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Original poster

Experts say NHS feeding charts can cause risk of obesity

17 replies

fondant4000 · 04/05/2009 22:24

At last! They've finally realised that the NHS charts are a rubbish guide for bf babies.

To all those mums who have suffered the 'tut-tutting' of hvs, and worried themselves needlessly about their bf baby being 'underweight'.

The NHS have scrapped the old charts (which were based on ff babies) and introduced new ones for bf babies.

"Mums misled: Experts say NHS feeding charts can cause risk of obesity"

here

OP posts:
bohemianbint · 04/05/2009 22:28

I'm fairly sure we had breastfed charts when DS1 was born 3 years ago?

Interesting though...

edam · 04/05/2009 22:35

I'm sure Tiktok has said the problem was a little more complicated. The 'old' charts were based on a normal population of babies in the UK and given that, sadly, only a minority of infants are exclusively breast fed to six months, that meant they didn't reflect the growth pattern of b/f babies. Rather than being entirely based on f/f babies.

Mind you, given how few HVs ever seem to bother to keep their knowledge and skills up to date, I doubt it'll have the desired effect. There will still be plenty harassing mothers unnecessarily, only it might be the other way round: "Mrs Brown, your baby is overweight, you must put little Evangeline on the Grapefruit diet today!"

Ninkynork · 04/05/2009 22:54

I had the BF charts when DS was born two years ago but I printed them off from Kellymom and put them in the Red Book. IIRC BF babies gain weight more quickly at first so I didn't need to talk my HV through them until I got the, "we start weaning slightly small babies between four and five months in this clinic" remark.

DeeBlindMice · 04/05/2009 23:00

They use the SIZE of the baby as their guide to when they should start weaning?

StealthPolarPig · 04/05/2009 23:00

It;s a pity (based on posts on here, not personal experience) they don't make it clearer that the charts show the range of weights for 'normal' babies - i.e. if your baby's on the 2nd line they aren't underweight, and if on the 98th, not overweight!

DeeBlindMice · 04/05/2009 23:10

StealthPolarPig from the posts on here they should at least make it clear to the HVs who are trying to "enforce" them.

I often wonder what they think the chart would look like if ALL children were on the 50th centile as some of them appear to think they should be

JeffVadar · 05/05/2009 10:23

I was breastfeeding DS 10 years ago and between the ages of 21 to 27 weeks he put on no weight at all. The HV said that she wasn't really worried, but that she had to advise me to see the doctor.

I took DS along and the doctor just laughed and said that there was clearly nothing wrong as DS was very bright and alert, but that if that changed and he became listless then I should go back.

In retrospect I think I was lucky to have sensible and experienced healthcare workers who knew when it was OK to ignore the so-called official charts!

Ballina · 05/05/2009 14:56

I was at a really interesting seminar last week that was about this. That feeding up small babies risks obesity, heart disease, stroke and diabetes in later life. All from really harrowing research gleaned from starving children around the world. Was hard to watch at times.

funtimewincies · 05/05/2009 18:41

Oh how it delights the heart of our HV to see a good weight gain !

Ds went for his 2 year checkup the other week. The HV observed him playing and then weighed him. He's on the 75th percentile for weight and I was waiting to have to ask her to measure him as well, to prove that he's fine for his height (in the 80th for height), as I was expecting a 'telling off' even though he looks a slim build like his dad. She practically rubbed her hands in glee and cackled, like a fairytale witch fattening him up and made very approving noises, simply because he was a 'good weight'!

He was a mixture of bf and formula feeding and was never a chubby baby. The messgae when I was bf'ing was that weight gain was everything and, judging by the HVs round here, that's still the case.

edam · 05/05/2009 18:51

Do you think HVs will start telling mothers of b/f babies who do put on plenty of weight to cut down on the feeds? After all, many do seem to need an excuse to be make new mothers feel bad, whatever the evidence says...

Nighbynight · 05/05/2009 18:56

I have no idea where my babies were on the official charts, because I ignored them.

Original poster
fondant4000 · 06/05/2009 07:23

I only had each dd weighed once nighbynight - but I was lucky that they were both 'good' (that says it all) weights.

I watched friends of mine agonising because they had been told that their babies were too small and 'an eye' was being kept on them.

The stress and anxiety they went through, plus they felt duty-bound to go to the weigh-ins every week. And they were being pressed into weaning early.

Honestly it felt like we were all growing prize marrows for a village fete!

OP posts:
StewieGriffinsMom · 06/05/2009 08:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

TwentiethCenturyHeffa · 06/05/2009 08:54

StealthPolarPig - thanks so much for your post! I had no idea that the charts were based on the normal range of weights. DD has been on the 3rd centile for a while now (she's ff and 9 months) and the HVs always tut about it and mutter about keeping an eye. I've had no idea whether or not to worry about it since she seems to be fine and blooming.

I was told to wean her early because she was underweight as well

WowOoo · 06/05/2009 08:59

I had advice to perhaps wean early, but the HV was nice and said if I'm comfortable knowing he's growing and feeding well that's fine.

I ignored those charts mostly. Ds is a strapping child now!

About time they gave an alternative. Just hope that bottle feeding mothers don't feel guilty now.

BoffinMum · 06/05/2009 11:59

I have a really lovely HV who told me not to get DS3 weighed too often as it's pointless to worry too much about such things. Just as well she said this, as I have only been to a baby clinic once in 21 years and the other three have been fine, despite my appalling neglect of the infamous Red Book and its edicts (apart from vaccinations - I always get those done).

Another interesting point - the charts don't work very well in relation to Asian babies. One of my friends was constantly hectored about her children's weights despite the fact they seemed to be growing in line with other babies in the extended family, and this went on for some months until she realised the charts may well have a built-in racial bias, and pointed this out.

KristinaM · 06/05/2009 12:10

i love the idea of weaning a " small" baby baby early. because obviously pureed pear/carrot/baby rice has SO many more calories than bm or formula

many HV imagine that all babies are weaned onto a diet of 100% avocado???

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