Pedi told me not to feed my baby...

Birdies08 · August 2011

Don't worry, I didn't listen & will not be going back to her.

I have a big baby. A big, fat, beautiful baby. She's 97th percentile for length and 99th for weight. At LO's 2 month appointment today, the pedi asked how much milk LO gets a day. I explained that we EBF (still working on her taking a bottle) and nurse on demand, usually every 2-3 hours. The pedi said she was worried about LO continuing to go up on the charts for weight. She asked if I thought LO was eating too much. I said, no, she tells me when she's done nursing and refuses the breast if she isn't hungry. Pedi said she's not sure she needs that much milk, especially at night. MH said we weren't worried about 3 statistical points and I said I think she knows when she's hungry. The doc said, "She's only 2 months. She actually doesn't know." Um, really? Pretty sure she's figured it out.

I told her we're fine with how we've been doing things. Seriously, though, what was she going to say? Just let LO cry from hunger at night so she doesn't get fat? Oh, and this was the same doctor who didn't want to release her from the hospital on time after her birth because she lost too much weight. Make up your mind, lady!

Anyone know of a good pedi in the Twin Cities area (MN)?

AimeeL85 · August 2011

Yikes - yes, I would definitely find a new pedi! I realize there are scenarios when babies/children are being overfed or eating too much on their own accord, but a 2 month old who is EBFing is definitely not one of them.

I'm pretty sure if a 2 month old knows anything, it's when she's hungry! And if she stopped eating during the night, she'd make up for it during the day.

Birdies08 · August 2011

AimeeL85:
I'm pretty sure if a 2 month old knows anything, it's when she's hungry! And if she stopped eating during the night, she'd make up for it during the day.

Good point! And I really don't mind the night feedings now that we have side lying nursing down

tokenhoser · August 2011

Good luck finding a new doctor. I hope if you get a chance, you'll tell both the old office and the new office that you're switching because your old doctor doesn't support breastfeeding effectively.

Valleybugt · August 2011

WOW! That doc sucks! I am sooooooooooooo glad you didn't listen to her.

bt3701 · August 2011

Ridiculous!

Now if your baby was in the 99th for weight and the 25th for length or something like that, I could see how there might be concern.... but it sounds like you have a perfect little chunky munchkin! My doctor always raves about DD's weight (she was 13/7 at her 2 month, I don't know what %ile that is, but I bet it's high).

Definitely find someone who understands and supports BFing!

sarahsteve · August 2011

O.M.G. I cannot believe the ignorance. You keep nursing that baby just as much as she wants!!!

You probably know this already (your ped apparently doesn't!) but BFing protects against obesity anyhow.

My DD was big too, nursed every 2 hrs (except at night) until 15 months She's perfect.

Birdies08 · August 2011

tokenhoser:
Good luck finding a new doctor. I hope if you get a chance, you'll tell both the old office and the new office that you're switching because your old doctor doesn't support breastfeeding effectively.

Thanks! I didn't think to do this- great idea.

sarahsteve:
My DD was big too, nursed every 2 hrs (except at night) until 15 months She's perfect.

Awesome; that warms my heart!

MrsJJC · August 2011

sarahsteve:
O.M.G. I cannot believe the ignorance. You keep nursing that baby just as much as she wants!!!
You probably know this already (your ped apparently doesn't!) but BFing protects against obesity anyhow.
My DD was big too, nursed every 2 hrs (except at night) until 15 months She's perfect.

This exactly. My son has been top of the charts from the time he was born. Like most EBF babies... his weight tapered off after about 8 months, and as his pedi pointed out, that's fine in an EBF baby. As long as head and height measurements continue to progress, drop offs in weight are of little concern. So your chunky beautiful baby may very well end up tapering off once she starts moving around. It's totally natural, what is so hard for a doctor to understand about that? Ugh. It makes me sick.

Good for you for switching pediatricians. I agree with a pp - tell the new and old offices WHY you switched. And keep feeding that beautifully healthy baby! :-)

ksulli · August 2011

Good call on a new dr. I wonder what the advice would have been if LO was in the 10th and 13th- I bet the dr would have been concerned lonwasnt getting enough. Sounds like the dr just gives that 'asvice' when LO's are high on the weight chart regardless. Brilliant... ::side eye to the pedi::

damabo80 · August 2011

"Now if your baby was in the 99th for weight and the 25th for length or something like that, I could see how there might be concern"

My thoughts exactly. For a baby who is in the 90s on length...I'd expect them to be in the 80s/90s on weight, too.

I wouldn't tell a 7 foot tall dude he needs to slim down to 170 because that is what most men weigh....

MawrtyrB · August 2011

Oh that's just ridiculous! Nurse that LO. My DD was huge in the beginning but then it evened out. I always feed a hungry baby.

May+Mommy+2011 · August 2011

I don't know what part of the TC ou live in, but I see a great pedi in Maple Grove!

Birdies08 · August 2011

May+Mommy+2011:
I don't know what part of the TC ou live in, but I see a great pedi in Maple Grove!

That wouldn't be too far, do you mind posting/PMing me the doctor & clinic names? Thank you!!

May+Mommy+2011 · August 2011

I sent you a PM! :-)

Birdies08 · August 2011

Thanks, May Mommy!

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