is my BM to blame?

[Gribble]

Took DS2 (15 weeks) to be weighed yesterday as when I took him in for his jabs at 3 months I noticed he was teeny compared to the other babies to thought Id just see how much he has put on.

He was 7lb 1oz when he was born at 39 weeks and now weighs 12lb 2oz.

He BFs on demand (sometimes he only stays on for 5 - 10 mins, sometimes 20 mins but he always comes off on his own, I never 'force' him off), and DP gives him a FF at night so I can get my head down for a few hours.

The HV I saw yesterday seemed a bit concerned and said that I MUST MUST MUST keep up with the FF, and maybe even try and slip another one in the day, as she doesnt think he has gained enough weight.

I'll be honest, before yesterday I was very confident with regards to his health. Hes pink, bright eyed, happy, smiling, gets fed as soon as he shows signs of hunger etc hes just not a big baby (he has a tiny pea-head )so to me he was in proportion but now I feel very unsure.

She then went on to say that maybe Im not eating healthily enough or drinking enough (tbh some days Im just not hungry enough to eat 3 square meals, but I do take those Pregancare vitamins every day and generally eat well)

So anyway, just after opinions on his weight, does he seem tiny to anyone else? Is my BM just not enough for him, is it worth taking vitamin D supplements?

:( :(

What a shame you have been made to feel this way.

Anyone - like your HV - who tells you your diet or fluid intake has any effect on your breastmilk or breastfeeding can be ignored - seriously. She is wrong on this - anyone knowledgeable about bf could put her right.

Your little boy began on the 25th centile and is now on the 9th centile at 15 weeks. This is well within normal. More relevant is his general well-being which sounds fine.

If your HV thinks he is not gaining weight sufficiently quickly (and she would need to explain why she thinks that), then increasing his frequency of breastfeeds, using at least two breasts at each feed, and maybe bf more at night, are far better and healthier ways of tackling this than increasing his formula (which might make you produce less breastmilk).

Is there anyone, or anywhere, you can go locally for better support and info?

Don't worry about your son's weight. To me, it sounds like he is getting what he needs from your milk. You say he is healthy and happy. He wouldn't be if he were under eating. HVs talk a lot, you've got to filter it. I was worried about my son's weight. He was born on 50th centile but then moved into 9th centile. He is now 9 months, still on 9th centile, eats solids very well, still breastfed, happy and active. He is just not a fat baby. Don't worry, your son is fine. Oh, and I never took supplements.

thanks for the replies, I walked out of there totally deflated and feel a lot better now

I will try offering more feeds and both breasts more and will take him back in a few weeks to be weighed again. Hes such a happy and chilled little guy, I did think surely hed be miserable if he was starving like the HV implied yesterday