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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

OMG, talk about bullshit from a paedatrician. How are these peopel allowed to get away with such terrible misinformation???

56 replies

VictorianSqualor · 07/10/2008 12:33

A post from another site (again, sorry!)

hi all just thought i would share some info i got today. We had to go and see a piedratrition (sorry spelling terrible i know) today for my sons hernia. He is 7 weeks old and whilst I was there i thought what the hey lets ask him about weaning. Here it goes. The guidlines set are not just for this country its for the world. In othercountries women have to feed there child breast milk until 6 months as they do not have the resources to give them anything else. He also said you feed your baby when your baby needs it i.e taking loads of milk but still hungry this could happen at ANY AGE. Some women's babies can last on the milk until 6 months whilst others can only last for 3 months. He said there is no factual evidence that says it does any damage to your child in the short term or long term. He said milk is a very complicated substance to digest so they are ready for there weaning when there milk just is not enough. I thought I would share this with you because despite previous threads connecting weaning to illnesses and guts not bieng ready a piedratrition (qualified to tell me this) is saying go with what your baby needs when they need it. He said most mothers do struggle to get 6 months without weaning. Also the child will more often than not become a fussy eater as you only have a certain time scale to introduce different textures and flavours to your child. Thoses that wait until 6 months only have a few months to introduce all this where as if you introduce it earlier your child when older will be more than happy to keep trying new foods. Oh and also early weaning is not linked to obesity it was looked into but yet again no factual evidence!!!! no arguement just facts given by someone qualified to do so

OP posts:
Peachy · 07/10/2008 16:16

There was a rumour when the WHO first went down this route that the guidelines were based on the absence of proper steriised weaning facillities in poorer countries.

However this was misinformation and sadly the true reasonings don't seem to have spread so quickly.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 07/10/2008 17:13

Oh yes, I remember a GP appt whereby I'd asked for help with clearing my adult acne up. The GP automatically prescribed something without asking questions.

So, I asked him if it was okay to take whilst b/feeding. He looked at me blankly, looked at DS and said "But, he's over 12 months old? How old is he?" to which I replied "19 months..." and before I could finish he told me that I shouldnt be feeding him still because I didnt need to. When I pointed out the WHO guidelines he told me that he thought they were to b/feed to 12 months only.

I corrected him

When I complained a few weeks later to another (woman) GP in the practice about his lack of knowledge, she 'corrected' me by saying that "strictly speaking, those guidelines are aimed more towards developing countries...."

It's not surprising that lots of parents dont believe what folk such as myself say.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 07/10/2008 17:14

I'd love to sit an 8-12 weel old baby next to a 26 weeker and show some mothers the difference. They might 'get it' then.

Original poster
VictorianSqualor · 07/10/2008 17:42

Me too VVVQV, me too.
But I doubt it would work.
I have the joys of baby clinic tomorrow, wonder what fruits that will bring. I overheard a convo about how someone was cooking annabel karmel but the baby was refusing it last time. The baby was 4 months old thankfully my Hvs are pretty clued up and told her to freeze all the food she'd made and leave it for at least a few weeks.

OP posts:
silverfrog · 07/10/2008 18:02

Misinformation abounds, sadly.

dd2 is a tiny tot. She was born weighing 7lb 13 oz (not so bad) but by 17 months, still only weighed 16lb. She just didn't grow.

We were under the care of paeds/dieticians since she turned 9 months or so (I think, can't really get too worked up about it) because she was, technically, FTT.

She was also, happy, healthy, hitting milestones, and eating like a horse (after 26 weeks, natch )

BUT, the dietician still advised me to give up bf (from the very 1st appt) as she "didn't need it". And the same woman was very when she ooked at dd2's centile charts, that I'd held off to 26 weeks to wean, as obviously I'd been starving the poor mite (never mind that, post weaning, she carried on sinking off the bottom of the charts - a picture that was plain to see even at that point)

I have to go back to see her again next month, no doubt more pearls of wisdom will be coming my way.

Am off to see the paed later this week, and hopefully we'll get signed off, as dd2 has started to gain weight (I think she may even have crept back onto the charts )

VeniVidiVickiQV · 07/10/2008 21:43

12 weeker

12 weeker

26 weeker

26 weeker

how aout these?

Peachy · 07/10/2008 22:07

Hmmm the 12 week old girl looks an awful lot like the 26 week boy in my arms LOL!

Baby climics are fab aren't they VS? LOL! You want my hva as an exchange? . Lately she's taken to dropping hints about my weight- as if I don't know! Wouldn't mind but she's no smaller and this is my hv on her day off

VeniVidiVickiQV · 07/10/2008 22:08

for the baby led weaners

VictorianSqualorSquelchNSquirm · 07/10/2008 22:41

Peachy you say the 12 week old looks liek B, but even though B & A have almost the same size difference I think one of the key things those pictures show is the ability and strength of the babies, just how they hold themselves is so different, whereas B might be small but he is still obviously physically capable iyswim.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 07/10/2008 22:50

Yes - it's very clear that the older babies can hold themselves. The younger ones are just flopped there iykwim?

Peachy · 07/10/2008 22:53

Oh yeah I know, was just being flippant (and aying he looks like a girl LOL)

I keep thinking Bas won't be sitting any time soon but I said that about teeth last weekend and now he has two.

babyOcho · 07/10/2008 22:55

Good lord VVV - that's so funny! I wonder how much of that watermelon he ate.

VictorianSqualorSquelchNSquirm · 07/10/2008 22:56

Well, let me know when he starts peachy, seems it's B one week, A the next and then Scorpio bringing up the rear

ilovemydog · 07/10/2008 22:58

Oh great - DS has an appt to see a paediatrician tomorrow

Peachy · 07/10/2008 23:01

What's up Ilovemydog?

Know what you mean VS- bit textbook aren't they? I like it that way though.

ilovemydog · 07/10/2008 23:06

DS has been flirting around the 2nd percentile since birth. Low birth weight (5.5 lbs at 38 weeks). HV insisted on weekly weigh ins which initally I went along with, then flipped out as he has always gained weight, albeit it slowly.

Oh, and he is also very long - on the 50th percentile for length.

The HV got very confrontational, so I saw the GP who wanted to know why I wasn't giving him formula . I ended up walking out, and she called me at home and apologized for not being supportive. I said I wanted a referral.

So, that's what we have tomorrow.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 07/10/2008 23:06

oh how dull of you all.

Surely yours should be dressing themselves and driving by now?????

VeniVidiVickiQV · 07/10/2008 23:08

Sorry Ilove - that was an unfortunte cross-pot.

Peachy · 07/10/2008 23:11

Bas hit the 2nd centile a few weeks back- we celebrated LOL (he was born at 8.3 lbs). DS1 was 5.5lbs. At almost 9 he is very petite but exceptinally fit and very healthy (yes he has sn but that has no relation). Please don't let them worry you too much. listen consider advice they give you carefully, but use your own knowledge and instincts too.

I knew early weaning as advised by PAed was right for ds4 (who is now motoring up centiles) but ahd it not worked for ds 1/2/3 (see a apttern? lol) I'd have been wary and woul;d suggest to anyone to be careful.

VictorianSqualorSquelchNSquirm · 07/10/2008 23:13

ilovemydog, just ask for the basis of any thing they suggest.
If, for example they suggest weaning, ask why, and mention gut maturity etc. If they mention stopping BFing, see how much they know about how long BFing should be continued for etc
If you know a little more than the average layman you'll be able to tell if you feel they are trustworthy.
Also, you don't have to take their advice, you can tell them you want a third, fourth fifth opinion to see if everyone gives the same answer.
Good luck.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 07/10/2008 23:28

I second what VS said

Ask why solids would help weight gain when milk is more calorific.

Also, if they want formula top ups - ask why they think formula is more calorific than your milk.

Ask ask ask.

randomuser · 07/10/2008 23:34

probably a lot depends on whether this paed was old/male/keeps up to date with developments in infant nutrition. Most doctors dont get a lot of nutriiton in their trianing, lucky to get 2 weeks of it so doesn't' make him an expert at all. especially if eh is a paed surgeon.

nappyaddict · 08/10/2008 13:56

peachy - is it your boys that are under a paediatric nutritionist?

Peachy · 08/10/2008 16:55

They see a private one

PLus ds1 and ds3 have seen NHS ones before, and ds4 is being referred atm

I am a nutritionist clog

nappyaddict · 08/10/2008 18:54

what age were ds1 and 3 referred?