When pregnant and a new mother I could definitely feel pressure from all the health care professionals I saw to exclusively breastfeed. Which was fine because I was planning on doing so anyway. And then since DD was born every HCP has nodded approvingly or looked delighted when they've asked how she's feeding and I said ebf.
I get to clinic yesterday to have her weighed, explain that she's had sickness and diarrhea for two days, and that I'd had it for another day and a half after that, but they still told me I should think about giving her a bottle of formula every day because she's only gained an ounce in the two weeks since she was last weighed and her weight has dropped below two centile lines from her birth weight.
Argh! Of course she's barely gained anything! She kept nothing down for two days and then I fed her for another day and a half without eating anything myself!
I just find it hypocritical that they push so hard for breastfeeding and the minute the baby doesn't gain the prescribed amount they start recommending formula! The book says that a child who falls anywhere within those centile lines is of a normal weight! It also says that they are expected to drop centiles if they are I'll but should be back on track within two to three weeks. Not two to three days like apparently my HV expects! And then, probably not on purpose but still, made me feel like I was doing something wrong by saying I wanted to continue to ebf. I've got to take her back next week when if she's not gained enough they'll tell me again to start giving her formula! I'm not bolshy enough to keep saying no so if that happens I'll end up stopping taking her to be weighed. I'll have to do it on my kitchen scales!