Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
thornyhousewife · 30/01/2018 10:18

I can't understand why a midwife would say that? Tea for a newborn baby? There must be a mistake.

Stritzi · 30/01/2018 10:18

We live in Germany and like pp have said we where advised to give fennel tea in the same way you would give gripe water, but definetly not to replace a feeding. It actually worked quite well for DD

Original poster
Situp · 30/01/2018 10:20

@Elocutioner is this a good time to admit that due to a breakdown in communication I swallowed the glycerine suppository i was given in hospital? Grin still worked though!

I should clarify that it is herbal not fruit tea. I used the word fruit to separate from black tea. Sorry Blush

Have to say I am drinking gallons of fennel tea and not only have I got used to the taste I am producing so much more milk than with my other two.

OP posts:
Elocutioner · 30/01/2018 10:22

Haha OP nice one!

I managed to insert it in the right place, but just hours after giving birth the elasticity wasn't quite there and it kept falling out. No amount of clenching would work - in the end I just had to angle myself face down :)

Elocutioner · 30/01/2018 10:22
Melamin · 30/01/2018 10:28

Some fruit teas can be quite acid.

Melamin · 30/01/2018 10:31

LOL Grin at suppository

MinnieMousse · 30/01/2018 10:36

Have to say I am drinking gallons of fennel tea and not only have I got used to the taste I am producing so much more milk than with my other two.

I did the same and found I produced a lot more. After a few weeks I did find I emitted a strangely curry-like odour though!

Didntcomeheretofuckspiders · 30/01/2018 10:44

Is there someone you can report her to? I very much doubt she’s following her employer’s policies by suggesting that.

Babies can put on as much weight as they like, it really isn’t an issue. Especially as you had a tiny little thing, she’s just catching up! You should be thrilled that the feeding is going so well!

Hortonlovesahoo · 30/01/2018 10:58

I now Germans recommend tea after 6 months but nothing like that before.

goodbyestranger · 30/01/2018 10:58

On the maternity ward in Munster they offered me a space hopper to bounce up and down the corridor while I was in labour. I was too uptight right at that moment but there were three other women going up and down and along and up and down and along (all driving on the right in very orderly fashion). That was fairly surreal; the fennel tea paled into insignificance after that :).

Didntcomeheretofuckspiders · 30/01/2018 11:12

That’s amazing goodbye 😂😂😂

MashaMisha · 30/01/2018 11:21

I knew you must be in Germany or Austria!

I was recommended "breastfeeding tea" (disgusting stuff) to help my supply, and tea for the baby to help put on more weight, so I suspect it is just because tea is the answer to everything there. I ploughed my way through about 5 teabags worth, before giving up, and I didn't give DD any.

At the hospital I gave birth at, there was a huge menu of herbal teas, but every time I timidly selected one, I was told I wasn't allowed it, it was for women with "x condition" and wasn't indicated for me. The only ones I was allowed tasted horrible.

So far as reporting the midwife goes, the ones that visit you at home are usually private and "freelance", not attached to a doctor's surgery or anything. Mine was helpful and supportive, and I just ignored her more wacky suggestions.

MissDuke · 30/01/2018 11:25

Goodbye I LOVE that!!!! I bet it works too haha!

headinthecloud · 30/01/2018 11:26

Think in some European countries giving a baby camomile tea is meant to help with gas, rehydration etc. Personally I disagree with it and don't think a baby of that age needs anything more than milk. As for gaining weight too quick that's crazy and well done you for making BF such a success!

mehhh · 30/01/2018 12:20

Absolutely insane, don't do that

diddl · 30/01/2018 12:23

This wasn't also lost in translation was it OpGrin?

One of the reasons I bfed was to not be buying/sterilising bottles.

So I wouldn't be giving tea unless absolutely necessary medically!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page