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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Is my baby too fat?

19 replies

LadyC32 · 28/04/2009 13:16

Help! Just been to clinic for a weigh in and have been told that my little girl is between 91st & 95th percentile for weight at 16lb 3oz - she's nearly 16wks. I give her 7oz 5 x a day (as per instructions on SMA tin.
The HV said to reduce amount of milk as fat baby = fat adult as the fat cells have already been created.
Am totally paranoid now... I'll end up giving her an eating disorder at 4 months old!

OP posts:
katz · 28/04/2009 13:17

where is she at for height? is her weight in proportion?

FrankMustard · 28/04/2009 13:19

ignore your HV - ridiculous to be telling you to put your baby on a diet IMO
Don't get paranoid, your baby's weight gain shows she's doing well. All my dcs were 91st centile for height and weight and they are now slim, slender little men running around with no weight issues whatsoever.
If you're concerned, check with another health professional but I'd be surprised if there's anything to be concerned about.

FrankMustard · 28/04/2009 13:20

sorry, saying "ignore your HV" sounds a bit harsh, but I hope you know what I meant! I just meant I didn't think it was very helpful advice and rather scaremongering without justification.

Original poster
LadyC32 · 28/04/2009 14:15

I knew what you meant FrankMustard, don't worry.

She's 75th centile for height, so not entirely in proportion.

OP posts:
IwishIwasmoreorganised · 28/04/2009 14:25

Both of my boys have been bf and in the blue bit of the chart at the top.

Because they've been bf, the hv's were happy. I don't see the problem. Some kids have to be at the top, some at the bottom and most somewhere in the middle - that's part of having a normal population!

greensnail · 28/04/2009 15:18

I wouldn't worry, just got back from having my dd weighed, she's nearly 18 weeks (but was born early - at 36 weeks) and she weighs 17lb4, just below 98th centile. No one seems at all concerned, she's bf so I can't reduce her milk anyway. Just enjoy her chubby little legs!

HensMum · 28/04/2009 15:26

DS has been off the top of the charts and my HV wasn't worried. His dad is built like the side of a barn, and I'm not tiny either so he was never going to be a small baby!

Like IwishIwasmoreorganised says, some babies are meant to be big, some small, and some in the middle. The 50th centile is not an ideal weight for all babies.

The amount of milk you're giving doesn't sound excessive and I'd get a second opinion before reducing it.

buggylovinmummy · 28/04/2009 15:43

I had exactly the same problem with my ds, he weighed 14 lb at 6 weeks and my HV told me to cut back on his milk as he was too fat, i refused and said i would not allow my son to scream as he was hungry. She said well he will grow up to be fat then.

He is now 2.9 and not fat at all.

The amount of milk you are giving your dd seems perfectly fine.

Tryharder · 28/04/2009 17:53

and and even a bit at the idea of buggylovinmummy's fat 6 week old lo.

Some HVs really are quite barking...

buggylovinmummy · 28/04/2009 21:17

Sory tryharder am i right in thinking you think im lying about my babies weight and you are also angry about it?????????

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 28/04/2009 21:19

No, I think she means that she is and at the idea that a 16 week old baby can be called fat

buggylovinmummy · 28/04/2009 21:20

He was 6 weeks

prawnsmum · 28/04/2009 21:20

Hi ladyc32 my dd is 9 weeks old today and is 11lb - my health visitor has told me that if she keeps putting on weight at the rate she has been she'll end up in weight watchers!!! - Two weeks ago she also asked if she was STILL waking up during the night for a feed I said of course- at around 1am and 5am to which she replied 'well she doesnt need the 1am feed put some ear plugs in and let her scream she'll soon learn she's waking up for nothing'I was totally shocked at this advice so needless to say I think the woman is totally barking and can't understand how she has the job if this is the advice she gives!!!
Your daughter sounds like shes doing great like others have said all babies are different and some need more milk than others. Enjoy your daughter and try not to stress about it.

isittooearlyforgin · 28/04/2009 21:23

think the emotion icons might be related to HV's views?
my baby daughter was a big baby - to the point where complete strangers would feel free to make comments. was breast feed baby and fed ALL the time!! Now my dd is 4 and rather than having lost weight has grown into it. Such a relief never to have worried if she got sick about unhealthy weight loss. I was fanatical as a first time mum about having baby weighed and no one suggested cutting back milk!
think there is a very wide range in the quality of HVs out there - some fantastic, other's just largerly guessing or sitting on the fence!

isittooearlyforgin · 28/04/2009 21:25

not largerly - largely

buggylovinmummy · 28/04/2009 21:28

Ok i see think i misunderstood

Tryharder · 28/04/2009 23:29

Oh sorry, I meant I was angry, shocked and bemused at the HVs views on "fat" babies. How can such a young baby be called fat???

buggylovinmummy · 29/04/2009 06:46

Sorry tryharder i know what you mean now. My HV was a pain in the arse and i,m just glad it was my 2nd dc otherwise i probably would have listened if it had been my 1st.

Original poster
LadyC32 · 29/04/2009 09:38

Thanks so much everyone - I've woken up in a much more positive mood today

But it's so true what you all write with regards to HVs, you would at least think that those HVs attached to a single clinic would have consistent views & advice. I am bewildered at the varied opinions I'm getting from my clinic HVs.

The fact is that my HV called my dd fat without even measuring her height, she could have been perfectly in prop'n for all she knew!

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