Advised to top up. Unconvinced. Am I wrong?

[Expectans]

Sorry, long.

At baby clinic this morning the weigher asked me about feeding, then suggested we top up with formula.

Baby was below the 4th centile when born, now on the 9th. He has gained 300g this week (6 weeks old). Plenty of wet and dirty nappies.

At the later feeds in the day he fusses a bit at the breast after a while and when I squeeze when he does this only a few drops will come out. He feeds a couple of times during the night and breasts feel quite full in the morning. She said I probably do not have enough milk and should start offering formula instead of BF for this last feed, and whenever I seem empty.

This just seems wrong to me. I have nothing against formula feeding but was not planning on doing it daily until I go back to work. Friends who have started topping up have ended up with problems BF. And I thought Breasts were like milk factories, ie constantly producing, rather than milk tanks. So, am I wrong? I don't want to starve DS!

[crashbangboom]

And tiktok I never blamed non complaining mothers for low breastfeeding rates.

The we are all crusaders implies challenging should only be done by the militant?

[atthestrokeoftwelve]

"And tiktok I never blamed non complaining mothers for low breastfeeding rates."

"I maintain the lack of complaints and challenging health visitors/assistants contributes to low breastfeeding rates. "

???? Contradicting yourself here crashbang.

[crashbangboom]

Reread my comments. Before you both jumped on and bullied me. I never said non complaining were responsible for low feeding rates.

I suggested comments like we are a crusader were.

I originally said poor advice and lack of use of research contributed to people not feeding as long as they want to.

Oh and I meant to type I do however believe not maintain....

[atthestrokeoftwelve]

"I maintain the lack of complaints and challenging health visitors/assistants contributes to low breastfeeding rates. "

I don't understand what you are saying here crashbang- the above is a quote from you.

No need to pull the bully card- no one is bullying you here- two people happen to disagree so no need for that.

[crashbangboom]

I've explained. Reread or leave it be.

You are a bully.just had a quick search. Confrontation rude and aggressive on most threads. Nasty.

[crashbangboom]

Hides thread.

And tik took very disappointed in you. Assisting to derail thread. Nice.

[tiktok]

crash, sorry you are disappointed! I thought it was important to clarify that mothers who don't complain at bad advice are not to blame for low breastfeeding rates - you seem to have backtracked or changed your mind or realised that's not really what you intended to say, so happy days :)

[Expectans]

I am not sure to whom I would complain as the HV is not interested. I am also loath to antagonise a woman I am likely to see weekly for the foreseeable. Perhaps if she offers me advice again I can tell her she is wrong, diplomatically.

[atthestrokeoftwelve]

Expectans- sorry to have derailed this thread a little.
I completely understand your reluctance to complain as you are looking for this HV to support you going forward.
As some of us have pointed out you don't really need to complain- at least not at this stage.
I was given misinformation too about breastfeeding by my HV, and to this day have never complained about her- I just chalked it up to experience. I simply found support for that aspect of baby care elsewhere. My HV despite being crap at BF advice was very suppportive in lots of other ways so I didn't want to rock the boat either.
Have a think about it- there really is no pressure- maybe if the subject comes up again you will feel more inclined to mention it.

One of the problems about HVs is they have no ongoing requirement to keep their breastfeeding support skills up to date. Once trained that's it, how effective they are depends on their own personal interests and motivation to keep themselves informed.
It may be a long time since a HV had any breastfeeding support training and unfortunately in that time many pick up misinformation or put a heavy personal slant on the advice thay give.
Some HVs are great of course, but unfortunately many are not, it's a bit hit or miss.

[ExBrightonBell]

You don't have to see the HV weekly if you don't want to, it's an optional service. And if you are going just to get your baby weighed then you don't have to really engage with them anyway, just weigh and run!

[Expectans]

Crossed wires. The woman who does the weighing is the one who advised me. She is not a health visitir.

[atthestrokeoftwelve]

Who was the woman who weighed your baby?

[Expectans]

I do not know her job title. Will try and make it out tomorrow.