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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Exclusively bf 17 week old gaining too much weight. HV told me to start on solids early.

46 replies

Quicksilver · 17/06/2008 19:29

I am posted before about my dd (17 weeks) gaining weight. She is exclusively bf and has climbed from the 25th centile to the 98th centile.

I took her back to the HV today and she is now 17lb 14oz. She is following the 98th centile now rather than leaping up centiles.

However the HV has now suggested intoducing solids in an attempt to slow her weight gain. As breast milk is the most calorific thing she can have I can see her logic, but this doesn't feel right.

There is nothing wrong with dd apart from some chunky legs and chubby cheeks. I thought it could be harmful to introduce solids this early.

Has anyone else been told to do this? Should I follow her advice or trust my instincts?

OP posts:

Original poster

Quicksilver · 17/06/2008 19:31

I have posted before ....

OP posts:

nickytwotimes · 17/06/2008 19:31

Trust your instincts.
Your hv is going against all the current recommendations.

meemar · 17/06/2008 19:32

It sounds like madness to me. I'd get a second opinion.

misdee · 17/06/2008 19:32

trust your instincts.

there is no need to wean early.

FrannyandZooey · 17/06/2008 19:32

whaaaaaaaaat?
I think she's bonkers
oh dear
yes it certainly can be harmful - don't just your instincts, trust the official advice which says delay solids and exclusively breastfeed!
I am very sorry you are getting this bad advice and being worried about your dd's growth
I don't think there should be concerns about an exclusively bf baby putting on a lot of weight - it often happens

SmugColditz · 17/06/2008 19:32

Ignore

Whenever HVs give advice, ask for a referral to a paediatrian. The NHS will very quickly get fed up of how much their HVs are costing them, and train them already!

Original poster

Quicksilver · 17/06/2008 19:38

Everytime I take dd, the hv says it is very unusual for bf babies to put on weight so quickly.

DD probably does feed to much but I think she likes the comfort aswell.

Oh well, I would be even more worried if it was the other way round and she was not gaining enough weight so I should count my blessings.

OP posts:

2Happy · 17/06/2008 19:40

(sound of jaw hitting floor at another idiot piece of HV advice)

SmugColditz · 17/06/2008 19:40

You don't have to take her at all, you know.

WhipMeIndiana · 17/06/2008 19:40

keep doing what you want! I took delight in ignoring my ridiculous HV's advice....

PortAndLemon · 17/06/2008 19:41

Trust your instinct. She's bonkers. Breastfed babies actually put on weight faster than formula-fed babies to begin with, on average (then later ff babies catch up and overtake) so that comment of hers seems odd to say the least.

Original poster

Quicksilver · 17/06/2008 19:44

Smugcolditz - that is exactly what my dh said.
I am supposed to be taking her very 2 weeks to monitor her growth so they might chase me up.

OP posts:

RhinestoneCowgirl · 17/06/2008 19:45

Good grief - you can't win can you? Other threads show mums are being pressured because their baby isn't gaining 'enough', and your baby is apparently gaining 'too much'.

And I post as the mother of a complete milk monster who was completely spherical at that age. HV muttered a few things about 'keeping an eye' on his weight at his 8 month check - I haven't seen her since . He's still stocky but now he's nearly 2 and charging about all over the place he's slimmed down a lot.

Keep doing what you're doing, don't wean early if you don't want to. HV's talking bobbins!

charchargabor · 17/06/2008 19:46

Agree with all above. You cannot overfeed a bf baby, so your dd is just growing as she is supposed to. Babies have to be all diff sizes, and there is nothing wrong with that. Carry on enjoying the ease of exclusive bfing! I bet your dd will really slim down when she starts moving around. And FWIW, my dd fed hourly until 9 months, and now 1 1/2-2 hourly at 10 months, and is tiny, so don't worry about her frequent feeding. She knows how much she needs!

Habbibu · 17/06/2008 19:47

I would love to know what the same HV's advice is to parents of babies who are slow to gain weight. Do you suppose it's "wean", perchance?

charchargabor · 17/06/2008 19:47

x-posted. I would just contact them and say that you feel dd is fine so you don't feel the need to get her weighed again. And if they get pushy, ask to be referred to a paediatrician.

CrushWithEyeliner · 17/06/2008 19:48

is she fucking kidding?

what awful advice. WELL DONE for your Dc gaining weight keep doing as you are

2Happy · 17/06/2008 19:49

Well I suppose you could look at it as a refreshing change - we're forever tearing out our hair at HVs who suggest to mothers whose kids aren't following the HV's ideal of weight gain that they should wean early. "FFS!" we cry, "weaning is about first tastes!! There is no nutritional value in a teaspoon of baby goo!! When will they ever learn?!"... so at least this HV is suggesting weaning to slow down growth

papaya · 17/06/2008 19:50

quicksilver my DS is EBF. He was 8lb9 at birth and now at 3 months he is 17lb 12ou. He has leapt up the centiles and has stayed on the 98th for a while now. My hv has never metioned a thing about his rapid weight gain. He has such thick thighs i struggle with trousers lol, he doesnt look big though, like you say, just chubby legs

no advice, just wanted you to know your not alone with a baby gaining lots of weight

cmotdibbler · 17/06/2008 19:50

Another HV comment for the hall of shame.

All your baby needs is breastmilk till they are 6 months old. Their weight will sort itself out, especially once they start crawling/walking - in fact babies store fat for this.

My DS went from the 75th to 99.8th percentile, where he stayed for a long time (well certainly until he was 1 cos I didn't get him weighed between 1 and 2). At 2 he's on the 75th again as he's a non stop bundle of energy.

Just don't go back to have her weighed until you feel like it. They can't make you go, and if they ring say that you are very happy with her weight and will let them know if you are concerned.

hullygully · 17/06/2008 19:52

what IS it with HVs?

Original poster

Quicksilver · 17/06/2008 19:59

lol 2happy.
Papaya thanks for that - it is reassuring.

Maybe the best thing to do is go to my doctor, have dd checked over and if all is fine stop taking her to be weighed.
Ignorance is bliss.

OP posts:

PortAndLemon · 17/06/2008 20:25

Don't go again. No need at all to have her weighed every 2 weeks. If they chase you up, which I think is very unlikely, just say that you don't have any concerns at the moment but will be in touch if you do.

MamaChris · 17/06/2008 21:09

ds also leapt up the centiles - was putting on over 400g/wk for a while, until he settled on 91st centile. I was worried he was putting on too much weight too fast, and my HV told me to stop worrying - breastmilk is such a fabulous food, why shouldn't he want to store up a little extra goodness at this time? Such a nice way of putting it I thought . Clearly each HV makes their own rules though!

sweetkitty · 17/06/2008 21:15

slow to gain weight = wean
gaining weight to fast = wean
ANYTHING wrong with a BF baby = formula top up

ability to make a mum especially a first time mum feel completely useless = check

there can I be a HV now?

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