Doctor just told me how skinny my Baby is and asked me how I'm feeding him, should I complain?

[Donnadon346]

I have just taken my DS who is 10 weeks old for his first set of immunisations, when I walked in the room the first thing the doctor said to me was 'he's very skinny how are you feeding him'
DS was 7lb 4oz born and is now well over 11lb so growing perfectly, I am breastfeeding and he had tongue tie when born so although he lost a little bit of weight to start he soon started putting on once tongue tie was cut.
DS is my fourth child and I am 38 so know he is healthy and am confident that BF is going well however had I been a bit younger or if this was my first child having that said to me by a medical professional would be really upsetting and potentially put someone off breastfeeding!
I am wondering if I should speak to the practice manager, as i know it made me feel really crap having her question his weight and if I am feeding him properly so don't want anyone else to be made to feel like this

Just sounds like she was concerned? I think YAB a bit unreasonable, she could have worded it better I guess

Nope.

You go and get your child weighted at the weekly clinic with your Red Book to prove his weight is fine.

It sounds like it might have been a bit too abrupt but really, you want to complain because a DOCTOR was taking an interest in your child's welfare? It wasn't like yo u were there to see the doc and she insisted on going in the pram.

You just tell her breast and she's holding her weight line.

Doc might check red book.

Doctors stabs your child in the thigh and makes him cry. All done.

I’d complain if a highly trained doctor didn’t question the nutrition of a baby they deemed to be underweight.
And yes, it COULD put someone off breastfeeding potentially. But if a baby wasn’t getting enough from BF then why wouldn’t the mother be willing to supplement with formula?
I’m unsure why you’re angry.
Good on the doctor for expressing concern and taking steps to help.

You sound defensive. The GP will rightly have the babys best interests at heart.

Does he look skinny? It's good that they brought concerns up, even if proven to have no weight

My child took ten weeks to get back to birth weight (I’ve got type 1 diabetes she was a bit plump when born). As long as weight is going up fine. She could have worded her question better though.

Doctors need to check if they are questioning failure to thrive who are you going to complain to what are you goibg to say i am furious a HCP was worried about my baby ?

I know everything is different now but I thought gaining about half a pound a week was the aim. So eight weeks old four pounds heavier sounds alright to me.

I think you've over reacted to her enquiry. I see it as positive that she asked and was concerned. What if it was someone else who's baby did have an issue. If she thought it but didn't say anything for fear of upsetting a mum it could be a different outcome for another baby. She was just doing her job.

Maybe he’s long limbed and looks a bit slim.

Why would you complain? It's her job to recognise unwell babies or mums. What if you complain and she stops commenting and a malnourished baby is overlooked?

You're being overly sensitive and a bit of a dragon.

Doctors would be criticised hugely for not noticing a baby that seemed under their 'normal' weight range, so although the wording wasn't great they sound as though they were doing their job.

What? you want to complain about a Dr who was concerned about your childs welfare?! The world has fucking gone mad.

Lord above, is no issue too small to be complained about?

Why would a doctor be doing your immunisations?

The dr was right to ask if there were concerns regardless of the method of feeding. With my second, the health visitor has been worried that my newborn isn’t drinking enough formula but was happy with weight gain once she had checked it (although wanted to see intake going up) I’d rather they ask and give advice if necessary.

Get over yourself a bit. The doctor was doing his job and was concerned. You really arent an expert just because you've had 4 children. The doctor has probably seen hundreds. Imagine complaining over this!

however had I been a bit younger or if this was my first child having that said to me by a medical professional would be really upsetting and potentially put someone off breastfeeding!

I'm sure it wouldn't.

It's not like they're going to dash to the Co-op on the way home and grab a tin of Cow & Gate.

They'd no doubt have a word with their HV/other HCP and have their minds put at rest.

His weight is fine, my concern is the way she worded it, she didn't ask me any questions first just stated that he's very 'skinny'. Maybe I'm just hormonal but my worry is that a first time anxious mum would really worry that they are not feeding their baby properly if they had been told they were skinny by a doctor.

I think you are making a massive mountain out of a molehill. You seem very defensive over your breastfeeding.

wow, just doing his/her job, making sure that baby is being fed, what baby is being fed, wondering if maybe there's some sort of issue causing baby not to gain weight.... sounds pretty on to it to me... some babies dont gain weight and some mothers have to fight for answers to why... so keep that doctor

So your baby is 10 weeks and you’re already ‘one of those mums’.
You’re being precious OP. The doctor should be addressing any concerns they have

There's nothing to complain about. They were checking your DC was ok. It's their job.

Doctor was right - a skinny baby could be skinny for any number of reasons.
Heart problems, metabolic problems, digestive problems, feeding problems, neglect
or just a skinny baby.
It is absolutely the duty of a health care professional to ask about it.
@pipandmum - just gaining weight is not ok if they're not gaining enough, they need to be following growth charts (with allowances for birth related things). A baby who gains 10grams a week from birth will not be healthy at 10 weeks of age (despite gaining weight each week).