I'm panicking about ds after baby clinic- hormone prob or just big baby?

[Haylstones]

Ds is pretty big and has been since birth. After weighing him today the HV said there may be a concern that his weight gain could be due to a hormone problem. She ummed and aahed, saying it could just be that he's a big boy but it may be a hormone issue and in the end she went off to speak to the other HV in hushed tones for a few minutes before the other HV came over, looked at his growth chart and said she thought he was just a big boy and not to worry because you couldn't overfeed a breastfed baby.
Of course I am worrying. HV no.1 said you'd expect to see a growth chart like ds's with early weaning or a hormone issue and expressed huge surprise when I said I was still exc bfing.
Please tell me anything you can about anything I've said Ds feeds every 2-3 hours and usually only from one side. Each feed lasts about 10 minutes (thought this meant he must be pretty good at feeding?)
Of course all this happened in front of all the other mums who had no choice but to listen in while I welled up during their musings

Just to add- ds is 14 weeks and off the top of the growth charts. The line is not rising in line with those on the chart and he now weighs 20lb 6 oz.
dd wasn't as big as this

My DS gained weight very rapidly at first (exclusive breastfeeding - mix feeding and finally formula only)

he was a utterly plumptious

anyway, my point is he just gained weight very quickly in the first few months and then it slowed down which, IIRC, is quite normal

think your HV is a bit pants to have unduly worried you

I woudl give her a call back and tell her that you need some reassurance

I know they are only doing their job, etc.etc. but I hate it when HV's get so shocked at any baby that isn't average.

You can only have averages if there are others at the top and bottom of the scale, FGS.

My DS was the same, nearly 4kilos when born and then just shot off the charts. Even now at 2.5 yrs old, he's much bigger than average (more the size of a 4yr old).

Are you tall? Your partner? Chances are he's just following his genetic blueprint, but def. worth a follow up call if you're worried.

Thanks
I'm average height and size but dh is 6'4 (slim tho).
Might go for chat with GP and get some proper advice. He's developing fine in every way so surely I'd know if something is wrong? Is this one case wher I can trust mothers instinct?

Agree with coolbeans (my dd1 was at the opposite extreme - very tiny - but got similar responses). But now that she's got you worried I think you probably do need to reassure yourself. Don't ring HV back; make an appointment to see your GP instead. (Is HV qualified to diagnose a hormone problem? I'd be happier asking a doctor...)

Oh, and just to add that my HV 'diagnosed' my dd with a squint. Turns out she just had a broad head. GP raised eyebrow when I said HV had insisted I make an appointment about her squint.

Thanks Ellbell, going to my gP on Monday.
LOgically I doubt anything wrong but will be at the backof my mind!

Might be worth making a complaint about the midwife breaching confidentiality by discissing all this in front of an audience, completely inappropriate of her.

From what you have said it doesnt sound like your HV is very knowledgable - what "hormone issue" is she talking about? Surely anything like that would be so rare it would be the last thing you would think about, not the first.

If you are worried then go back to your GP, and then they can refer you onto a paediatrician if they think there is an issue. Or if there isnt then you get to hear them saying everything is fine.

That's how they all do it. Only 2 hvs on at clinic and they have space at table for 4 mums to get baby dessed/undressed then the chats about progress etc take place back at the table- in my case today I had 3 mums with no option but to listen in.
as an aside this meant that I heard another mum say that the mw had told her that weaning before 6 months led to speech problems

sorry, ds using one hand so rubbish typing!

With early weaning babies more often slow down weight gain with early weaning because milk has more calories so she's talking pants there anyway!

FWIW, DS2 is 7weeks and almost 14lbs
He's just big. Hopefully the same can be said for your DS..

My HV (a good one thankfully) was talking to someone about their baby's rapid weight gain the other day and as she said, they gain lots, and spurt up(out) and then they slow down and even off, just like with older children. Don't know id you've noticed it with DD but with my elder two, they get really plump, then really gangly, then plump, then gangly, it's just the way we grow.

Try not to worry Haylstones - DS1 weighed 22lbs at 4 months old and was exc bf. His weight gain tailed off and he only put on another 3lbs or so by the time he was a year old. He is now 13 and a healthy 8.5 stone and 5' 6". I am 5'4 and petit and Dh is 6' 4" and slim so DS 1 (&2) take after their father. I think HV should try learning to think before they speak!

Thanks VS. Ds was 14lb at 5 weeks, 16lb at 8 wks, 19lb at 12 wks and now 20.6 at 14 weeks. Dd stayed pretty much on the same line on her growth chart but I vaguely remember her 'looking' plumper at certain stages (she's tall and lanky now at 4.5)
The HV did say a few visits ago that she'd expect to see his line going up and down as that tends to happen with bf babies but so far it's just going up. I am also mightily fed upw ith people telling me that he'll need weaned soon due to his size [sigh]- yes, even the HV

SM, that makes sense and think I need to work on trusting my own judgement a bit . I will get reassurance from the GP next week then forget about it.
I can't believe I forgot to mention this bit as it was bothering me too...
When I said that ds has a couple of feeds during the night (I'm happy with this as think he needs it) the HV suggested I use a sippy cup to give him some water. THis is bolleaux, yes? As in it's perfectly normal to need milk during the night at 3 months old? To be fair she said this in response to me saying that sometimes he woke up with wind and I fed him as I was awake anyway and it got him back to sleep quickly. I worried she was implying that he didn't need fed as often as he was and that's why he was gaining weight so fast

If he wants milk and you're happy to give him it, then give him mik.

The water suggestion is normally used for people who wish to stop night feeds.

Your ds sounds exactly like mine who is 13 weeks and 20 pounds. Also exc bf, also only feeds one side for about 10 mins at a time. Noones ever expressed any concern and i'm certainly not worried

My ds is bf and also a big boy, crossing over the lines on the growth chart and making a whole new curve for himself! (had expected weight gain to be slower, as bf, as that was what people seem to expect) He has slowed down now and looks long and quite lean.

HV annoy me - they just cause undue stress. I'm on the opposite scale - DS2 is 22 weeks and weighs 14lb and is BF - huge pressure to wean. Constant questions about producing enough milk etc. puts me right off going to get him weighed as I'm made to feel so crap!

Best advice ignore their comments.

It's reassuring hearing others' experiences, thank you. I've calmed down now and think their comments were at best insensitive and misguided and I'm going to stop thinking about it. Will still go to GP appointment but am sure nothing is wrong

I'd rather have a big bay than a small baby! I think your hv was way out of line. If there is an issue, the best thing a hv can do is get you an appointment with a GP, and if s/he has concerns s/he can refer your DC to the appropriate specialist.

Sorry you are so worried, they should be a bit more sensitive!

Hi i wouldn't worry to much my ds is 14 weks and 18Ib 15 my hv said he could be obease obv i have complained . why were they disscussing ur ds in front of other mums thats shockin my ds is formula fed 7oz every 2 to 3 hours .

can i ask did they weigh ur ds with his clothes on or off x?

Clothes were off. I don't really mind him being discussed in front of others, I was more embarrassed as I welled up and got a bit panicky

Poor you! My husband is very tall and skinny (about 6'3'' and under 11 stone) but as a baby he was extremely fat, despite, according to his mother, hardly drinking any milk and being a very fussy eater when she weaned him. The HV told his mother a fat baby would make a fat adult... Ha, ha.

I don't suppose your husband's mother would remember whether your husband was on the chubby side as a baby, would she?

Is your son's weight particularly out of proportion with his height, or is he off the charts for height as well?

Im not worrying to much bout my ds weight as aparently by 12 weeks there supposed to double there birth weight and my ds was 9Ib 3oz wen born and now is 18.15 so that about adds up

I think H.V's like to panic parents unnessasarely mine really does my nut i lol as she hasno kids of her own and trys to tell me what i should be doing it and how it should be done even though i have a dd of 2 Lol