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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:
suejonez · 09/05/2007 14:59

good point...

I can't help it, I liked knowing what DS weighed (still do) no idea why, think its because I'm an accountant! I don't worry about it though.

Original poster
MrsTittleMouse · 09/05/2007 15:38

Wow! So many replies!
OK, do I'll keep offering her water and not worry too much. She's quite active, in fact she's a bit of a pain in the arse to have on the lap unless she's asleep as she fidgets so much.
Tapster: the HV recommended conciously pulling in the stomach muscles before a lift, which has helped.

OP posts:
Aloha · 09/05/2007 15:51

oh ffs what rubbish your gp is spouting. Not all babies can be on the 50th Centile otherwise there wouldn't BE any centiles
Take no notice, and stop the apple juice. Your gp sounds like an idiot tbh. I'd change gps on this evidence alone.
She isn't 'fat'. It's like expecting my 6'4" dh to weigh the same as my 5'9" ex!

Aloha · 09/05/2007 15:52

And I agree, you dd is clearly thriving. Stop getting her weighed.

QueenofBleach · 09/05/2007 15:54

I have a friend who is also a GP her DD was off the centiles for both height and weight at 6 months and was not worried about it so you shouldn't either. Now she is active she has slimmed down.

rantinghousewife · 09/05/2007 16:08

WTF!! Ignore this arse of a GP, my ds (now 13 years old) was a huge baby and HV told me to put him on a diet at 8months. I, being young and super confident, duly ignored her and never took him back to be weighed, nor did I put him on a diet. 12 years later, he's a bean pole and has been since he started school and the weight started to drop off. Do as you're doing, sounds absolutely spot on fwiw and don't let this fool destroy your confidence. Once she's walking she'll slim down anyhow.

suejonez · 09/05/2007 16:10

Does anyone think this GP isn't an arse? , rarely have I seen a thread so united

AlienEars · 09/05/2007 16:22

Arse with bells on it...

DD was and is on the top of the centile charts for both height and weight. 9lb 12oz at birth and now around 5.5 stone age 6. She eats healthily/enthusiastically and also runs around like a mad thing, rides her scooter and bike.

Someone has to be on the top of these stupid charts to balance out the ones who are the other end, making for a more interesting world.

whomovedmychocolate · 09/05/2007 18:46

On the getting fluids into her point, try different temperatures of water - my DD will only drink very cold water for example but all my friends give their small babies warmish water (mostly because they've boiled it first and can't wait till it's really cold but allegedly because it's the same temperature as breast milk.

Also try a cup rather than a bottle, either a sippy or a plastic cup. If you get really stuck, as your pharmacist for a medicine syringue which is a needleless syringue to measure out liquid medicines and you can whop in a teaspoon of liquid at a time with them.

snookie28 · 09/05/2007 19:21

I have read this thread with a huge smile on my face. My dd (7 months) is also on the 98th centile for weight and height and I have been secretly worried about her. Having read the replies means theres something less to worry about at the 3am nightfeed

Am so sick of people asking how old she is and saying "my - what a big baby". I now sometimes add a couple of months onto her age when asked . That however does open up the "so she isn't crawling yet - aren't you worried shes a slow learner" comments!!!

Aloha · 09/05/2007 19:23

And you don't need to worry about making her drink water. She will get her thirst quenched nicely by breastmilk and sloppy solids!
Honestly, I am really worried about a GP who is too dim to realise the 50% centile is not a target

moondog · 09/05/2007 19:23

Bear with me ladies

WHAT A FUCKING IDIOT!!!!!!

Ignore him.

daisybo · 09/05/2007 19:40

just postec this on a similar thread...
ds1 was 20lbs at 5 months and 29lbs at age 1, and he was only on the 75th centile for height, he was massive, then he learnt to walk and lost it all, he is now 33lbs at 3yrs old, please don't worry about it, babies come in all shapes and sizes and hv's know bugger all!

daisybo · 09/05/2007 19:43

oh and he was exclusively bf til we weaned at 5 months and i carried on breastfeeding til he was 2
i maintain it is not possible to overfeed a bf baby, they take what they need, even if that is a lot!
dd is going the same way...15 weeks and 15lbs and she was only 6lb 12 born!!
and anyway chuuby babies are cute

berolina · 09/05/2007 19:43

Oh goodness gracious, whatever next, a 6mo baby 'too fat'.

Just give her bf, and don't worry. Bl**dy centiles - useful in some cases, cause of much unnecessary stress and worry in many others. (ds has quite a bit of experience of the bottom of the centile chart )

Hillls · 09/05/2007 19:45

What is it with bloody health professionals these days???? Putting babies on bloody diets FFS, absouloutly bloody crazy!

Aloha · 09/05/2007 19:46

There would be a 50% centile unless some perfectly healthy babies were on the 1st centil and the 99th centile!

whomovedmychocolate · 09/05/2007 19:47

Aloha - it's not a thirst issue, MrsTittleMouse's DD has constipation - obviously don't use water to cut down on calories, but a few spoons of water can get things moving.

Pitchounette · 09/05/2007 20:21

Message withdrawn

Pitchounette · 09/05/2007 20:22

Message withdrawn

Original poster
MrsTittleMouse · 10/05/2007 11:24

I've tried pears AND prunes! DD is also very keen on lentils of all things. Things are a bit better now as she isn't crying while straining (very to watch) and seems much more comfortable. I'm sure that some water to loosen things a bit more would be useful though. Different temps and drinking vessels it is.

OP posts:
bozza · 10/05/2007 11:42

Lots and lots of 6.5 mo babies are chubby. My DS was yet another that was and now at 6 you can clearly see all his ribs. But then again, lots and lots of 6yos are skinny ribs.

Your DD sounds lovely.

MrsJohnCusack · 10/05/2007 11:59

actuALLy, this GP sounds SO mad that I would be tempted to complain to someone about him - not sure who it would be though.

his advice could lead to her being dehydrated by the sounds of it. what a TWAT

Londonmamma · 10/05/2007 20:03

PLEEAASSEE can we call him 'mad as a box of frogs'? It's my current fave MN expression

whomovedmychocolate · 10/05/2007 20:10

How about 'Doctor durhhh!'?