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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Just been told that BF DD is too fat, thought that wasn't possible, feeling very guilty.

77 replies

MrsTittleMouse · 09/05/2007 13:05

DD is 6.5 months, and been slowly introduced to solids for the past month. She is BF, but has 1 or 2 FF a week when DH or DM looks after her.
She was born just over the 50th centile, but grew very fast on exclusive BF in the first few weeks and reached the 98th centile and has stayed there ever since. We were a bit concerned at such rapid growth, but we were told that it was impossible to over-feed a BF baby. She was 91th centile head circ and 99th centile height at the 8 week check, so in proportion.
Now the GP is saying that she's too fat and is at risk for obesity when she's older . I've never forced solid food on her, she gets offered the food and only if she opens her mouth do we continue. I told him that she wouldn't drink water (we were there for her constipation), and he suggested adding something sweet to the water to get her to drink it. He thinks that she has too many milk feeds. I now offer 20% apple juice 80% water several times a day, but she refuses to drink it. She has a "disgusted" look on her face and purses her lips. I don't want to add any more as she now has 2 teeth coming through. She gets really upset (because she's thirsty I suppose) and in the end I give her BF, but I feel really guilty that I'm putting through this, and simultaneously guilty that my BM is making her fat!!!
Any suggestions?

OP posts:
fishie · 09/05/2007 13:07

yes i have a suggestion. change your gp.

what a nitwit, he is even contradicting himself - why on earth would putting SUGAR in water help her to shrink?

TooTicky · 09/05/2007 13:08

Daft doctor. Carry on bf.

KathyMCMLXXII · 09/05/2007 13:09

"he suggested adding something sweet to the water to get her to drink it."

Is he mad? He thinks you shouldn't give her so much breastmilk, which is proven to guard against obesity, but wants you to sweeten her drinks?

tissy · 09/05/2007 13:09

Ignore your GP!

She will slim down when she gets more active. As long as you're not feeding her processed crap she will be fine.

fennel · 09/05/2007 13:10

Apparently charts for baby weight growth are based on formula fed babies and there should be quite different charts for bf ones, because they do grow a bit differently.

my dd1 I think was overfed as a bf baby, I heard the advice that you couldn't overfeed, and I fed her lots and she was very porky. But after 6-8 months she started slimming right down and became a slim child.

maybe your GP is just ignorant?

fishie · 09/05/2007 13:10

grr i am really cross about this, what does he want, to see her on 50th centile and therefore really underweight for her height? what a fool.

sorry to hear about the constipation, i believe it is fairly common when introducing solids. there is plenty of fluid in bm, but perhaps you could try having water always available in various types of cup to encourage her, make it fun that sort of thing.

ELF1981 · 09/05/2007 13:11

keep doing exactly what you are doing before you saw that nutter.
I was a rather chubby baby (10lbs + when born and I was early as well) and my mum was always told off that I was too heavy.
When I got to three/four years old, I went the other extreem and she was told I was too skinny.

Cazee · 09/05/2007 13:12

I am sure someone who knows about this will be along in a minute, but your GP sounds like he is talking rubbish. it seems that your DD was always designed to be a big baby, and "caught up" quickly in the first few weeks. if her length and weight are in proportion what on earth is the GP on about? I really don't think it is pessible to overfeed a bf baby, because they eat when they are hungry, stop when they are full, and the milk is always the right mix of fat and other nutrients. There is as much chance of a baby being on the 98th percentile as the 50th, that is what percentiles mean! I would find anothe GP.

Tapster · 09/05/2007 13:13

Oh for christ sake GPs - I got the same when my daughter was only 12 weeks old, that she was overfed the GP looked disbelieving that she was only BF. She was 91st percentile weight and height when born and still is, and is BF and is not very interested in solids despite my attmepts.

BFing reduces the likelihood of obesity in children. Your DD sounds in proportion. Give her as many milk feeds as she needs, don't bother with the juice. I think you should only give juice at meals (I only give water when I remember) as its not good for their teeth inbetween meals. Babies are self regulating about food.

We have recently suffered a bout of constipation too very common when you start weaning - dried apricots seems to be the answer, she likes AK's apple, pear and apricot recipe for breakfast, about the only thing she will eat.

Cazee · 09/05/2007 13:13

Man, I type slowly! There were no other responses when I started!

Original poster
MrsTittleMouse · 09/05/2007 13:13

DD does have the chubby rolls of fat on her arms and legs, which is why we asked the MW and HV about her weight.
She has 100g of fruit puree and 125g of vegetable puree with cheese or lentils or chicken, spread out over 3 meals. I have dropped the night feeds over the past month, so she's drinking less then...

OP posts:
edam · 09/05/2007 13:13

Agree with fishie, your GP is barking and clearly gets his information on child nutrition from some 1940s handbook. If that!

B/m is designed for babies by Mother Nature, for heaven's sake, there is no better form of nutrition. And also agree with fishie's point that sugary water (apple juice contains sugars) is hardly a diet food.

GP is also wrong about obesity. Not caused by b/f. There's some thinking that it could be to do with rapid weight gain on FORMULA ie to do with the mix of ingredients the manufacturer uses and the fact that the growth charts used by health professionals may be inappropriate, so parents are told to feed children up (often told add formula for b/f babies) when in fact they are doing fine.

If you want proper, rigorous, evidence-based advice on child nutrition, try the Food Standards Agency - official yet independent body that looks at all the research. www.eatwell.gov.uk from memory, look at baby nutrition bit.

LucyJu · 09/05/2007 13:14

Sounds like your dd is in proportion. I would ignore your GP, if I were you. I think these weight charts cause a lot of unnecessary anxiety.

FWIW, I wouldn't bother wth the apple juice - unnecessary, bad for teeth, etc. Just offer your dd water regularly. One day she might surprise you and take some. My bf dd prefers drinking from an open cup - I don't think she likes or enjoys having a plastic spout or teat in her mouth. So, it could be worth trying a few different cup styles and see what your dd prefers.

If she's constipated, try ofering more fruit and veg. I find mango, pear and kiwi work wonders. Cheese can be a bit constipating for young babies, so I would take it easy with cheese. HTH.

geekgrrl · 09/05/2007 13:14

oh ffs, what an idiot gp

babies do get really roly-poly at this age - they're storing up energy for crawling and walking and it's perfectly normal.

what an ignorant arse

WigWamBam · 09/05/2007 13:14

My dd has been on the 98th centile for both height and weight since birth; she's 6 this month, and no-one in their right mind would say she's fat.

Your daughter is in proportion, is eating and drinking well, and really the best thing you can do is keep breastfeeding her. Her diet should still be mainly milk at this stage, and she shouldn't need additional drinks - particularly not sweetened ones.

I'd change your GP.

Cadmum · 09/05/2007 13:15

I feel and for you and your dd.

This sounds really silly! Follow the other's advice here and change GPs before you change her diet.

munz · 09/05/2007 13:15

ignore the dr and go as you are. I ahd a similar exp around 6 months actually. I ignored. J has stayed on the 75th centile all along, he's happy lively etc.

shouldn't worry as other posters have said it will soon change when LO's more active.

tiktok · 09/05/2007 13:15

( fennel - you're wrong about the charts...I am always coming on here and correcting this myth!! UK charts are based on the weights of babies whose feeding is not differentiated. The problem with charts is the way healthcare professionals don't know how to interpret them or use them properly)

MrsTM, your GP is really poor. He has undermined your confidence, and upset you - what sort of doctor does this? On top of which, he has told you things which are incorrect - your daughter is in proportion, and is being fed primarily on the physiologically normal diet for her age.

Do you have a better informed HV who could put him right?

princessmel · 09/05/2007 13:16

Don't feel guilty for bf your baby.

You are doing the right thing.A great thing. Lots of babies don't drink water or juice. I aggree that she will probably change shape as she starts to move about.

Original poster
MrsTittleMouse · 09/05/2007 13:16

Actually I do wonder if he believed me that she was BF, even after I told him, he asked which brand of formula we use. I can't imagine that 2 bottles a week are going to make any difference.

OP posts:
GiantSquirrelSpotter · 09/05/2007 13:16

Change your GP

The one you've got is a nutter.

emsiewill · 09/05/2007 13:16

Am at your GP's advice - what a complete idiot. Whoever said he was getting his information from a 1940's handbook was right...

Twiglett · 09/05/2007 13:16

your GP is an arse .. please please complain about him / her and change immediately

what an idiot

Cadmum · 09/05/2007 13:17

All four of my children are all over the growth chart and it is really rubbish!!! It should only be used as a guideline if there are other worries imho. If your child is happy and healthy then do not worry!

Mumpbump · 09/05/2007 13:17

I agree with what everyone else has said. Maybe your dd is just destined to be a supermodel in later life! If she were underweight, that would be a worry, but at her age she will eat when she is hungry and not if she isn't. Once she starts crawling and walking, she'll burn off energy like you wouldn't believe. I couldn't eat the amount my ds eats sometimes!

I would also scrap the apple juice. As others have said, it's bad for their teeth, can be acidic on their tummies and why bother if she's happy with water which is so much better for you?

Ignore the GP, but consider changing if you get similarly cr*p advice on other stuff...