To think HV is talking rubbish and babies can't be overweight?

[IdiotSandwich05]

Hi all.

DS is two months old and, according to his HV, overweight. He weighed 6lbs 12oz at birth (born at 37 weeks), at six weeks was 12lbs 10oz, and when I weighed him at baby clinic yesterday was exactly 15lbs. So yes a chunky monkey but I was pleased with this! He is EBF.

The HV insinuated I was overfeeding him and shouldn't 'feed him every time he cries'. I don't! She also mentioned him being at increased risk of obesity ect. Basically making it seem like I'm doing something wrong. This is my first time BFing and I thought it was going well! Neither me nor DP nor our daughter are overweight.

DS is also 63cm long which is on the 99th percentile, so to me that means he's big but in proportion rather than overweight. He is healthy, happy, and meeting all his millstones. He goes 2-3 hours between feeds in the day and 3-4 hours at night, so it isn't like he's feeding constantly. And even if he was, I thought you couldn't overfeed a BF baby?

Am I BU to think HV is talking out of her rear? He's not even solids yet, so how

@TAKESNOSHITSHIRLEY hi from another home educating, co sleeping, and all the not quite so normal things mum lol 👋

She's talking absolutely rubbish as usual. Where the F these people get their training I've no idea. Keep feeding him whenever he wants it (any time he cries is absolutely fine!!) and enjoy your baby. I recommended looking at 'Milk and Moon'. Congratulations 🎊

My daughter was born at 37 weeks on the 25th centile for weight, and then put on 1lbs in weight (also EBF) every week for the first few months of her life until she was on the 98th centile. I was also made to feel terrible about this and accused of over feeding her, until her length was measured and it turned out she was on the 98th centile for length too. So she was perfectly in proportion, and if I had restricted feeds as I was advised to to keep her on the 25th centile for weight she would have ended up significantly underweight for her length.

You cannot overfeed an EBF baby. If your baby is telling you that he is hungry, believe him.

My mil is constantly on at me that ‘fat is fat regardless of the source’ telling me to stop bf as dd is so big but the HV is fine about it as the benefits to breastmilk outweigh being on the bigger side

I had the opposite with my premature low birth weight baby. My HV actually told me I should spread butter onto my nipples so my then newborn son would eat it with his milk and fatten up 🤣🤣🤣 That was the last weighing appointment I ever took him to!

Honestly even if your baby was overweight how on Earth do you put a breastfed baby on a diet - they take what they need!
She sounds quite ridiculous. Carry on doing what you are doing. Breastfeeding and being a new mum is hard enough with this nonsense. Encase you haven't been told today - you are doing an amazing job - go you!!!

In my opinion most HV talk absolute shit and I'm shocked most are trained nurses....

Two weeks ago the HV came to see me and my 2 month old baby, she'd noticed I'd been to GP for my baby's constipation on my record and I said yes, I've put her onto comfort milk which is specific for colic and constipation (says on front of tin) as GP recommended...

Her response 'sometimes anti-constipation milk can actually make them more constipated, like how anti-depressants can make you depressed'

I just stared at her blank and decided not to listen to one more word that came out of her mouth.

She also told me I shouldn't pay any attention to the recommended feed amounts on the tin as in her words 'it is written by the manufacturers so you buy more milk and money in their pockets'

She recommended that instead of feeding my 8 week old baby every 3/4 hours the recommend amount, to actually feed her on demand and in which case 'always have a bottle ready just incase' - which if I did this 1. I would def overfeed her as she has colic so would likely take feed every time she cries and 2. I would go through tins of milk like no one's business!

Mad how I've seen 3 different HV and all have advised me differently on different things. No consistency whatsoever.

Your baby is not overweight, being EBF he will only take what he needs and he he happy and healthy that is all that matters so pay no notice.

Same here
Both mine were EBF and got so chunky. Had literal rolls 😍🤣
Both now 6'2/6'3 and very slim, fit and healthy

Blimey you are breastfeeding your baby precious, highly nutritious food, well done to you. I would ignore the HV and keep on doing what you are doing. I would be worried if this HV is saying the same to other mums as it could lead to them restricting their feeding. Anyone would think you were giving the babe chips & gravy, not unknown! Maybe she thought she may get a confession out of you. Just keep on giving him what is best until you start weaning. Within a year of crawling & toddling he'll be a skinny minny, you see.

Your body makes what your baby needs once feeding is established. Anything over what they need would reappear. She is an idiot, I would speak to the practise manager/GP if I were you OP

You can't overfeed a breastfed baby. There are studies to show it helps prevent being overweight when you're older as they learn to stop feeding when they're full whereas it's tempting with a bottle to encourage baby to have the last couple of ounces and they can miss the feeling full cues.

What is ebf? I know bf = breast feeding. But the e? Surely not electronic bf.

Haven't you already got a thread on this?

Exclusively Breast feeding. So just breast milk no formula at all.

Exclusive breastfeeding. As in no formula or any other type of food or drink.

My eldest daughter was a chunky little thing, and I was told the same. She’s 23 now and (unlike everyone else in our family) is teeny! She’s 5’2 and just under 7 stone. I think your HV is talking bollocks

Greta, there is a vast amount of research into breast milk composition, baby growth, and the later life outcomes of breastfeeding. It’s a very finely tuned symbiotic relationship between mother and baby, and the milk changes composition to ensure optimal growth over time. If babies were being overfed in some cases there would be a pattern of increased obesity later on - in fact the obesity risk is reduced.

Whilst it is possible to overfeed an EBF baby it's a) rare and b) probably means there's a metabolic problem which needs looking into. So if she had concerns about that she should have referred you to a paediatrician.

She probably didn't plot the weight correctly on the chart, used scales with a dodgy calibration or can't work the chart full stop is more likely!

My HV told me it was impossible to overfeed a bf baby, and to always feed on demand. Sounds like you are doing wonderfully!

My DD was 95 length centile at birth and 50 centile for weight. She's now 99 for height and 75 for weight at 9 years old. She was BF then FF and fed on demand for both. I don't think babies can be overweight until weaned and mobile. So I would say she's talking shite.

If he's on a high centile for length AND weight together, he is perfectly proportioned and is just not going to be a short adult that's all.

She clearly knows nothing about breastfeeding. You are doing great! Feed him whenever he asks for it!

My ebf baby went from 25th to 90th centile once we had tongue tie done and like yours both weight and length matched. She was predicted to be 5 7in- 5ft 8in as an adult at her one year review.

Bloody ridiculous HV! I breast fed all of mine on demand. They were chubby little things and I couldn’t have been more delighted and rewarded that I was totally nourishing them.

Are you sure you saw a health visitor and not a nursery nurse? Where I live their arnt enough health visitors to just do baby clinics, it’s run by nursery nurses here. I’d recommend you call up and as to speak to one of the qualified health visitors they are nurses or midwife’s by background so I guess can help you with better advise x

Super boobs (.)(.) well done to you both!! She’s talking total bullshit

Your HV is nuts. My ds was born at full term but only weighed 4Ib’s because a fault in the umbilical cord and placenta. By 6 weeks he’d doubled his weight and was extremely chunky until he was 1. The GP was thrilled with this and no one ever said it was a problem. Once he started walking the weight dropped off him and he has remained super skinny and is now a 6ft 19 year old.

An ebf baby is getting everything they need and worrying about extra weight on a body that is constantly growing is crazy.

I hope it isn’t a nursery nurse giving medical advice there - not being medically qualified she could get herself into massive hot water! I don’t think they should be running baby health clinics. Then again in a country where doctors’ receptionists blighthly feel free to diagnose and treat illness over the phone without consequence, maybe we shouldn’t be surprised.