Can a breastfed baby be overweight?

[queenofeyes]

Hello all. My daughter is 20 weeks old and exclusively breastfed. She was 8lb 2oz at birth and (like her now-willowy older sibling) has gained weight very quickly. At 12 weeks she was 15lb 2 oz, 16 weeks, she was 17lb 4 oz - I have no idea what she is right now but she is big. (Long, too, but big). It's not the "gentle curve" in the weight charts that they like to talk about -she is creeping up and up - but it's not leaping upwards insanely (she is right in the top of the charts, though). I have just taken her to the doctors for an unrelated reason and the doctor started asking me questions about her birthweight and her birth, how she was fed, how she was gaining, before saying she was "chubby for 20 weeks" and I should bring her in to be weighed regularly so they could keep "an eye on it".
She feeds about 8 times a day (including maybe 2 night feeds), only rarely drinking from both breasts at one feed, normally feeding for about ten minutes at a time. I don't rush to feed her every time she cries / placate her with food etc.
Am I doing something wrong? I have had other comments about her size and it's making me really anxious - can I overfeed her? Is there something wrong with the balance of my milk? Or is she just a healthy big girl? I hate feeling anxious / judged about this but I am beginning to worry.Thanks for your help.

[Jacksmama]

Chibi, it's really really crap when you're made to feel you're doing it wrong as a mum, no matter what you do and whichever end of the spectrum you're on. I'm sorry you're having a rough time and that today was especially bad. Not meaning disrespect to queenofeyes for hijack - do you want to tell us what's going on with your baby's weight? Someone might be able to think of something that could help. I hope tomorrow is a better day.

[Dophus]

Chibi and Queen,

as said earlier I've had one on each end of the spectrum 5 th and 95th percentile. I treated them exactly the same - i.e. exclusively bf on demand. I was fortunate as no healthcare professional worried or made crass comments.

Both are healthy happy children: neither over or under weight (although the fat baby is definitely a chubbier child, but not fat).

Ignore them all!

[queenofeyes]

Hijack away if you want to!

[Jacksmama]