Big baby question

[Babieseverywhere]

How big a baby has anyone managed to breastfeed without needing top ups at the start ?

My second child was 10lbs 1ozs and we kept his blood sugar up just with colostrum.

However as subsquent babies tend to get heavier, I am just making plans for my next baby due in summer.

I am off to research desirable blood sugar levels.

12lbs 4oz - exclusively breastfed for 5 months (he then chose to have a bite of the banana I was holding!)

No-one said anything about blood sugar to me!

Gosh Darnit CommonNortherner, you beat me!

DS was 11 lb 14 oz. We did need to give him top-ups for the first 2 weeks as the Dr advised it. I was massively upset about it at first (especially as I'd had trouble BFing DD, she was mixed fed) but after a while I realised it's hardly the end of the world.

He's now nearly 6m and still loves the mummy milk (only just started solids). We used the Tommy Tippee closer to nature bottles and he had no trouble switching.

Also, at our hospital it's the policy to monitor sugar of babies over 10lb. In our case it wasn't just the blood sugar (which was low) but because of his size and the speedy delivery, he was jaundiced too.

3m

MathsMadMummy, Of course it wouldn't be the end of the world if I needed to give top ups.

However it is common for doctors to order top ups 'just in case' and this is why I want to arm myself with the facts, so if my babe needs top ups he/she gets them but only if it is needed. I am far to lazy to both bottle feed and breastfeed if there is a way to avoid doing both.

CommonNorthern, OMG, 12lbs 4oz. Well that makes me think as long as this one isn't jaudiced like MMM baby, there is not an automatic need to top up.

Thanks Ladies

I agree, in my hospital the midwives were recommending top-ups to almost everyone - no disrespect to the midwives obviously, but we waited until the doctor told us to before agreeing (I was in tears about it by this point, aren't post-birth hormones a hoot!)

Yeah, FF is a PITA - we weren't sure how long to give top-ups for, got loads of conflicting advice, but when DH went back to work and it was time for a bottle I thought 'sod this' and just kept BFing instead! After a day of constant nursing (ouch) it was all fine.

BTW, for the first few days of top-ups we used a syringe instead of the bottles.

3m

The woman across from me had triplets and no top ups were needed.

bearing in mind people successfully breastfeed twins and triplets then i think you have nothing to worry about!

Ds2 was nearly 11 lbs and no top ups were needed at all. In fact I had over supply problems and fed from only one breast per feed for several weeks.

DS was 11 lbs 3oz, midwives did try to suggest top-ups in the hospital (even though his blood sugar was fine ) but I refused them and he's been absolutely fine. Only 8 weeks now but still excusively breastfed & weight is still on same centile etc so no problems. Good luck for your next baby

My second baby was lighter than my first, so your second might be too.
Did you have GD last time BE? They aren't likely to test blood sugar otherwise are they? I had enough trouble getting them to take ds' at all and he was supposed to be tested twice at set times!

Thanks for all the stories, makes interesting reading

CSWS, No symptoms of GD. Tested fine in first pregnancy, so I reckon DS was meant to be big. He was born at and stuck at the 99% centile for the next year. He is a big boy. If it was too big due to GD, I reckon he would of displayed catch down growth. Just my opinion, might be wrong mind.

Mine were not quite as big, but no.1 and no.2 were both jaundiced, no need for top ups. No. 3 was 9lb 7oz, again, no top ups. x

ds was also jaundiced. But it was just kept an eye on. The midwife said it was common for big babies, but can't remember the explanation she gave.

He was quite sleepy but I was given advice on how to keep him awake while feeding, like tickling his ears and tummy and massaging the palms of his hands. They worked.