sometimes the NHS isn't at all bad

July 16, 2001

Sometime ago I posted about breastfeeding and not gaining weight. Thanks for

your thoughts.

Well the little darling ? continued to weigh 10 lb 2 for weeks until my

health visitor got the Dr to refer her to the hospital. This was wed. pm

Thursday p.m. I get a phone call can I go Friday p.m..

Chatted to very nice consultant for best part of hour and a half.

He couldn't find anything wrong with her. She just seems not to get enough

calories despite breastfeeding all day!

He and one of the nurses from the ward try giving her a bottle, no way (I've

tried telling my GP this).

So, back to solids ( she's 18 weeks) and as much breast milk as mum can

manage.

Perhaps, not a lot of progress in one way but lovely both to have an expert

confirm that she's tiny, but perfectly well and not to think I'm useless

when I say she won't touch a bottle.

Every one I've spoken to who breast feed exclusively for several months

thought it perfectly normal that she looked at a bottle and screamed, but my

GP was convinced I could just give her 4 bottles a day and everything would

be wonderful - so much for supporting BF.

Sue Hutchinson, Mum to 30/01/98 and Isobel (HB) 23/02/01

July 18, 2001

Sue, my DD2 (now almost 15 months) is tiny too but full of energy and

very active. She has been that way since about 3 months old. She

still only weighs about 19lbs and I had no end of grief from HVs, GP

etc about how small she was. It did not help that I tend to have

bigger babies (she was 7lbs 15oz) so she started off on the 75th

centile and is now on the 2nd (or 3rd - can't be bothered to listen

really!). She was BF'd exclusively for almost 5 months and only

stopped being BF'd two days ago. What all these interfering people do

not take into account is the fact that a lot of my family are

" petite " . Pre-children I weighed 8 and a half stone (5'4 " ) and it is

very likely that Lily (DD2) has my build. Just carry on what you are

doing and as long as your DD2 has plenty of energy then don't worry

about it. Needless to say I don't bother going to the clinic now!

Francesca

Mum to Kezia (3) and Lily (14 months)

sometimes the NHS isn't at all bad

> Sometime ago I posted about breastfeeding and not gaining weight.

Thanks for

> your thoughts.

> Well the little darling ? continued to weigh 10 lb 2 for weeks until

my

> health visitor got the Dr to refer her to the hospital. This was

wed. pm

> Thursday p.m. I get a phone call can I go Friday p.m..

> Chatted to very nice consultant for best part of hour and a half.

> He couldn't find anything wrong with her. She just seems not to get

enough

> calories despite breastfeeding all day!

> He and one of the nurses from the ward try giving her a bottle, no

way (I've

> tried telling my GP this).

> So, back to solids ( she's 18 weeks) and as much breast milk as mum

can

> manage.

> Perhaps, not a lot of progress in one way but lovely both to have an

expert

> confirm that she's tiny, but perfectly well and not to think I'm

useless

> when I say she won't touch a bottle.

> Every one I've spoken to who breast feed exclusively for several

months

> thought it perfectly normal that she looked at a bottle and

screamed, but my

> GP was convinced I could just give her 4 bottles a day and

everything would

> be wonderful - so much for supporting BF.

>

> Sue Hutchinson, Mum to 30/01/98 and Isobel (HB) 23/02/01

>

> *** NCT enquiry line - 0 ***

>

> Live chat http://www.yahoogroups.com/chat/nct-coffee

>

> Have you found out about all the other groups for the NCT online?

>

July 18, 2001

Glad you got the reassurance you needed Sue everything is fine.

Todman

Treasurer, Stansted Branch (R5)

Mum to , 3½

> Chatted to very nice consultant for best part of hour and a half.

> He couldn't find anything wrong with her. She just seems not to get

enough

> calories despite breastfeeding all day!

July 26, 2001

> Sue

> that is good news. I have a friend who felt she was pushed into giving up

breastfeeding with her oldest when she was not putting on any weight over 2

months. and then when she had " given in " and was only doing 2 feeds a day

her milk supply seemed to dry up and she stopped completely and baby went

onto bottles.. just at this moment her mother " remembered " that she had done

the same herself with the no weight gain for 2.5 months.. So with daughter

number 2 she stood her ground and continued breastfeeding and after 3 months

dd2 started putting on weight again.. sometimes they just don't want to do

what we want them to ;o)

Thanks for this, its lovely to know DD2 is not the only one

Fortunately my DD wouldn't give up breastfeeding. She wont touch a bottle,

however she will take some formulary from these new Avent non spill spouts.

Not a lot and she can still spit the lot out if it goes in too quick.

Never mind, she'll eat as much yoghurt and baby rice as Mummy dares feed

her.

(She half laps, half sucks it off the spoon, with much the same action as

breast feeding. which is why I think she'll put up with the feeding cup. It

has

a thin spout that doesn't have to go in far and the non spill valve gives

her some control over the flow rate.)

Anyway, she's put on 14 oz in the last 3 weeks, so we must be doing

something right. Also joy of joys she even has a nap occasionally and

doesn't demand breast feeding continuously. This reduces mothers stress

levels and I suspect improves the quality of the milk.

Sue Hutchinson, Mum to 30/01/98 and Isobel (HB) 23/02/01

Lonnie

> My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish

what you start.

> So far today, I have finished 2 bags of chips and a Chocolate cake.

>

> I feel better already.

DH and I thought this was great and DD1 would certainly agree, she things

crisps and chocolate are the answer to all ills.

July 26, 2001