9.2kg @ 4 Months?! Baby diet?! [Archive] - Bub Hub Pregnancy & Parenting Forum

Bronnie

05-01-2008, 15:12

Hi all,

Yesterday I took my 4mth old DD for her immunisations and check-up.

Everything was fine and within averages, except that she weighed in at 9.2kgs, way above the 97th percentile!
The infant and maternal health nurse said she'd never seen a baby that far over, and that I should try to only feed her every 4 hours, instead of 2.

DD has always been a snacker, she has 1 boob every 2hrs instead of 2 boobs every 4. Shouldn't this balance out?

So today I tried to space out her feeds, she isn't having any of it! The poor little thing just gets hysterical and nothing can distract her. Not to mention that she can't settle without a boob yet, so she's overtired as well.

I had some ideas of how to prevent her gaining more weight:

1. Give her water in a bottle between feeds.
2. Give her measured EBM, eg. 100ml every 2hrs 10 times a day, instead of 200ml every 4hrs 5 times a day.
3. Introduce a dummy.

SHE SPITS OUT ALL OF THESE!

She's frantic right now, my mother is trying desperatley to calm her, but nothing is working. I'm going to BF her, I can't stand to hear her scream. Please help?

bel_aiden

05-01-2008, 15:30

wtf!!!! you cant over feed with breast feeding!!!!!!
a big :shame::thumbsdown: to the nurse

and big:yelclap::thumbsup: to you and your b@@bies for maken some awsome milk!!!!!!

eta: demand feeding is just that... they demand we feed, whether it every hour or every 4 hours!

Mahjong

05-01-2008, 15:32

Placing a baby on a diet @ 4 months is ridiculous, and the CHN saying this is disgusting IMO. You cannot over fed a BF baby. Most babies that are BF demand feed. Some CHN's are very out of touch and date.

DS was always in the 97th percentile, he was always a hungry bub, they think out once they start walking.

Having her distressed and upset is only going to cause stress to you and bubs. If she's happy with 2 hour feeds, then go with it :)

Best of luck.

CharlisMummy

05-01-2008, 15:46

I'd just keep doing what you're doing :thumbsup: and Wyattsmama is right, once thwy start walking, crawling even, the weight gain slows right down.

I'm having the opposite problem. My DD is 1 and only weighs 8.5kg and she is super super active so she just doesn't put any weight on! I weighed her yesterday and she is on the 10th percentile which the midwife said is pretty under weight but when I told her I was still BF she said that was ok then. So I'd say the same would be true for you because your bub is BF the weight shouldn't matter.

Don't worry about it too much, as long as bubs is happy :yes:

Roxy

05-01-2008, 15:48

:iagree: ...ignore the nurse. She has no idea.

You can't overfeed a bf baby! Not to mention that you will probably notice very soon that she will grow a heap in length and not put on any weight.

Personally, I couldn't stand the CHN's - they always gave conflicting information and made me feel like I was doing a cr@p job. I didn't bother going much with DS at all - I knew that he was healthy and happy, feeding right and putting on weight. That was all I needed to know, so I boycotted the CHN.

Jeclipse

05-01-2008, 15:49

LOL I say ditch the nurse hey!

My DS is the same hunny, they are just REALLY healthy!

You can't overfeed whilst breastfeeding..

Chubby is a good sign:thumbsup::goodvibes:

My DS is 9.6kg and is nearly 4 months.

Keep up the good work, your doing so well hun:hugs:

secondtimearound2

05-01-2008, 15:49

If I was you I would just follow your Motherly instincts. Never take seriously what the child maternal health nurses say some off them are out dated...but there is some good one too. Sounds like you little girl is doing very well and like someone else has said when they start walking they slim down. Well done Hun your doing a great job :yelclap:!!

rinksmum

05-01-2008, 15:51

Hi :wave: I was in a similar position was DS1 was a baby - at his 6 month checkup he was 9.5kg and he was b/f the same as your DD - usually one side every 2 hours, although often more random than that. I became a bit worried about his weight, more from rude comments made by other people than anything else, so I tried all the same tricks you mentioned and none of them worked - if anything they made him more irrate! I guess what I'm saying is try not to worry too much. My DS is now 3 and still has a HUGE appetite, but he is not overweight. I must admit I think I have a pretty good GP so I tended to stick to visits with her rather than a CHN - she never made me feel like there was anything wrong with his weight, she just patted me on the back for having good milk, and she certainly never suggested I cut back his feeds :no:. I'm sure your DD is healthy and that's the main thing.

chicken

05-01-2008, 16:06

forbetoel

05-01-2008, 16:08

Go with your own gut feeling. No one knows your baby like you do.:)

Cheekychops

05-01-2008, 16:18

Don't change anything... I wish my babies were that big after being through a number of hospital trips when they've been sick the extra weight would have come in handy!! She'll slim down once she starts moving... don't try and do it for her now....

~Bec~

05-01-2008, 16:31

Close but not quite!
I just checked DS's growth chart and he was 9.5kg at 4 months. I haven't met anyone yet with a bigger baby than mine. If anyone suggested to me at that point that I should space out his feeds more I would have said "only if you're offering to come around and look after him whilst he's screaming for 2 hours because he's hungry".

DS is now 6.5 months and I haven't had him weighed for a couple of weeks but would be around 11.5kg now. (Little piggy he is.) He's outgrowing some of the size 1 clothes, grew out of his car capsule at about 3 months and I my biceps are looking better every day. :p

Oh well, at least he might be less likely to get picked on. :D

Cupcake

05-01-2008, 16:52

Diet!!!! Babies are all different all they are doing is having milk it's not like they are eating chips & lollies :rolleyes:
Keep doing what is right for you my DD was 9.2kgs at 4mths(70cm so she was long) I had a fabulous CHN & every weigh in she told me she is doing fine & following her own line(off the chart for weight & length) & considering she had been off the chart since birth we where not worried at all.
All will be fine :thumbsup: my DD is now 3.4yrs & lean with the loveliest long legs & torso & still off the chart for both weight & length.
You are doing great...keep it up :yelclap:

LivinOnAPrayer

05-01-2008, 16:53

What an idiot that nurse is to be telling you to reduce your little girls feeds. If she's hungry, feed her!! Bub's dont drink for any ohter reason but to satisfy her stomach!!
Good on you for doing what you feel is right.
Starving a baby....i never would have though they could get it THAT wrong!!:banghead:

P.S, the extra puppy fat is great!! My DD is 17 months and 8.3kg. Wish your little one could teach mine!! lol.

Bronnie

05-01-2008, 17:26

My DS was also 9kg at 4months, but he also measured 70cms, so my GP said he was weighing exactly what he should be for his height.

What percentile is your DD's height? If she is taller than average, then she should also weigh more than average.

DD is 63cm, she's grown 5cm in 2 months and is on the 75th percentile.

Thanks for all the feedback and support ladies! I'm pretty much on my own so it's great to be able to compare experiences with other mums. I'm not alone, yay! :smiliedance:

Sheer Bliss

05-01-2008, 17:39

:thumbsup: DS & DD were both b/f and both TOTALLY different in size. DS is a big boy (not as big as your bubba), but 10kg at 8months. He is b/f on demand and up until recently was still having 7b/f or so per day plus 3 solids - anyone who says a baby who is b/f should go on a diet needs som serious re-education.

Just for the record, I think you CAN overfeed a breastfed baby, but they will either puke it out, or their bodies will pass it through quickly & not use up all the nutrients in it, so I can't see how that is a problem!

:yelclap::yelclap: Great job on having such fantastic booby milk. :smiliedance:

Areca

05-01-2008, 17:40

Definitely ditch the CHN! What a moron!

Just so you know...two ladies out of my ante-natal class babies were 8kg at 3 months (one ff from day one, one ebf) and as 2 year olds they are normal, average sized toddlers. As soon as they started moving around their weight gain slowed right down.

You can't overfeed a bf baby so just keep doing what you are doing, cause it's obviously great!

ShadyCharacter

05-01-2008, 18:24

This is why I HATE ECHN's. Well, not personally, but the 'role' they play. They give advice that they are not qualified to give.

My DS was 9.5kg at 4 months old. He stayed right up there in weight until 12 or 18 months or so. He is now a perfectly healthy 3 year old, tall for his age, but if anything, on the slim side. He was demand breastfed right up until recently.

Ignore her. Feed your baby when she is hungry.

MummaBear03

05-01-2008, 18:35

What was the baby's birth weight? or percentile at birth? Like everyone's been saying, you can't overfeed a breastfed baby!

luckymama

05-01-2008, 18:57

funnyfarm

05-01-2008, 22:36

:raspberry: to the CHN.

Just keep feeding her when she is hungry. I would much rather your problem. My DD won't put weight on. Put 400g on in 2 months. :thumbsdown:

Your booby juice must be good stuff. Send some my way if you have any spare. ;)

Oblena

05-01-2008, 23:01

:iagree: with everyone :yes:. You are doing the right thing, the MCHN is talking out of her - well the sun don't shine there that much :D

dragonflyblu

06-01-2008, 07:00

everyone has said everything so far. Dont worry about it. You are doing a great job. :shakehands: (I always wondered what I would iuse that emoticon for..) I must add that at 4 months I would not try to reduce feeds, especially in summer!

Manxie

06-01-2008, 07:12

This is exactly what this research is all about. Please can you take the time and fill out this questionnaire, its all about the impact of those stupid charts on breastfeeding mothers:D
Survey on breastfeeding - please participate!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Maternal experience relating to the infant growth chart and support for sustained breastfeeding in Australia

Participants required ASAP for Monash University breastfeeding study!

If you have breastfed a child post 1977, approximately 20 minutes of your time would be greatly appreciated. In participating in this research you may be contributing to important knowledge on breastfeeding in Australia. The study aims to improve and validate current knowledge and recognition for mothers’ experiences with breastfeeding issues, infant growth charts and considered opinions on breastfeeding support. It is my hope that this research will benefit future mothers and their infants. Interested respondents can contact either Christiane Le Clerc; cle5@student.monash.edu for further information, or to arrange a return postage paid or email questionnaire package sent to you.

Bronnie

06-01-2008, 09:11

What was the baby's birth weight? or percentile at birth? Like everyone's been saying, you can't overfeed a breastfed baby!

DD was 3.75kg at birth, that's the 75th percentile. According to the nurse, this meant that she should weigh 7.5kg at 6 months, double her birth weight. Hence the "problem" with her weight at 4 months.

Silvana

06-01-2008, 09:41

You can't overfeed any baby, breastfed or not. Mine was ff and if she didn't want the bottle anymore she pushed it away. If they are full, they are full.

At three months DD was 7.5kg. But now at 12 months she is 10.3kg. They slow down a lot more when they start moving.

These MCHNs have a lot to answer for. The concept of overeating is an adult one. Babies simply don't eat more than they should.

MummaBear03

06-01-2008, 09:49

DD was 3.75kg at birth, that's the 75th percentile. According to the nurse, this meant that she should weigh 7.5kg at 6 months, double her birth weight. Hence the "problem" with her weight at 4 months.
I had a CHN tell me to stop breastfeeding my bub when she was 2 months old because I fed her for the entire 20 minutes we were visiting for and when it was time to have her weighed etc, she screamed for more boob. She said she wasn't satisfied with breastfeeding! She also told me to get her off the boob at 4 months old because she'd gained too much weight from her 2 month visit to her 4 months visit. She then handed me formula at the 6 month visit because she hadn't gained much weight between 4 months and 6 months but I pointed out to her that I knew enough to know that those charts are outdated, and not even based on breastfed babies. I also knew enough to know that it's illegal to hand out formula to a mother who is breastfeeding and doesn't wish to stop breastfeeding. My daughter is now just over 4 years and according to the paediatrician she is the "perfect" weight based on her age and height according to the WHO growth charts. I felt really good when I saw the newly unemployed CHN (lost her job for handing out formula to bfeeding mothers and was the reason many people quit bfeeding!) and there I was still feeding my daughter when she was over 2. I smiled at her while I bfed and she looked away :)

KapowSchazam

06-01-2008, 10:40

Just nod and pretend you agree. Stuff em

Or just do what I do....don't even bother with taking bub to them! They suck ar$e!!!! :thumbsdown:

Mahjong

06-01-2008, 10:54

DD was 3.75kg at birth, that's the 75th percentile. According to the nurse, this meant that she should weigh 7.5kg at 6 months, double her birth weight. Hence the "problem" with her weight at 4 months.

See, that's what ****es me off about CHN, they are always saying to us that our children "should" be this and that.... :thumbsdown:

All children grow at different rates. I wouldn't worry about it at all. She sounds perfect to me!

LivinOnAPrayer

06-01-2008, 12:29

well said! Bubs are all differant, no one is made with a cookie cutter!!

You might start to worry when a bub changes percentile dramatically, or if she does from always being hungry to never wanting feeds! But a hungry baby is a healthy baby to bugger the idiots who tell you differant. Seems like they're paid to worry mothers....

Mahjong

06-01-2008, 13:27

Once they hit toddlerdom, getting them to eat anything is a nightmre LOL! Enjoy her loving the boob and enjoying her food :laughing:

Lipsmacker01

06-01-2008, 13:37

:wave:

Same thing happened with DD1 who is 8 months now...she used to feed every 2 hours and when my nurse told me she needs to feed only 5 times in a 24 hour period I was like What the???

So anyways this stressed me out completely! She was a bit heavier than average in weight...but thriving! She was also a snacker. She had 2 teeth by 6 months and 4 teeth by 7....so she was always looking for booby for comfort!

The day after I saw the nurse....I extended it out to about 2.5 hours...and this worked for 2 days. Every time my girl would cry...or winge I would take her outside....or try and distract her.

the nurse said that because im breastfeeding....that I would not only be doing a favour for my little girl....but I would be making life easier for myself.

Anyways....as they get older..the sizes of their tummies grow so they can handle bigger gaps between feeds. they get so distracted playing on the floor..rolling!

Im not too fussed about what the nurse said to me. I know Im doing my best. I like to feed on demand because thats what my girl wants. The thing I make sure of is that she gets more than 10 mins at a time....so that shes not getting a snack...more of a meal.

I top her up with water often and always offer more water or booby feeds esp in this hot weather.

Im tall, DH is from a very tall family. Who knows..maybe your bubs will turn out to be a tall child? Id be proud of their weight. Once they start teething...they get all fussy and refuse feeds/solids a lot...so what happens is their weight evens out..hits a plateau like with my girl.

Im sure bubs will be just fine...and dont stress!