"Big babies need supplementing with Formula milk as breastmilk is not enough for them" Discuss ....

[Ghosty]

I thought I would throw this into the forum as I have just come off the phone from a friend who came out with this statement ...
I don't know the friend that well, she is a nanny that I met at playgroup and she has just had her first baby ...
Anyway ... she was telling me that she had to give up breast feeding at 3 weeks because her dd just couldn't settle and latch on and was always fretting ... she wasn't putting on weight etc so my friend thought it best to cut her losses and give up ...
She said she was heartbroken about it but there was nothing else she could do and she has now come to terms with it (baby is now 11 weeks).
I commiserated and made the right noises of sympathy etc ...
I asked her how the transition to bottles was and she said "Very easy ... but then she had been having formula from the first day."
When I asked her why that was, she said, "Well, the midwife told me to because she was a big baby (she was 9lbs 4oz) and breastmilk alone isn't enough for big babies and they need supplementing ... "

I was a bit speechless ... I didn't (and wouldn't) tell my friend that the midwife was talking rubbish because I didn't want to upset her especially as she has felt so sad about stopping ... BUT surely THAT (being given formula from day one) was why the baby could never settle on the breast and my friend could never get it sorted??????

I had a big baby (10lbs) and I had enough milk and didn't have to supplement in the early days at all ... I was given bad advice at 6 weeks, gave bottles and had to give up a couple of weeks later but that's another story ...

In 3 weeks (I hope) I will be having my 2nd baby in the same hospital as my friend (and it is likely to be another whopper) and I really really REALLY hope to breastfeed for as long as I can ... I DO NOT want to be told to supplement from day one ... and I DO NOT want to be told at 6 weeks (like last time) that because of a growth spurt I needed to supplement ...

SO ... please someone tell me that even if I have a big baby and if I do it right I WILL have enough milk for it??????

AND ... who thinks the midwife was giving bad advice?????

Over to you ....

Your story of the friend with twins proves the point, Ghosty.
My only thought is that... (?maybe) 'big' babies tend to be born after more interventions and these interventions can hamper the success of breastfeeding (ventouse, C-section, whatever...). Just an idea... but it wouldn't be the mother's inherent ability or needs of a 'big' baby, just the way the birth gets handled that's the problem!

Exactly zebra ... very good point!
bobthebaby .... apparently ....
If you have a normal birth you have to transfer within 12 hours ... if there are any complications they make you stay in NWH ...
If you have a C/S they you have to transfer within 24 hours ... the anaesthetist has to be happy with the fact that all your drips are out ... and apparently here they like you to stay hooked up for at least 24 hours.
Now ... (this is IF I end up with a C/S) if the birth of DS is anything to go by I will be wanting to be 'unhooked' within 8 hours ... I absolutely hated the morphine drip and made them take it out (in the UK) ....
So .... my aim (if I end up with a C/S) is to be up an out of there asap ...
Phew ... hope that makes sense!!!

Good luck Ghosty. Hope it all works out for you. I admire your determination.