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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is tea for newborns madness?

92 replies

Situp · 30/01/2018 08:37

Cards on the table, I am living in Austria and have already had some differences of opinion with my midwife about some of her recommendations.

A lot of them turned out to be irrelevant as I ended up having an emergency c-section last week because my old c-section scar was at risk of rupture and the baby was in distress. She was quite a bit smaller than either of my other 2 babies.

Anyway, she is now 6 days old, EBF and has not quite regained her birth weight. Midwife came on Saturday and Monday and weighed her, she had gained 100g in 2 days.

The midwife told me that she is gaining weight too fast and that I should be replacing a feed with fruit tea.

Does anyone else do this or has anyone heard of this?

I will be honest that I have no intention of actually doing it so not really AIBU but am interested to know if this is actually a thing?

My next DC is nearly 5 so wanted to check that I haven't missed some seismic shift in breastfeeding ethos Confused

OP posts:
diddl · 30/01/2018 09:03

Tea for a 6 DAY OLD??????

My goodness, I can't believe that I've just read that.

I think I remember your previous thread Op that MW had some "off the wall" recomendations!

She sounds as if she is straying into being a danger!

Imagine if she said this to a first time mum who absolutely just took her word for things.

Schroedingerscatagain · 30/01/2018 09:03

If mother nature had intended babies to have tea you would have one breast dispensing milk the other tea! Do yours do that ?

Utter bollux, I remember your previous thread, Austria has some strange ideas as others have said you can’t over feed a breast baby and as a tiddler she’s just playing catch up

crunchymint · 30/01/2018 09:06

Other countries do give different advice about babies and children.This one is madness, but there is probably routine advice given out here that some other countries would think is madness.

tiggytape · 30/01/2018 09:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LIZS · 30/01/2018 09:08

It can be used for digestive problems, such as fennel tea for colic, but equally you can drink it and pass on some of the benefits in your bm.

MinnieMousse · 30/01/2018 09:10

It is quite common in Central and Eastern Europe to give chamomile or peppermint tea to babies. It's just a cultural difference.

crunchymint · 30/01/2018 09:11

And in every other country I have ever visited in Europe, tea does not automatically mean black tea.

goodbyestranger · 30/01/2018 09:12

OP DS1 was born in Munster and was given fennel tea in the hospital and subsequently (I'm not German incidentally, we were just posted there). DS1 has thrived in every way (he's now 24). I strongly recommend it, ignore the cynics!

SwishswishBiTCH · 30/01/2018 09:12

No don't do it. That's ludicrous advice. Babies need breastmilk only until 6 months. Gaining weight too fast? I have never heard anything like it in my life. Carry on the way you're going. She'll be gaining weight just fine.

Mrsmadevans · 30/01/2018 09:13

She is nuts. Congratulations OP !!

diddl · 30/01/2018 09:13

You'd have to be giving so little so as not to fill them up it would hardly be worth the effort of sterilising stuff!

Even then, is it suitable for 6 day olds??

goodbyestranger · 30/01/2018 09:14

crunchymint it is not madness!

duckponds · 30/01/2018 09:14

That is INSANE! What on earth? I actually thought it was very dangerous to give a newborn baby anything other than milk (or formula!), you’re not even supposed to have fruit herbal teas when pregnant?!

As for being concerned that she has put on too much weight- again what on earth?! I thought the more the better! My baby jumped up in weight very quickly at the beginning and is now a perfectly normal size- 50th percentile. I was told ‘you can’t overfeed a breastfed baby’

diddl · 30/01/2018 09:16

" I strongly recommend it, ignore the cynics!"

What was the reason behind your son being given it?

Allthewaves · 30/01/2018 09:19

Lol nope. Keep breast feeding and ignore

justforthisthread101 · 30/01/2018 09:20

Is this the same midwife that didn't want you to have a bath after you had the baby for some ridiculous length of time?!

Ignore her.

sarahjconnor · 30/01/2018 09:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Queeniebed · 30/01/2018 09:23

I was told only to give anything other than milk ie water if there was risk of dehydration - ie. baby was born during hot summer and given an ounce of boiled cold water if I was really concerned - but on top of milk

so NO!

Hissy · 30/01/2018 09:25

Smile and nod. Tell her anything to get rid of her and leave it at that.
she's an idiot.

polaricecaps · 30/01/2018 09:29

Is your midwife a Twirlywoo?

tiggytape · 30/01/2018 09:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FizzyGreenWater · 30/01/2018 09:31

Is this the nutjob you posted about with regard to your upcoming birth?

Seriously - she needs reporting. That is really unacceptably bad advice. I wouldn't even accept the four visits - I would be getting on to the hospital and reporting her. Right now.

Ginslinger · 30/01/2018 09:32

I had DS2 in Germany and we were advised fennel tea and camomile tea and he thrived.

BertrandRussell · 30/01/2018 09:34

“It isn't automatically "insane" just because it isn't UK advice.”

Of course it isn’t. However, it “is” insane when it goes against all research and WHO guidelines.

mikeyssister · 30/01/2018 09:36

DS was a low birth weight and doubled his weight in three months. I was never told anything other than feed on demand, despite his fast weight gain.

If you have any doubts ring your nice paediatrician.