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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Will I be reported if I refused to put Callum on formula??

321 replies

sparklygothkat · 22/11/2007 16:31

The SCBU nurse just phoned me and said that if Callum hasn't gained weight in 2 weeks, I have to put him onto formula. Apparently the consultant has said this.
I have 30 bottles of high engery formula here which I still haven't given to him (am supposed to topup with 30ml once a day via the feeding tube) but I really really don't want him to have formula...
If we refuse, will be reported to SS for not doing the right thing??

OP posts:
MommalovesHerSpanglyXmasName · 03/12/2007 18:38

This reply has been deleted

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chipmonkey · 03/12/2007 19:16

Sparkly, I used to get that attitude in SCBU in a supposedly breastfeeding friendly hospital. The babies in SCBU were routinely given dummies, and when I bf ds3 for 20min and knew he was sucking well and gaining weight they still said, "We don't know what he's getting" I used to feel like saying, "He's getting breastmilk, stoopid!" but never did! Oddly enough, I got this attitude from the Irish nurses but an Indian paediatrician and Indian MW really encouraged my to bf and not worry too much about topping up. I was very glad I listened to them.
Well done for standing up to the SCBU nurse. Hopefully she'll think again before being so quick to advise formula to some other mum.

Original poster
sparklygothkat · 03/12/2007 20:35

she did say that she would take note of what I had said, and make sure she doesn't do it again to any other mum

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NorthernLurkerwithastarontop · 03/12/2007 20:54

Crikey - well that's an excellent result SGK - turns out you've done best thing for Callum - and for many, many other babies
You don't think your SCBU nurse could be a mumsnetter do you - were her ears suspiciously red and burning?

Original poster
sparklygothkat · 03/12/2007 20:56

no she was geninely shocked that she had upset me, she ov. didn;t mean to, but as I explained to her, when you are trying to do the right thing(BF) and being told that you have to give formula, even if it go against everything you know, you begin to question what is actually right and it makes you feel crap about do the right thing

OP posts:
moondog · 03/12/2007 21:02

Good on you SGK.
Lets hope the silly cow trained health professional has learnt something from this experience eh?

maisiemog · 03/12/2007 22:32

That sounds as if it went a lot better than expected. I'm glad she had the decency to apologise for her lack of support and for upsetting you.
Good for you for telling her how you felt as well, she needs to know how what she says affects others.
Keep up the great work!

laundrylover · 04/12/2007 11:13

Well done fatty Callum and well done 'take on the HPs and win' you SGK!

hunkermunker · 04/12/2007 11:19

Well done, SGK! For all sorts of reasons, not least your excellent breastfeeding against all odds and the lovely way you told the HCP how she'd made you feel - in a constructive way!

chipmonkey · 04/12/2007 23:23

LOL at "fatty Callum".

Miaou · 05/12/2007 12:21

I was telling dh about this yesterday and he was so impressed with your achievements - not least the fact that you got through to the HCP how she wasn't helping, but with no bad feeling on either side - and then all the b/fing, and four kids, and Callum being so wee ... you rock, SGK!

Original poster
sparklygothkat · 05/12/2007 13:45
Blush
OP posts:
Original poster
sparklygothkat · 07/12/2007 10:45

weighing later on, lets hope he has broke the 7lb mark

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Original poster
sparklygothkat · 07/12/2007 14:48

arse!!! 2 poxy oz!!! I don't understand..

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Original poster
sparklygothkat · 07/12/2007 15:47

please help me, I don't know what to do now.. I was so pleased last week with the 9oz. Today when I first put him on the scales he had actually lost weight, but HV said to feed him and see what happens. He then gained 2oz. I just don't know how much more of this I can take..

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BoysAreLikeReindeer · 07/12/2007 16:10

Sparkly, don't panic, I know that they are dead keen on gain gain gain.

Hoping someone with more experience will be along to reassure you

stockingfiller · 07/12/2007 16:22

you did really well he is still small and after last weeks gain he will start to put it on a bit slower,
keep going he will tower over you one day and you will be able to tell him all about the weight gain trouble he gave you as a tiny baby!

Original poster
sparklygothkat · 07/12/2007 16:46

Hv said that he took about 2 1/2oz of milk from me, after she weighed him the second time, which isn't a huge amount, but she said that he is the size of a newborn and will take similar amounts to a newborn. I feel so downheartened. DH is being supportive but he feels that there is more to Callum than meets the eye and he needs tests.

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stockingfiller · 07/12/2007 16:53

if you feel something is wrong with callum keep pushing the so called professionals to find out.
dd only used to have 2/3oz when she was cpl weeks old and fed every 2/3hrs!

Original poster
sparklygothkat · 07/12/2007 17:00

I am not sure myself, he is alert, happy, good muscle tone, wakes for feeds. But the weight gain is an issue and not sure how to get through this. Having 2 disabled kids already, I think DH is getting a bit worried.

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lizziemun · 07/12/2007 17:36

I know nothing about prem babies or 6lb babies come to that. But i would have thought the fact the callum is now a heathy weight and feeding well can you ask for the hv and scbu nurse to leave you alone for 2 weeks to take the pressure of you and your DH.

I have to say i a 13week who is probaly about 14lb now but she still only has a 5 - 6oz bottle every 4 hours. She also sleeps through the night so is only having 4 bottles and nobody concerned about her weight gain. So she is probaly only having about 20oz a day which is less then callum.

chipmonkey · 07/12/2007 20:29

sparkly when ds3 was 5lb 3oz he was only taking 50ml ( around 2oz) every 3 hours. That was from those little axifeed bottles when he was in hospital, don't know what he was getting from the breast. And often he didn't even seem to want the full 50ml. And the girl opposite me when I had ds2 was bottlefeeding her fullterm baby and IIRC he was only taking 30ml every feed. 2.5 oz sounds pretty normal.

chipmonkey · 07/12/2007 20:30

Are you still topping up via the tube sparkly?

Original poster
sparklygothkat · 07/12/2007 20:44

yes I thought about giving him EBM in a bottle, but SCBU Nurse and HV think he will use all the calories feeding..

OP posts:
FairyTaleOfNewYork · 07/12/2007 20:45

yes he will. still go with the tube.

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