HV comments on extended breastfeeding?

[TomRipley]

Not a BF v FF debate.

DS had his 1 year check over the phone yesterday. Questions about his diet, milestones etc.
Than asked about his milk intake. When she hears he's breastfed she asks if he's drinking any other milk which he isn't. I said I've tried cows milk in a sippy cup a few times but he doesn't seem to like it.

She then says 'oh, well he really should be drinking another milk by now as breast milk isn't enough for him. There's no iron or calcium in breast milk past 6 months' then went on to suggest I try oat, soya or aptamil milk as it has everything in it. Or, if I'm just going to feed him breast milk I should be give him a multivitamin.

Am I right in thinking this is really shitty advice and not at all true?
I challenged her of course as we'd already spoke about his food diet and how well and varied he eats and expressed no concerns about his health or development.

Her response was that it was up to me but that's what is recommended?!

I felt the same attitude from our last HV at my DC’s 12 month assessment last month. She asked me why I still haven’t introduced cows milk 🤔 Which I actually did, dc has porridge/weetabix with cows milk every morning since 6 months old. But she implied to replace breastfeeding with cows milk. I shrugged it off at the time, but thinking about it now, makes me rather annoyed. No wonder rates of breastfeeding is so low in this country.
Our original HV is amazing though, and last year the advice regarding breastfeeding and vitamins was vitamin D from birth, A and C from 6 month.

At the very least, she needs retraining.

This is shitty advice. Presumably you are feeding food from 6 months, and that will have adequate vitamins, iron and the things she is worried about him missing out on. Just check what he is eating and ensure all bases are covered.

Thanks for all the replies, I really did feel like complaining the more I thought on it but wasn't sure if I was overreacting.

DS does have vitamin D drops already plus other dairy everyday but it can't hurt to include a multivitamin so I'll probably get some.

She is wrong. Also breaching guidance on not recommending follow on milk as it's not evidence based. She has obviously been taught by someone who attended a training day sponsored by Aptamil.

@roguetomato

I BFed my dc until he was nearly 2, and he was under dietitian because of his severe allergies. She recommended addition of fortified milk too, and we did. As I understand, that breast milk is not nutritious enough after certain age.

Yes if it was the only source of nutrition the baby had at 1 year old or more. It probably would t be enough, but it’s nutritious enough along side a well balanced diet

Is he healthy?
There’s your answer.

I b/f both of mine for the first year. Our daughter exclusively formula feeds. At 11 months, he’s exceeding all goals.

You do you and delight in your child.

Nonsense, I bf to 18 months - On top of bm DD was getting calcium and iron from yoghurts, meat etc.

@TomRipley

Not a BF v FF debate.

DS had his 1 year check over the phone yesterday. Questions about his diet, milestones etc.
Than asked about his milk intake. When she hears he's breastfed she asks if he's drinking any other milk which he isn't. I said I've tried cows milk in a sippy cup a few times but he doesn't seem to like it.

She then says 'oh, well he really should be drinking another milk by now as breast milk isn't enough for him. There's no iron or calcium in breast milk past 6 months' then went on to suggest I try oat, soya or aptamil milk as it has everything in it. Or, if I'm just going to feed him breast milk I should be give him a multivitamin.

Am I right in thinking this is really shitty advice and not at all true?
I challenged her of course as we'd already spoke about his food diet and how well and varied he eats and expressed no concerns about his health or development.

Her response was that it was up to me but that's what is recommended?!

All children up to age 5 are advised to supplement vitamins A, C and D unless taking more than 500mls of formula.

Tell her the World Heath Organisation recommend breastfeeding until AT LEAST two years of age!

I’ve just been told I’m breastfeeding my daughter too much and that she’s ‘failing to thrive’ as a result. This is based solely that she’s only just going into 9-12 month clothes at 12 months. Apparently I need to stop and mix double cream into all of my daughters meals. I’ll be ignoring such wisdom from the health visitor.

I breast feed till 3y and my little one was found to be anaemic at around 2y varies diet not much meat - so we have just always given well baby vitamins with iron to boost his diet. Strangely he kept chewing leaves in the garden but 2 weeks after the medicine this stopped !

...... and this is why the HV service needs to be reviewed - as it's no longer fit for purpose.

She is sharing advice that is different and worse than the evidence based NHS information. It is additionally poor when it also challenges your choices as a parent. Complain. She has a duty to be accurate - that is her job and her poor approach will impact on less confident parents.

Well done on 12 months bfing 💞

Ignore the HV.

Build your tribe, the people that know what they are talking about and support you!!

Urgh, how annoying. So many health visitors seem to be extremely unknowledgeable about breastfeeding.

Also, this is the multivit we use 🙂

Nature & Nurture Baby & Child Vitamins. The Vegan-Friendly Gentle Liquid multivitamin for Babies, Toddlers and Children. Made in The UK. 60 Doses. https://smile.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07D1DT6SF/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabcNEVYSK4KY94WX9YVAAD9??encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Dangerous nonsense. Why on earth would the breast milk of a different animal be more nutritious than the breast milk from your mother? Makes absolutely no sense. Multivitamins can't do any harm but whether they're needed depends on diet, NOT breastfeeding vs cows milk. Baffles me how some health visitors stay in the job when they clearly have NO idea

I was told similar... essentially to make sure child is getting enough calcium through dairy but yoghurt, cheese etc all good too and leafy greens like broccoli. Plus vitamin D supplement. They also tend to tick of night time breastfeeding due to teeth - did you get that one too?:;

Like others say - ignore and / or complain as her advice is not in keeping with the evidence. As an aside , if you're after advice and support for extended or natural term breast feeding and are on FB- look up. "Breastfeeding older babies and beyond " . It's a really lovely supportive group

Honest to God I'd ignore most advice given by the NHS regarding breastfeeding. My health visitor, when I told her at the 6 week check that breastfeeding, after a shaky start was going well, suggested that I then move onto formula.

Anyone who mentions the 6 months thing with breastfeeding is written off as a bit thick and ignorant. No matter what their job.

Absolute shit. Your breastmilk is highly nutritious. Please complain because uneducated people like her are dangerous when they're given responsibility like hers. Next time point her in the direction of the world health organisations recommendation to breastfeed until two or beyond and that it's the most nutritious thing for the first two years of life and suggest she spends some time either reading some scientific and medical journals or choosing a new career.

@21Flora

I’ve just been told I’m breastfeeding my daughter too much and that she’s ‘failing to thrive’ as a result. This is based solely that she’s only just going into 9-12 month clothes at 12 months. Apparently I need to stop and mix double cream into all of my daughters meals. I’ll be ignoring such wisdom from the health visitor.

WTAF???

I have two daughters. The youngest is much bigger than her big sister was at this age. They could both basically wear the same clothes but be slightly too short and slightly too long.
My youngest will over take her sister in height. I breastfed them both exactly the same amount of time.

Please complain about your HV

Forgot to say. It’s purely down to their individual builds. One is just very petite and the other is tall for her age

@MimiSunshine it’s really worrying that people like my health visitor are giving people advice. My daughter has always been round about the 25th percentile give or take. The health visitor has never seen or weighed my daughter!