Unhappy with advice from health visitor

[CanISayOfHerFace]

I went to the local clinic to have my DS weighed today. He's 19 weeks and weighed 16lb 10.5oz. Since his last weigh in five weeks ago when he was 15lb 12oz he has gone from just above the 75th centile to just below it.

Today I was told to go back in two weeks and if he is not tracking his current centile I should give him formula top ups or introduce some solids. I said I was not happy about doing this and that he is a happy, big, energetic baby and didn't think this was necessary. She said let's check him in two weeks!

Despite my best efforts to talk myself around she has made me feel shitty. I was asked if I'm eating enough and whether I'm doing too much exercise. I'm not doing any exercise other than walking and I eat between 2000 and 2500 calories a day (depending on how hungry I am). I feed on demand every 2 to 3 hours and at night go no longer than 5 hours between feeds. DS feeds for 30 minutes on one breast before I offer the other. Once a day DS may have a 20 minute snack but the rest of the time feeds last between 30 and 40 minutes. He normally does between 1 and 3 dirty nappies per day and plenty of wet ones too.

Am I doing anything wrong? I love BF'ing and don't want to offer solids until 6 months. Obviously if my baby's health is at risk I will do whatever is necessary but I'm not happy that the HV is giving me the correct advice.

[Writerwannabe83]

My DS saw the HV this morning and he has dropped below his centile line and has only put on 9oz in 3 weeks. She had asked me to go back in 4 weeks time to get him checked again.

She asked me if I was eating and drinking enough.

I then mentioned I was going to take DS for a walk and I like to do it every day to get some exercise (usually about 90 minutes a day) and she told me I should be resting. It kind of made me feel a bit guilty actually as though I was burning off too many calories which meant DS wasn't getting them.

I'm sure she didn't mean it like that but that's how I have interpreted it.

I will be very upset if in 4 weeks he still isn't gaining very well. I may start trying to squeeze in an extra feed a day!!

[leedy]

Argh, that's very annoying advice. Whether you're resting or eating or drinking or whatever is not going to affect the quality/quantity of your milk (unless you're seriously malnourished/dehydrated). It might affect you in that your body will prioritize making milk over serving your own energy/nutritional needs but it won't affect baby. Also I know for me getting a walk in every day was massively important for my mental health.

[BuilderMammy]

FFS. Does low fat milk come from cows that run around more?!

And solids have fewer calories than breastmilk so adding more will make his weight gain slow down.

Ignore her completely, she's talking rubbish.

[CanISayOfHerFace]

It's so frustrating! I got a full eye ball from head to toe as I was asked if I was eating enough. It makes you feel terrible.

It's also annoying that BF is pushed so much by the midwives and HVs yet at the first sign of an issue this HV started talking about formula feeding.

It's good to have somewhere to come for reassurance and support. Thank you all.

[Finola1step]

Here's a tip.

Go back to get him weighed if you want. But go back when to want to go..next week, 3 weeks, 4.. When it suits you.

Or never. Do not go back in 2 weeks just because you have been told to. You go when you decide.

Babies fluctuate on those bloody lines a little bit for all sorts of reasons.

[Mummyk1982]

HVs meet your baby for a matter of minutes; you know your baby inside out and back to front. I too have been given rubbish advice by the same hv twice now- I won't be listening to her again. You know how much your baby wants feeding- you do what feels right for your baby.