22 week exclusively bf dd - HV said she should be on solids- I'm confused

[whelk]

And there was me thinking I was doing the right thing exclusivley bfing to 22 weeks. dd's weight has dropped from just above to just below 50th centile and is v tall (95th centile I think). HV said she wouldn't be robust enough to fight off winter bugs and that she should be eating what we are eating.

Im so shocked! Im exclusively bfing and not loving it tbh but doing it really as dd1 has lots of food allergies and really want to avoid this with dd2.

HV implied I was depriving her and tbh I feel pretty rubbish esp as exclusively bfing has been tough especially with a 2.5 year old.

greygirl - I disgree, sorry. The newer charts are hardly different from the older charts in these early months. Take a look and compare them.

On the newer charts (based, as you say, on bf) babies are actually a tad heavier in the early months....only very slightly. It's not really until 4-5 months that there is any difference the other way, and even then, it's microscopic ....the real divergence is from about 9-10 mths.

Does your area have a surestart breastfeeding support group. In our area there is an NHS breastfeeding support group run by a health visitor has had extra training in breastfeeding.

It is a mistake to see mumsnet as a subsitute for medical advice. However if you disagree with the health visitor there is nothing in seeking a second medical opinon.

Oh thank god for the 9-10 month comment. Baby Starlight is 'being monitored' for weight atm. She's diddy and in the 9-10month period dropped below her birth percentile.

but but but.....I gave birth in an EXCELLENT birthing unit who didn't remove her from me for weighing or checks until she had had a 3.5hour feed

Knew about a 5month dip, but not the 9month one. There is VERY clearly nothing wrong with her. She's 1, can almost walk and a couple of weeks ago I had to get her down from the window sill where she was 'hiding' behind the blinds

It's really important to look at weight on the new charts, IMO, if there's any concerns about a baby of 9-10 mths, MoonlightMcKenzie. It's not a 'dip' in weight, it's a divergence of the charts...so when you look at the old chart's lines compared to the new chart's lines, you start seeing a real gap between them ie babies of this age are lighter on the new charts, with the 50th centile on the new charts being lower than on the old charts (same goes for the other centiles, of course).

It is normal for babies to go up to 2 centiles below the birth centile, anyway...and even babies who go beyond 2 centiles below are almost always just fine.

I agree that 'birthweight' taken after the baby has had a feed may well make a baby seem heavier

tbh I think the concern is related to the recent diagnosis of ASD for my ds. HV feel compelled to monitor ALL of us more coz we're now a family 'in need' and potential neglect of dd (given that she is diddy) probably needs a quick check over. Fine with me actually as long as they don't spout nonsense.

They did mention probably bfing too much for solids but I told them I was a bfing peer supporter under the supervision of an accessible BFC and they have left us alone.

I had a similar experience but actually with a bigger drop in percentile (75 down to 50 - her height is in the 95th - what a lot of tall girls we have round here!).

My DD was seeing a consultant Pediatrician (not for any specific reason - just because of a tricky pregnancy). I felt she was ready for solids earlier than the 6 month guidelines (she was a bit over 5 months at the time) and he agreed.

He didn't panic about the percentile drop though and he certainly didn't mention the fighting bugs issue ???. I suppose the big difference for us is no history of food allergies in the family. She seems to have taken very well to the solids and I know it's not supposed to tie in with sleeping through - but in our case she has started sleeping better.

I would ask to be referred to a pediatrician about this as what your HV suggest directly contradicts guidelines...then at least you'll be getting a 2nd opinion.

"I seriously doubt that an HV thinks solids in themselves will 'beat winter bugs'....but babies who are underweight are more vulnerable to infection and the results of infection can be weight loss, and skinny minnies can't really cope with weight loss....so I think this is the reasoning behind what she said."

I completely agree with what Tiktok has said.

But follow your own instincts. You are doing a completely brilliant job and my hearty congratulations to you on bf'ing you dd for as long as you have. It's such an incredible achievement, particularly if you don't enjoy it. Well done!!

Fanjolina - thank you so much you have nearly made me cry. I'm just not someone who loves bfing much as I feel I ought to.

Thanks to everyone. Because dd2 has only dropped from slightly above to slightly below 50th centile I think I will go back to clinic in a couple of weeks (when I know this HV is on hols) and go from there!
May give my own HV a call. She was very pro bfing and was really supportive.

Not at all, Whelk. It's a brilliant achievement!!

I never enjoyed bf'ing at all and gave up with both dds at about the three month mark. Always wished I had persevered

Sounds like your own HV would be a great source of support.

Enjoy your next few weeks of exclusive bf'ing. Before you know it you'll be stewing/steaming/mashing everything and having it spread/spat liberally across the floor.

The dirty nappies become rather less 'innocent', too!!