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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Apparently EBF baby is overweight

31 replies

IdiotSandwich05 · 20/08/2022 12:32

Hi all.

DS is two months old and, according to his HV, overweight. He weighed 6lbs 12oz at birth (born at 37 weeks), at six weeks was 12lbs 10oz, and is now exactly 15lbs. So yes a chunky monkey but I was pleased with this! He is EBF.

The HV insinuated I was overfeeding him and shouldn't 'feed him every time he cries'. I don't! She also mentioned him being at increased risk of obesity ect. Basically making it seem like I'm doing something wrong. This is my first time BFing and I thought it was going well! Neither me nor DP nor our daughter are overweight.

DS is also 63cm long which is on the 99th percentile, so to me that means he's big but in proportion rather than overweight. He is healthy, happy, and meeting all his millstones. He goes 2-3 hours between feeds in the day and 3-4 hours at night, so it isn't like he's feeding constantly. And even if he was, I thought you couldn't overfeed a BF baby?

Is my HV just talking nonsense?

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 20/08/2022 12:37

I was under the impression that you can't over feed an EBF baby.

DisforDarkChocolate · 20/08/2022 12:39

I'm with you, my experience of HVs has always been crap.

MelonMojito · 20/08/2022 12:39

Your Health Visitor is talking nonsense.

kellymom.com/bf/normal/weight-toomuch/

LittleBearPad · 20/08/2022 12:41

A very quick squizz at the charts would suggest he’s in proportion and she’s talking nonsense! (They usually are!)

housepilot · 20/08/2022 12:41

Your feeding journey sounds perfect. His weight gain is brilliant, and in proportion to his length. I have a 99th centile in weight & length 3 year old and he looked in perfect proportions. (Just like a 5 year old though!)

Congratulations!!

Livinginanotherworld · 20/08/2022 12:41

It sounds like you are doing brilliantly well OP. I have no idea where your HV is coming from on this ?

SignOnTheWindow · 20/08/2022 12:43

Ignore, ignore, ignore.

My HV told me that my baby would get wind if I ate broccoli, FFS!

Where do they find these people?!

wibblewobbleball · 20/08/2022 12:50

Ignore the HV. I honestly have no idea what the point in them is. Well done on EBF, it's a hard slog and sounds like you're both smashing it!!!

WhiteCatmas · 20/08/2022 12:52

Your HV is being silly. Most of the time they have no idea about EBF babies.
My EBF son was like a plump little ball at one point. He slimmed out when he started rolling/walking.
Smile and nod.

Purplepeoniesdroppingpetals · 20/08/2022 12:53

I once got told by a Hv that I should put my ebf child on a diet and then the next week it was ‘do you want to see the midwife in charge’ because he had only put on 4oz. He’s now 22, 6ft 4 and was on the 50 centile for weight and 99th for height.

JustSortYoursefOut · 20/08/2022 12:56

Take no notice of that bullshit. My 2nd son was 10lbs 13oz born, and 23 inches long (58cm?). The hospital, GP, midwife, HV, all of them, told me I needed to cut down his feeds, do this, do that. I fed him as much as he'd take, whenever he was hungry. I started him on solids at 6 weeks. Yes, he was bigger than other babies, and he was big until he started nursery at 3.

He's 38 now, tall and slim, eats very healthily indeed.

daisyjgrey · 20/08/2022 12:58

Fuck your HV off immediately.

frangipani13 · 20/08/2022 13:00

My health visitors have given a variety of shit advice over the years including I should keep giving DD mashed avocado indefinitely as “There’s a reason Israeli babies are so healthy” (in response to me asking when I should transition to lumpier solids) and my favourite comment was at her one year check up “Ooh she’s very white!” “Pardon?” “Her skin, it’s very white (compared with yours)”. I’m south Asian and her dad is white. 🫠

I’m sure there are some brilliant HVs out there but I’ve not encountered them. Carry on as you are OP, you sound like you have a very healthy, thriving little lad.

JubileeTrifle · 20/08/2022 13:01

My EBF nephew was hilariously fat as a baby. He was also incredibly lazy and wouldn’t move for a long time so stayed that way. He’s 18 now and 6ft5 and skinny as a rake.
A childminder said to me that she has been childminding for 25 years and the fat babies always turn out tall, like they are laying it all down early on.

TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination · 20/08/2022 13:03

You're doing well, don't let her knock your confidence!

Your HV is about as much use as a chocolate tea pot!!

I have NO idea how most of them get their jobs?!?!

I feel very sorry for the good ones as their profession is brought down by the vast number of idiots in the 'profession'.

I refused home visits & just took them to the weighing in clinics at the Drs. Can you still do that post covid?

HeyBlaby · 20/08/2022 13:05

JustSortYoursefOut · 20/08/2022 12:56

Take no notice of that bullshit. My 2nd son was 10lbs 13oz born, and 23 inches long (58cm?). The hospital, GP, midwife, HV, all of them, told me I needed to cut down his feeds, do this, do that. I fed him as much as he'd take, whenever he was hungry. I started him on solids at 6 weeks. Yes, he was bigger than other babies, and he was big until he started nursery at 3.

He's 38 now, tall and slim, eats very healthily indeed.

6...6 weeks?! Months?

Skelligsfeathers · 20/08/2022 13:06

I was kept behind at the clinic once and asked what i wad feeding my baby. Erm....breastmilk?
He used to put a pound a week on!
He's an adult now and 6 foot 8!

willingtolearn · 20/08/2022 13:09

Weight gain in babies and children is not totally linear.

Its more like a rollercoaster going gently upwards - so if the HV happens to weigh them at the 'top' of a peak (growth spurts) it might not exactly match up with their height percentile at that time.

Equally troughs may represent an illness that is followed by a recovery spurt.

Over time you can draw a line from top to bottom that will cut through the spurts and troughs that show steady growth.

It sounds like you have an very effective feeder that knows what his body needs.

I have a photo of my child at about 4 months looking like Buddha, fat rolls everywhere. At 2 I would worry that they were too thin and barely ate.

The joys of parenting - constant worry.

I might ask the HV for any research/written information about EBF children and feeding /growth patterns if it's not just a one off remark.

midgetastic · 20/08/2022 13:09

Nhs website

Do not worry about over feeding - you cannot over feed

www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/breastfeeding/your-questions-answered/

Show HV this , or complain to your surgery

gamerchick · 20/08/2022 13:11

Sounds like he and you are doing bloody fab OP.

I never took them to get weighed after the 6 week check. If you've got a blatantly growing kid it's not necessary imo

ItsSnowJokes · 20/08/2022 13:11

HeyBlaby · 20/08/2022 13:05

6...6 weeks?! Months?

Show quote history

It wasn't unheard of for very early weaning years ago. My eldest is nearly 25 and she starting weaning at 10 weeks old.

gamerchick · 20/08/2022 13:14

JustSortYoursefOut · 20/08/2022 12:56

Take no notice of that bullshit. My 2nd son was 10lbs 13oz born, and 23 inches long (58cm?). The hospital, GP, midwife, HV, all of them, told me I needed to cut down his feeds, do this, do that. I fed him as much as he'd take, whenever he was hungry. I started him on solids at 6 weeks. Yes, he was bigger than other babies, and he was big until he started nursery at 3.

He's 38 now, tall and slim, eats very healthily indeed.

I hope you meant months. My aunt was a bit dim and put her baby onto solids far too early and put him in hospital Hmm

Twizbe · 20/08/2022 13:17

Ignore the HV.

I think people expect breastfed babies to be tiny when some aren't.

My daughter was EBF and was 9lb3 when born. She was a chunker! Honestly massive. I remember the HV asking me if I was sure she was EBF.

My son who was combi fed was and still is a skinny Minnie so 🤷🏼‍♀️

You're doing well, keep going mama. You're doing well.

Aquamarine1029 · 20/08/2022 13:18

Your HV is an absolute moron. I wouldn't even see them again. Your baby is perfectly fine.

dizzydizzydizzy · 20/08/2022 13:19

I agree with the PPs. To get proper advice, you can phone the NCT Breastfeeding Helpline, who I'm sure will give you the fully researched answer of what PPs are saying.