Is it possible to breastfeed too much?

[paleandinteresting]

DS was born 16 weeks ago by EMCS. He weighed 7lb 8oz. In the first week he lost 11% of his birthweight (he had jaundice and was a sleepy baby), but has been putting on weight well since. He is EBF.

He was initially just below the 25th percentile, but by week 7 was between the 25th and 50th percentiles. Now, he is just above the 50th percentile. My worry is that I'm feeding him too much.

I feed on demand, usually every 1.5-2 hours during the day, although he can go longer if we're out and about. His feeds are usually around 20 mins.

Is this jump in percentiles okay? Is it possible to breastfeed too much (would DS still feed if I offered him the breast and he wasn't that hungry?)

Sounds like you are doing a brilliant job! Breast fed babies won't over feed so you're doing it right

No, it is not possible to bf too much (unless you are constantly jamming it in him and he is being sick everywhere). Sounds like you are doing great! From what I understand 50th percentile means an average baby.

No! Babies take time to settle onto their centile curve, so don't worry at all. Be proud of yourself!

Thank you for the reassurance! Was worried that the jump in percentiles meant I might be setting him up for some kind of weight issue in later life he has a mother who doesn't know when to stop eating!

Sounds perfect to me!

Sounds fine to me too! DS2 was 25th percentile at birth and by 11 weeks was 75th in both weight and height - public health nurse said not to worry about it, he was doing great. He's still around that percentile now at 15 weeks, so yes, I think sometimes they take a while to find "their" curve.

Absolutely not! You're doing fantastic xx

My baby was born on the 23rd centile and shot to the 75th in 2 weeks and has since settled in the 95th! He us ebf and was born 2 weeks late. As other people said, if you over feed him he will throw up so don 't worry. Also fat laid on through breast feeding apparently shifts more easily later that fat laid on by ff, and has no relation to being a fat child or adult. Well done and make sure you eat and drink and sleep well as your baby is obviously absorbing lots of 'your' calories.

Thank you for all your helpful comments! Eating and drinking well isn't a problem, but DS has other ideas about the whole sleeping well thing

DD was born on the 50th centile and shot up to above the top of the WHO curves! She quadrupled her birth weight in the first year. From the first year onwards her rate of weight increase has dropped and she's now dropped to the 75th centile. She was born in the 50th centile for height and has slowly creeped up to the 95th.

I was quite worried about this and asked everyone I could find but everyone was in agreement that babies cannot be overweight before they are at least 2 years old, that weight at this age is not an indicator of obesity (formula feeding and weaning before 6 months do have a link with adult obesity though), and as long as the baby keeps gaining in height all is well even if the rate of weight gain drops. By all accounts she will be a tall adult though.

My DS went from 25th to 75th centile in the first year when I was bf, and was a fat baby. He's now a skinny, but very tall 3 year old.

Ds was born on the 9th centile, went up to the 50th pretty quickly and stayed there. Dd was born on the 25th centile, lost quite a bit of weight but once that was sorted out she also went up to the 50th and has remained there. Babies find their curve and after a while they follow their natural line.