failure to thrive anyone?

[babymutha]

DD has dropped below the 2nd centile again (1st time at 6 weeks now she's 16wks). I dread going to the baby clinic - if I don't get a lecture off the little hitler dinner lady HV for co-sleeping (it's dangerous you know)I get advice such as "drink stout" to improve my milk supply. I was so happy before, DD is gorgeous, smiley, lovely little person v alert and full of life - I've been putting off the dread visit for a month because it makes me so depressed. Can't be good for either of us - surely? She's teething and has a rotten cold - doing masses of pooey/mucusy nappies. I hate growth charts - she was born on the 25th, dropped to the 7th and now is below the 2nd again - does it really matter? Am I deluded and need to wean her on baby rice immediately? Anyone out there got perfectly healthy children who started off the same way. I just keep getting fatter and fatter while she gets longer and thinner. She's mix fed - mainly BF but with FF top-ups when she's hungry. Eats every 2-3 hours during the day and sleeps about 7-7 with dream feeds (when not teething). AAAAAAaaaarrghghghghghghghghgh!!!

i'm not suggesting this as Actual Advice, but i'm glad that after all dd's initial bfing nightmares i just didn't get her weighed. she was mix-fed as well, i mean, as long as the baby is being demand-fed then i just assumed she'd be alright? she definitely lenghtened and thinned out then porked up again, that was how she grew. anyway, my sympathies, it's no fun.

oh ps - she can stand. Holds onto my hands and pulls herself up from lying down.... so not exactly weak and feebly

thanks aitch - i am summoned to come back every 2 weeks - will they send SS or the stone faced HV after me if I don't go back?

i don't think they've any right to see you, do they? that's not how they position it, but no, you don't have to go and see them. if they're worried they'll get off their arses and see you...

babymutha - you might find this thread useful. Lots of avoidance of both HV and baby rice going on .

Don't go to the baby clinic. Honestly, you don't need to, and watch your child to see if YOU think she is thriving - i.e. is she lethargic, is she progressing in things she can do - reaching out, catching things etc etc.

Steer clear of the HVs, expec little hitlers.

thanks all- have transferred to the little acorns thread - thanks for the link saggarmbk.
x

Sounds like you have a healthy, but petite baby.

Growth charts and the HV who fill them in are a constant source of annoyance for me. They often don't know how to interpret them, and give mothers not only bad advice but create a huge amount of anxiety.

My ds was born on the 50th centile, had dropped to just below the 9th within 1 week and has tracked between the 2nd and 9th until now (16 weeks). He is happy, feeds well, very lively and advanced in his development skills. He is exclusively BF except for FF at bedtime.

I am also sick to death of being nagged about his 'poor weight gain' and bullied into having him weighed every fortnight. I saw the paediatrician who agreed that he is happy and healthy, and that I have her blessing to ignore the shit from the HVs.

You do not need to wean your baby early. Continue as you are doing. Get babe weighed monthly. See your GP if YOU are concerned.

thanks emma
v sound advice. I just don't understand the HVs - the last one was kind but the advice they give me is just SO RANDOM.