'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.

So far all is going well.

MW turned up and cousins DD had not put on the 2oz but hadn't lost any weight either. MW said she would give one more day to get the 2oz and cousin asked about the hospital threat and offered to take her DD to the hospital. MW backtracked and said hospital treatment was not required.

Utter shite! Both mine weighed over 8lb at birth and I BF both until 12 months.

What makes me so angry about this is that this is spoiling your cousins first few days/weeks with her child. Why do some MW's/HV's advise so badly?!!

10% of 8lbs 9oz is about 13oz. (It's easier to convert to kilos and work out 10% from there, then convert back.)

Midwife is wrong as others have said. Supply is hormone driven in the early days and adjusts to baby's demand as time goes on. Humans can sustain twins or even triplets, so one little 8lb baby is likely to be no problem at all!

Tell your cousin to tell the MW to back off.

"Thank you, I think we're doing really well "

She is doing really well. Really well.

DS was 8lb 3oz. He's was not starving and infact put nearly 1lb on in his first week! Fatty1

Please report this 'midwife'. What does she think happened to larger babies in the olden days before formula?

Not read all the thread but crikey what utter, damaging BOLLOCKS.

DS was 11lbs 14oz, had jaundice and low blood sugar. I did give him FF top ups for the first two weeks, but after that he was EBF until 6m, and then continued to BF until he turned 2.

I hate it when professionals (ha) say such stupid things

What???????????? I've bf'd my three babies. 9lb 5oz, 9lb 13oz, and 9lb 2oz.

I am still feeding my DD now at 15 months. What utter rubbish.

Most babies lose a bit of weight in the first week, it's normal.

Breast milk is the very best thing for babies, full stop. THAT's what this stupid Midwife should be telling her. I'm fuming!

Mine were both over 9lbs and exclusively breast fed the first six months and continued on for another year or so each.

If anything I would say a bigger baby is EASIER to feed, as they have more stamina, strength and are in general usually hungry!!

Utter nonsense. I successfully breast fed my 9lb 3oz DS. No need for formula, top ups, tubes.

Please, please find the strength to make a formal complaint about this midwife. Too often a few dangerously misinformed professionals do damage to us and the NHS. If no one complains, nothing gets done. How many women have to feel like they are failing as mothers because they are fed nonsense by idiots like this?

Utter bollox. I BFed both mine for 6 month and they were 9lbs 4oz and 9lbs 8oz.
Think another thousand mners will come and tell you the same thing

Don't understand where mw got that absurd idea from.

DD1 was born 8lb 9 and breastfed until 13.5months!

rocky road in the first 9 weeks but then went brilliantly.

SILLY midwife

Ds was 8 lb 7 and I bf him for 16m so yes it's bollocks!

This has been on my mind a lot, kayzr how is your cousin doing now? Hopefully feeding going well. Do you think she will complain?

Must add my two penneth worth, MW obviously clearly talking out of her rear. Breast fed dd who was 9 lb 9 and tongue tied, was a struggles she didn't latch, but with support from family, NCT and the La Leche League am still feeding her now at 13 weeks.. Please report this poorly trained midwife for this behaviour!

My 9 week old DS was 13lb !!!! at birth. EBF and gaining nicely, thank you.

MY 4.5 yr old was 9.4lb and EBF til self weaning at 11 months.

Report the midwife. What a horrible amount of anxiety to place on a new Mum. Utter rubbish. How many other new Mums is she discouraging from BF?

Sadly, think it was a common myth at one point - practicaly the first words MIL said to me after DS (9lb 2oz) was born were "you might not have enough milk for him." DS begged to differ, and I'm still bf 2.4 years later. Bit of a difference between a slightly thoughtless and ill-informed but well-meaning (I think!) GM saying it to a practicing mw though......

MsF1t he wasn't born naturally. ELCS-thank goodness! I don't think i'd have had any undercarriage left.

Excuse my language but what a steaming pile of shit. My DS was 10lb 4oz and we did resort to formula top ups as his blood sugars did give him problems but Breast then formula was the plan and I had tonnes of support to try and feed him. Little bugger never stayed latched and due to his sugars he started to get lazy and preferred the bottle BUT there were no threats of nasal feeding, that's sodding abuse if baby is otherwise well.