Stupid HV!

[shish]

I went to get my 11 week old ff baby weighed at the baby clinic this morning. The clinic has several HV's that work there on rotation. I only wanted advice on how long to use infacol for.. She told me that I was giving him to much milk and that I'm feeding him too frquently - I should be stretching him out to 4 hourly!! He drinks 5-6 oz every 3 - 3.5 hours - 5 bottles in total per day. He's fallen into a routine/ pattern that's fitting in well around my toddler's routine and scool runs.

She reckons that he should be having only 5 oz's per feed and that if he's crying for more it's just wind!! His weight gain was just right - following his centile really well, so I don't know why I should be giving him less, especially if he wants it!!

Sorry - just a bit of a moan cos she annoyed me

Ignore her - feed him on demand as he knows how much her wants.

It is absolutely none of her business how many feeds you choose to give your baby. Carry on as normal.

Of course it should be exactly every 4 hours - you shouldn't be allowed to sleep at night .

How is he having too much milk if he is sticking to the centile line. That makes no sense at all. I told the HV when mine was last weighed (7 weeks) that she was taking up to 800ml per day and she said that was fine - I think that's about the same amount.

I think some of these people just get a kick out of telling mothers that they do everything wrong. Ignore her, like everyone else probably does

Silly cow woman.

As a HV I have every right to say this too. Far too many silly old bags HVs have had scant education when it comes to breast and bottle feeding. Don't even get me started on centile charts

Jollypirate Itake it that you don't see any problem with what I'm doing? I'm following what he wants/ needs. I thought that's what I was supposed to do. He seems content and healthy.

i bet she doesn't go four hours in the day without a drink

why should your baby?

ignore her, you are doing the right thing

She couldn't really be bothered. She would start talking to me about something and then mid-sentence go off to speak to a client that she knows and leave me hanging and not bother coming back to me until I called her to finish what she was saying. She did this 3 or 4 times!!!

And also, why do they all give different advice about everything? There seems to be no consistency in their advice.

I see no problem with what you are already doing. You have a happy, healthy sounding baby feeding on demand and who is gaining weight appropriately. The woman is off her head in telling you otherwise.

You are doing absolutely the right thing.

I just get annoyed with some HVs who seemingly HAVE to find something to say - even when a fine healthy baby is sat in front of them.

What about "what a fantastic job you've done - lovely healthy baby"

Ignore

When I hear this 4 hourly feed think I think 'I can't go without food or drink for 4 hours at a time!!!!'

HV's seem to be a strange lot. I took ds1 (17m at the time) to get ds1 his first check and jabs. Anyone tried to control a lively 17m ds when having to hold a baby having its jabs???) so I gave ds 1 a pot of nice healthy raisins to munch and occupy himself with.

HV came over and lectured me about how they are sugary and should only be given at meal times to avoid tooth decay. I sat there in the fullness of pnd on practically my first trip out with both children, and thought 'I'll give him a fucking mars bar next time and see what you say about THAT'.

Honestly if I'd found mumsnet pre-children I'd have never listened to a word out of any HVs mouth (cept you of course JollyPirate [Grin])

What a bitch!!

Thank you JollyPirate. It would be nice if someone said that, especially with the confidence issues I'm having juggling toddler and baby. I wish you could be my HV..

What rubbish! My 11 week old is the same - sometimes she fancies a feed every 3 hours, sometimes 2, so she gets it. Which is fine. MiL suggested I give her baby rice to make her go longer between feeds! I just held the phone away from my ear...

She's only 11 weeks old!!