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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

dodgy HV advice on extended bf?

16 replies

lilysma · 02/04/2008 20:46

Got 16 month old dd weighed last week (she's sitting on 25th centile for weight and 75th for height as she has been since about 6 months). HV seemed happy with this but I happened to mention that dd has been demanding bf quite a lot in the day. HV immediately said, 'oh you need to cut that right down to only morning and evening or she won't eat enough'. I said that she eats fine and HV said 'oh, she could probably eat more if she didn't bf - she will get anaemic'

Is this a reasonable concern? Surely anaemia would be a consequence of not giving enough iron-rich foods not the quantity per se?! Or am I just being arsey because i don't trust the HV? DD generally eats well, although not at every meal, and I try to avoid feeding her right before meals. She has a long sleepy bf for about an hour in the evenings and mornings and feeds for quite short periods (5 mins or so) on demand a few times a day. She's at nursery 3 days a week and then obviously doesn't bf in the day, but she does as soon as she gets home usually. I never offer, but she usually demands (very clearly and forcefully)! Should I really be trying to eliminate daytime feeds? Sorry to be empiricist, but does anyone know of any evidence about this?

OP posts:
MesaLoca · 02/04/2008 20:51

I got this off them too. You know your child and don't let anyone put doubts in your mind. If anaemia was common in breastfed babies then we would all know about it and it is not like you are forcing your DD to breastfeed and witholding food is it? (Well I hope not )

My HV Said I was not to feed DD in the daytime as breastmilk is so hard to digest that she will be too full to eat. I nearly pissed myself laughing at her!

Original poster
lilysma · 02/04/2008 20:54

Thanks for this. I don't know why I even half listen to these people. It's wierd how most people suddenly start to give you reasons to give up bf once your child is over one, though . It makes me feel quite sad.

OP posts:
Jacanne · 02/04/2008 21:00

Kellymom says this

CantSleepWontSleep · 02/04/2008 21:00

Sounds like yet another pile of tosh spouted by a hv. My 2.2 yo still feeds several times a day, and is showing no signs of being anaemic.

Suggest you try the wry smile and nod approach next time you see her, and then ignore everything she says.

Or better still, don't bother seeing her again.
Don't think I've seen our hv since dd was just over 1, and she actually was quite nice and pro bf!

Poohbah · 02/04/2008 21:02

My two year old is the same percentiles.

He eats something like this.. 2 bowls of oatibix am, sandwich, kiwi fruit & yogurt lunch, bowl pasta shells with cheese sauce or fish pie and peas and custard and plums for tea.

He has cereal bars and a banana for snacks and a hot chocolate and dilute fruit juices aswell.

He breastfeeds five times a day.

Make of that what you will but it says in the NICE clinical guidelines due out in march that using weight charts as a guide with older babies can lead to "inappropriate intervention". You could advice your Health Visitor to bone up on the most up to date guidelines.

MesaLoca · 02/04/2008 21:04

I think there is a real emphasis on getting babies fully onto solids very quickly in this country, I am not sure quite why. Maybe such advice is more appropriate if a baby is having lots of cows milk during the day which probably is harder to digest and not as nutritious as breast milk. I do rather suspect that some HVs have not a clue about breastfeeding, which is a shame as dodgy advice causes unnecassary worry.

As long as you are happy with how your DD seems to be progressing then I would have no worries. i am sure you would notice if she became anaemic - I think some of the signs are lethargy, loss of colour and weight loss.

callmeovercautious · 02/04/2008 21:17

Well I still BF on demand and DD is nearly 19m. She does only feed Morning and Night the 3 days I work (like you) but when I am home she has 2 other feeds - one before her nap and a quick drink when she wakes. Some days if she is feeling particularly peckinsh she will ask for some in the afternoon - although TBH if we are out and about I fob her off with some rasins

No Toddler eats well at every meal. If my DD did she would be huge as she is bigger built than yours. I believe that if they are eating a balanced diet over the course of a week you are winning.

Ignore the HV - Extended BFing is about more than nutrition. Last time I tried to get DD weighed (out of curiosity) I was asked why I was bothering as she was over a year I don't have scales in my house!

Also whislt I am waffling! - I have a friend who no longer BFs but her lo is a similar age - the LO will not drink water so has Milk in a cup all day - she still eats her meal.

I may have X posted as I went away!

kiskideesameanoldmother · 02/04/2008 22:00

Dd fed a lot at this age. it seemed like every time she got a bump, scrape or was told 'no' around her 2nd birthday she needed milk. As soon as her language kicked in she became the more independent girl she previously was.

The iron in BM is more bioavailable than that found in any non-animal product and may be more so than that in meat.

This is a sure sign that this HV does not know enough about breastfeeding and breastmilk.

If you want to increase the bioavailability of iron in other foods, encourage your child to drink orange juice with these foods.

kiskideesameanoldmother · 02/04/2008 22:01

fwiw, dd has been on the 25th for weight and 50th for height since about 2 months old. she is now 3yo.

callmeovercautious · 02/04/2008 22:39

Hi Kiskidee - have not seen you around - the name change may explain it Did you have a Birthday?

kiskideesameanoldmother · 02/04/2008 23:41

not had a birthday since November. hehe.

I am pg though! feeling fat so I have been off mn for a bit while feeling like death warmed over. I had a 2 wk sick note lately due to said condition so that started me off on MN again.

Original poster
lilysma · 03/04/2008 09:00

thanks everyone! looks like i should stop bothering with the hv. i just wanted to get her weighed to see if i needed a new car seat! dd is clearly very well, developing great and gets over illness quickly. we both love bf and i see no reason to force her to cu down. just wanted to check my thinking out with y'all and glad i did!

OP posts:
harpsichordcarrier · 03/04/2008 09:03

bioavailable
I'm liking that

Tatties · 03/04/2008 09:08

Congratulations Kiskidee!

I have a nearly-3-yo sat on my knee feeding atm... he never stops asking for food throughout the day as well... can you tell I didn't listen to the HV?

Original poster
lilysma · 03/04/2008 09:08

yeah, sounds VERY scientific. will defo use if i ever see hv again

OP posts:
harpsichordcarrier · 03/04/2008 09:10

oh yeah here's my tip for HV management - don't go!
with dd2 I have been to the clinic precisely erm, never!
I can say very very confidently that they have nothing to offer me in the way of advice or support.
sad but true

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