'You can't BF a baby that weighs over 8lb at birth' Is bollocks yes?

[Kayzr]

My cousin had a baby girl a few days ago who weighed 8lb 6oz. Unluckily for her she has the MW that I had with DS2 who told me I couldn't BF as he was over 10lb, had jaundice and had to be tube fed if I refused formula top ups.

My cousin has rung in floods of tears to say that she's been told pretty much the same thing. But it is because (using MW words) it is impossible to BF a baby that weighs over 8lb as you can't produce enough milk. She has refused the top ups for now and MW said she will be back tomorrow and if baby hasn't gained 2oz then she will have to have her admitted to hospital to be tube fed.

My cousins DD has only gone down to 8lb 3oz so not lost a huge amount at all. They are heading to the city near here this afternoon to go to the breastfeeding group for help and advice. But I said I would ask here too.

It is bollocks isn't it? My neice was born at 34 weeks and weighed over 8lb and my SIL is BF but there was some expressing to begin with.

Also can she tell the MW to go away and ask for someone else to be sent?

Thnak you.

Utter utter utter crap. Shocked at MW. How does she think the human race survived til FF?
More people wil be along in a mo am sure, but La Leche League, NCT Breastfeedng line will help on phone - can't link, sorry, on the move.
Congratulations to her.

Yes, complete bollocks.

DS was 8lb6oz, tongue-tied and jaundiced. He didn't need formula, tube-feeding or anything!

What percentage body weight did the baby lose? I think my DS went down to about 7lb12oz by 3 days, which was a 7-8% (?) loss. He'd regained his birthweight within 2 weeks with no top-ups though.

Total bollocks - DS1 was 9lbs and DS2 was 8lb 6 oz and both exclusively bf. They are very hungry - they will cry lots and feed lots in the first few days - but you put them to your breast and your supply soon establishes itself and they are happy and contented.

And yes, if she doesnt like/trust the midwife she can ask for another one. And she should ask for local breastfeeding peer supporter/counsellor details too.

I don't know, but I do know I was told a load of bollocks about breatfeeding by midwives and gave up and tortured myself for years

I wish I had the sense to go to a breastfeeding group and get properly informed- good luck to your sister

YY definitely ask to see someone else. Who knows what they are talking about, preferably.

I know very little about the ins and outs of breast feeding per se, other than i fed both my children, but they were both under that weight. I would say, however that this sounds like Absolute Bollox. and the baby has lost less than 10% right?

not sure about telling the midwife to go jump, i would not let them put a tube in to feed my baby after losing this amount unless there was medical evidence to suggest that my child would be harmed if I did not do so.
Hope she gets it resolved and manages to feed as long as she wants to.

Utter bollocks. Ds was 8lb 9 at birth and fed for 2.5 years. He was no more difficult to feed than slightly smaller dd.

I'm fucked then as both of mine were over 8lb

I would also refuse to see this midwife, and insist on a referral to a paediatrician if she continues threatening.

Hmmm....

I BF DS who was 9lb 5 at birth. He fed for a year and was a great feeder and a great sleeper. So my advice is that the MW is talking shite your cousin should perhaps ask for another opinion.

My DS was 9pm, Tongue tied....EBF til 6 months and still happily breastfeeding now!

Am so cross for your cousin.

9lbs, even, stupid phone

I don't usually come on bf threads (so long ago for me) but couldn't let this pass.Yes OP, you are right, it is bollocks. My DS2 was 9 lbs 13 oz and I managed to feed him. MW should be ashamed to spread such rubbish.

Yes it is indeed bollocks.

Good that she is going to get some support from the bf group and she obviously has your support as well. Don't for get the bf advice lines as well if she can't see someone face-to-face.

I would advise her to request another MW and, when she feels able, complain about the advice she was given by the original MW - who is in need of training with regards to bf at the very least it seems.

Total bollocks.

If your SIL feels up to it, I'd suggest bringing this gem of misinformation to the attention of the Midwifery Supervisor as said MW clearly has some training needs.

Sorry, your cousin, anger clouding my reading skills

Utter bollocks, my two were 8lb 13oz (and jaundiced) and 10lb 11oz and flourished on BM.
I'd report the MW in all honesty, she is talking crap.

This is utter bollocks.

DS1 - 8lbs 13oz - EBF to 6 months and then to 2 years alongside solids

DS2 - 9lbs 9oz - EBF to 6 months and then to 11 months and counting alongside solids.

That weight loss is minimal - less than 5% - so I don't even know why there is an issue.

Does your cousin know that she can refuse all this weighing? She can tell the midwife to fuck off and come back in a week - or longer.
Yes she can ask for someone else.

God things like this make me sooo

Total bullcrap or else my very healthy 10 year old isn't really here he was 9lb 10 at birth.

I'd also encourage her to complain, when or if she feels up to it, awful 'advice'.

Oh and i was told bigger babies can easily lose more than the 10% purely due to their size, weight loss isn't always a big deal in itself, especially when the babies are bigger to start.

Absolute rubbish and the midwife needs to be reported. My first baby lost just over 10% in 5 days but MW left me alone as she said she could see she was feeding well and was absolutely fine and as long as she then continued to gain all was well. I know five people off the top of my head who have exclusively breast fed babies well over 8lb and two of those were nearer 10lb.

This "midwife" is dangerous and silly.

bollocks

dc2 was over 9 pounds and I exlusively fed for 6 months and went on until 18m.

tell your cousin that she is doing well and sometimes it is better to trust instinct instead of ill-informed hpc

ps mine was just under 8lb at birth and went down to about 7lb 2oz I think.

What complete bollocks, my son was 9lbs 8oz and EBF until 6 months.

I think it's time someone put that MW in her place. Can she ask for a different one? How utterly distressing for her

Utter shite. And this is one of the reasons my local HCPs only weight babies at birth then not till at least 10 days later unless there is a specific reason for concern- their reasoning is 'it causes too much worry to mothers as it is normal for a baby to drop its weight after birth'.

And my DDs were all between 8lb4oz and 8lb14oz and bfed.

And I would encourage your cousin to report this person, as she is peddling such tripe.

My DS was 9lb 6oz and my DD was 8lb 1 oz at birth. I BF DS for 7 months and DD for 9 months. Both were jaundiced but quickly got over it. They did lose a little weight in first week. They quickly caught up putting on a pound a week.