's book.

pyjamababe - it is an achievement to exclusively bf, and one women are allowed to be proud of. It's not implying anything about anyone else.

[Dakiara]

I'd just annotate the book myself tbh. No reason why you shouldn't, after all. :)

[bubblesincoffee]

Pyjamababe, OP has established breastfeeding, and managed to express, and still has the hassle of sterilising and sorting out bottles - and a breast pump! That is an achievement, and surely you can see that the OP is genuine and not a backhanded dig at ff.

Honestly, people can't say anything about bfing on here without someoen being offended. Says more about them imo.

I would be annoyed at this too, but looking back can see that nobody except me ever looked at the book anyway. And it is wrong that they would record that the baby is supplemented without stating what they are supplemented with if it's used for statistics.

[Clueless79]

There are at least 2 discussions going on here but re supply and demand does that mean that if id like to be able to ebf and express some to 'bank' for a rainy day does that mean I'd better start increasing now? Am at 11 weeks and feel like I only just have enough for feeding at the moment. If I intend to express at all do I need to have it built up now or else never be able to?

[pyjamababe]

See, this is what happens when you have a glass of wine with dinner... You end up posting on a bf/ff thread when you most definitely should/do know better!

I will take a deep breath and return to buttoning my lip. Well done OP and others on your amazing achievement, I wish you and your dcs all the best.

Aptamil is my friend and will remain so evermore and if any of you catch me getting huffy on a bf thread again you may tell me to get a life and remember that my ds is an amazingly happy, healthy little boy who lights up my life :o Oh, and tell me to put the wine glass down too...

[ZombiePlan]

Clueless - many women find that it's harder to increase supply after 12 weeks than it is to increase it beforehand. Doesn't mean you can't do it, but if you want to store some milk in advance then you could try expressing after the first morning feed (you're more likely to have "spare" milk at that time of day). You can store expressed milk in the freezer for up to 6 months (but you do need to buy special bags for freezing bm, don't just use regular freezer bags).

[valiumredhead]

Cross it out and alter it but does it really matter?

[wellamI1981]

I'd be well pissed off. Get them to change it. I am SO proud of EBF my DS and so should you :) only one in 100 women at 6 months apparently!