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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Should I stop demand feeding

17 replies

mamjo · 07/12/2010 15:13

Hi, my baby will be 10 weeks in 2 days. She is exclusively BF and today weighed in at 15lb after being 8lb at birth. This means that she has moved from 75% to 98%. The doctor was very concerned and told me to stop demand feeding. When I asked for advice on how to do this she told me to speak to the HV. I went straight to the HV clinic and was then told to continue to BF on demand as it isn't possible to overfeed when exclusively BF.

My instinct is to continue, but I am confused.

OP posts:

StarlightMcKenzie · 07/12/2010 15:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MoonUnitAlpha · 07/12/2010 15:24

Doctor's talking rubbish, you can't be overfeeding your baby! With breastfeeding you just hyave to trust they'll take what they need if you let them.

My demand fed baby has gone the opposite way to your 8lb6oz at birth and 13lb6oz at 17 weeks.

Catilla · 07/12/2010 15:29

Lots of babies change which percentile they're on too. As long as the change doesn't continue so she's way off the chart in a few weeks, she'll be fine.

Original poster

mamjo · 07/12/2010 16:07

Thanks. I felt sooo bad when I left the GP's. Like I was hurting her by overfeeding. Its nice to have my instincts supported.

OP posts:

Zimm · 07/12/2010 17:38

GP is so wrong. Needs his/her training updated.

pearlgirl · 07/12/2010 23:01

I had something similar with ds2 - 8lb 7oz at birth - 20lbs at 10 weeks- when she plotted the graph the hv double checked it and then said could she talk to me about how I was making my baby's bottles up. ds2 was ebf and when I told her this she told me to keep on going. He is now a slim 10 year old.

Well done for getting this far and for providing for your baby.

blackcurrants · 07/12/2010 23:07

I just got back from lunch with my friend who's DS was 10lbs 5oz at birth, and at 9 weeks was 19lb - so he's set to double in that time. Also EBF. We all gave her a big cheer .

It's a lot of work, but what a payoff!

Good for you!

Original poster

mamjo · 08/12/2010 09:02

Thanks ladies, it's lovely to hear this when everyone around is looking concerned.

OP posts:

poppydog10 · 08/12/2010 11:46

Definately keep beastfeeding on demand. Your breasts need regular emptying to keep up your supply.

Have you had his length measured recently? If he is on the 98th centile for weight, could it be possible that he had a growth spurt? It may be that he is in proportion.

Always trust your instincts. It sounds like you have been doing an excellent job feeding up til now - well done.

I would be tempted to complain (maybe complain is too harsh a word). He sounds like his training needs updating. He might have said this to other mothers, and if they are less knowledgable, might have taken his advice.

Original poster

mamjo · 08/12/2010 12:07

Thanks poppydog. Now you mention it she has got very long recently. However they have never measured her length so have nothing to compare to.

I think I will offer the surgery some feedback because I was really upset when I left there yesterday.

OP posts:

BlockedPoster · 08/12/2010 12:26

Never measured her length? I would ask for that - a baby who is on simlar weight and length percentiles isn't 'overfed'. Likewise, a baby on the 3rd centile for length and weight isn't underfed.

Also, ime, some babies are just built to be squidgey and chubby, and then they slim out when they start crawling and walking. I can think of 2 exclusively bf babies who were mini-buddhas at 6 months and skinny malinkies at 2.

Ignore GP. Is your baby happy, alert, weeing and pooing normally? Then she's fine.

Original poster

mamjo · 08/12/2010 12:41

Thanks blockedposter. They won't measure babies round here for some reason. I did ask the HV at 6 weeks but she wittered on about protocols and refused to do it.

She is chubby but not excessively in my opinion. Just lovely chunky thighs, and gorgeous cheeks! Yes she us really happy and smiley, really alert and ahead of all development in terms of holding rattles and hitting toys etc so there can't be too much wrong .

OP posts:

Tryharder · 08/12/2010 16:14

Your GP is barking. Perhaps he thinks your DD should go on a diet. Swap the Jersey Cream for skimmed. Perhaps you're eating too much chocolate, OP.

Seriously, this kind of crap advice could be really damaging. Complain!

catwhiskers10 · 10/12/2010 15:35

My DD (exclusively BF too) put on about 13oz a week up until 12 weeks when it slowed down a bit and the HV was delighted.
My DD was also long and I found that they never measure their length so the weight centiles have no bearing on lenth.
What I think is that any animal suckles its mother whenever it wants, why should a human be any different? I would continue feeding on demand.

organiccarrotcake · 10/12/2010 20:08

Bear in mind there's no actual BFing training for GPs. HV have training but it's not always up to date - but in this case your HV is right.

Babies grow in fits and starts, not to a bloody line.

organiccarrotcake · 10/12/2010 20:09

PS she sounds perfect :)

PinkElephant73 · 11/12/2010 23:21

GP talking rubbish but on a side note, its very difficult to measure a small baby's length accurately as far as I know - as they are so curled up at first.

so thats probably why they havent bothered.

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