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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

8 month old was above 75th percentile, now below 25th. HV says bf isn't good enough

30 replies

Ceolas · 24/04/2008 22:18

and deep down I know she's talking bollocks, but she's got me wondering...

DD isn't much interested in solids but doing everything else an 8 month old should be. Sitting, crawling, babbling, teething. She feeds round the clock - doesn't sleep much but never has really.

HV weighed her this morning and she's 17lbs 4oz. She was going on about making her take more solids (er, how?) and supplementing with formula. She reckons either I've not got enough milk or it's not satisfying her anymore.

Reassure me please!

OP posts:
CristinaTheAstonishing · 24/04/2008 22:23

She does everything she needs to do so obsviously not lethargic or short of energy. She's not exclusively BF so you're not "denying" her other food, what else can you do? Keep going, what's to say she'll start guzzling down formula?!

morocco · 24/04/2008 22:31

off the top of my head,
she's looking well? developing fine? was she weighed just as part of her 8 month check?
most solids have less calories than bmilk (logically, we'd eat carrots all day rather than drink full fat milk if we wanted to lose weight not gain weight)
did she chart her weight on the new charts for bf babies? formula/mixed fed babies start to put on too much weight at around 8 months so using the wrong chart would give the impression your dd was slipping down the centiles when she was in fact doing just fine

PillockOfTheCommunity · 24/04/2008 22:33

I had exactly this with ds2, at 8 months too, even went as far as being refered to a Paediatrician. He was 75th at birth last April, 25th by December. I stood my ground and kept going to regular clinic visits but didn't switch to ff. Now at 1yr old he's been discharged, and is still bf and on 25th

fishie · 24/04/2008 22:34

why are you still going to see them at 8m? don't go again, i bet they hvae many people who really do need help to concentrate on.

CarGirl · 24/04/2008 22:34

So the HV would rather you gave her more milk by supplementing with formula rather than you continue to wait until she takes more of interest in solids.......she has 4 months until she's a year!!!

My youngest 3 were all born around the 98th centile by 10 months old one was on the 98th, one the 75th and one the 50th - err it is around that age they start to find their natural centile IMHO

BigBadMouse · 24/04/2008 22:35

Surely if she was hungry you'd know.....I doubt very much you are starving your DD. Silly HV seems to think your little DD has to follow a textbook curve when in fact, like many other children they go up and down the centiles as they grow.

I agree with Christina that if your milk was just a nutritionally deficient liquid you wouldn't have an active baby.

Supplement with formula if you want but if not then ignore HV - IME they eventually go off and hassle someone else

tiktok · 24/04/2008 22:37

I agree with morocco - by now, the standard UK charts are not appropriate for charting bf babies' growth, as after 5-6 mths the normal physiological growth of the bf baby tends to slow. It is preposterous to doubt the nutrition of an 8 mth baby who is developing well in every respect, simply because of the apparent drop on the chart, but what is even more preposterous is her solution to the 'problem ' - give more formula and more solids. If she needs more milk you have the milk in your breasts - so it makes no sense to break out the formula now.

If there is an issue with your dd's weight, then it is easily resolved by offering more breastmilk, and continuing to offer her solids as you are doing.

Why would breastmilk 'not satisfy' her now?

Dear oh dear.

somebodyhelpme · 24/04/2008 22:39

I had exactally the same thing, and my ds at 10months was still only 16lbs, bf and not interested in loads of solids, he has been to see the pediatric doc, who said he would like his weight monitored, but he was doing everything he should be, so wasnt worried! trust yourself you know shes fine.

Original poster
Ceolas · 24/04/2008 22:41

For the record, she came to see me. Not an assessment, just a 'contact'

Old charts I think.

OP posts:
Rowlers · 24/04/2008 22:45
fishie · 24/04/2008 22:45

sorry ceolas, i was a bit worried you were in their thrall.

they had me on weekly weights and paediatrician referral etc etc so i had assumed you were also afflicted.

chunkychips · 24/04/2008 22:51

I wouldn't start on formula now either, the weight loss is probably due to the normal slowing down of bfing, introducing solids and being more active. My ds was in 95th percentile, he loved his milk and gorged himself silly on it. Neither myself nor partner are in 95th percentile, so wouldn't expect him to be so different in 'real life'. If i had him weighed now he would be below 50th. Wouldn't bother going back. As long as the solids are slowly taking over and she's doing all the usual stuff I wouldn't worry.

moondog · 24/04/2008 22:52

What an idiot.
Swift kick up the arse coming her way from moi.

tiktok · 24/04/2008 23:52

Charts will be used in UK soon - they are being piloted at the moment. No use in intro'ing them yet, as HVs and others need training in their interpretation and implementation, but it will happen.

LyraSilvertongue · 24/04/2008 23:54

Forget the charts. They're not tailorde to bf babies at all.
I wish I'n realised this when my two were really little.

LyraSilvertongue · 24/04/2008 23:55

Typing up the creek tonight...

Shitemum · 25/04/2008 00:19

At 8 mo babies become much more active and at the same time are adapting to solids. So I think a dip or plateau in weight around now is normal. If she's happy and full of beans she's fine. If she's not very interested in solids she will be soon and in the meantime yu could boost your bmilk supply by taking fenugreek capsules, I did when I was worried for the same reason and in the same circumstances with DD2 at 7 mo and it helped.

pinkyminky · 25/04/2008 01:26

I think BF babies often slow down in weight like this. FGS what is it with HV and topping up with formula?
I'd just carry on as you are, I'm sure she'll take to her solids gradually. Some babies are mad for solids and others like to take their time.

SofiaAmes · 25/04/2008 06:02

My bf babies were the fattest ever, until they started crawling and then they were the skinniest ever. DS was piggy piggy and ate everything put in front of him AND guzzled gallons of breast milk. DD was as picky as can be and barely sipped breast milk. Both were fat and then skinny. Now they are 5 and 7 and are still as skinny as can be. When I look back at pictures of me as a baby (breast fed), I was fat as can be until crawling and then skinny as can be after that (and at 45 still am). Forget the charts.
I don't know if anyone else mentioned this, but sometimes it helps to feed them the solids before you do the breastfeeding so they are hungrier when they are trying the solids. Generally solids are hard work for them at that age, so they really don't consume too much. Also, what solids are you feeding? Are you making the mush yourself. My experience was that the store bought stuff was so bland (try it yourself, it's awful) that my dc's weren't interested. I put rosemary and garlic and other spices in my baby mush and they were far more interested in that.
Anyway, there really is no place for formula in the diet of a happy healthy breastfed and beginning to be weaned child. Appropriate way to deal with HV in my experience is to smile, say yes and then totally ignore all advice given by them.

FairyMum · 25/04/2008 07:01

Had same issue, was also referred to pediatrician. There was nothing wrong with my baby. Developing normally, healthy and happy.....but they only look at the charts.
I also stood my ground.It's awful how the HV are undermining bf and I include GPs in that.

pinkyminky · 25/04/2008 09:25

That's a good point about offering the solids before the milk. I made my own foods for them, and DD much preferred the spicier things I cooked, and things roasted with herbs; she also wanted things much runnier at first than ds did.

CorrieDale · 25/04/2008 09:28

Bollocks! bollocks! bollocks!

DS was just the same. He was 8lb when born (75th centile) and 15 months before he was 20lb. Very active though, and still a skinny malink now. If your DD seems fine, then ignore your HV. They can be mindlessly obsessed with those little charts.

(We stopped getting DS weighed, and have continued the policy with DD)

pinkyminky · 25/04/2008 09:28

Fairy- that's exactly wehat's happening- undermining BF. I can't understand how things have got so topsy turvey as regards baby feeding- well i guess it's al about money and powerful marketing.

kiskideesameanoldmother · 25/04/2008 11:00

dd did not take any solids at 8 months. None at all. she was born on the 50% from 2 months old she was on the 25th, at 8 month old and at 3yo is still on the 25th.

She didn't wean onto semidry solids till 13 months and was only taking decent amts at 18 months.

She has not had formula or forced to wean onto solids.

She is however, allergic to cow's milk and egg! We only found this out about 6 months ago. I think it has played a big role in her late weaning.

Trust what your baby is telling you. Not your health visitor.

*

Another friend was bullied into FF at 4 months because her dd was on the 90% for height but 25th for weight. She was born on the 75%. Guess what, she stayed on the same percentiles after being weaned on formula. My friend is still sad and angry about this 4 yrs later and intend to ignore HV with the one currently on the way.

pinkyminky · 25/04/2008 14:01

I've seen my HV a total of 4 times with DD, She's fine. If she's not well, I take her to the GP.

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