bf vent

[faery]

hopefully someone might be able to put my mind at rest.

that stupid CHN has got me all stressed about the boobie juice. i'm worrying that my boy is too skinny, and that my boobs never really feel full. to be honest, before i saw her i didn't even think about it, but now....

i've been on the fenugreek/fennel tea, but hasn't made a noticable difference.
i guess i'm just looking for some reasurance that my milk is "okay"and there is enough. now when bubby cries and chews his hand i think "hungry" rather than "teeth" (which he is getting), and i stress out when he messes around rather than feeding.:thumbsdown:
i am not happy at all with this :no: as before bf was super stress free and i was really happy with it. now i am constantly thinking about the negatives.

i got some great advice in my other thread about this but i just need to vent

[Sarie]

I can't help you with the actual BF info, but try and go by your gut. I didn't ever go to a CHN I went by my instinct. I had two friends who both went to CHN's and got so stressed out every time after their visits. They were told wrong information and had a horrid time.
If you're concerned about your bub's weight talk to your doctor, my DS1 is pretty thin, but he's very active. He's also very tall.
I'm sure you'll get some good BF advice soon!

[InSaneOne]

i wouldn't worry about it. as long as he is gaining weight. the nurse was frowning at me the other week when bubs had not put on any and actually dropped .2 kgs. then she asked me what she ate (everything in sight) and how many bottles she had a day (about 5 - 2 formula and 3 cowsmilk 200ml each bottle) and then she saw her running around like she normally does. she took back her harsh words that i wasn't feeding her enough. my dd is burning it up because she is just so active and she is also tall for her age.

as long as bubs is happy and content i wouldn't take all that much notice of what the health nurse told you. all babies are different. let your instincts tell you what your baby needs.

[the_queen]

Forget what the CHN said. Is bubs having plenty of wet nappies? Yes? Then he's getting enough milk. Is bubs seeming hungry? Yes? Then he needs more feeds, probably because he's going through a growth spurt.

Trust me, you would know if your milk "wasn't working properly" because he would be incosolably screaming non-stop.

[Pixie]

I agree with queenie + mchewing hands is not a sign of hunger/teething it's just their normal development EVERYTHING goes in their mouths at this age!

[cheezelkat]

I have an ultra skinny boy and he's exclusively bf. People give me looks about him being so slim but he's just so active! Have you tried weighing him before and after a feed to see how much he's getting?

[Goosie22]

faery,

Forget the CHN!!!!!

Your baby has put on weight (it dosent matter how much or how little) he is happy, your were happy. Continue going to the ABA meetings you will get no end of support there.

If it was me I would right a complaint about her and her stress out tactics so she can know what a heart ache she has caused you.

[moomoosmummy]

Forget what the CHN said. Is bubs having plenty of wet nappies? Yes? Then he's getting enough milk. Is bubs seeming hungry? Yes? Then he needs more feeds, probably because he's going through a growth spurt.

Trust me, you would know if your milk "wasn't working properly" because he would be incosolably screaming non-stop.


i agree bubs will let you know:yes:

[Sarie]

faery,

If it was me I would right a complaint about her and her stress out tactics so she can know what a heart ache she has caused you.

Unfortunately I think most of them use the same tatics... funny seeing as their supposed to be there to help mums, not cause them to disbelieve themselve and be concerned that they are doing it wrong and harming their baby... makes me cranky.

[Goosie22]

Unfortunately I think most of them use the same tatics... funny seeing as their supposed to be there to help mums, not cause them to disbelieve themselve and be concerned that they are doing it wrong and harming their baby... makes me cranky.

Seems like it dosent it....I am like you never went along after the intial bad feeling I got from them and trusted my instincts from there on.

[V8]

I had the same worries too, and my breasts never felt that full. DS wasn't gaining much weight, didn't make any difference after i comp fed him with formula. I was constantly worried my supply was insufficient etc. Even now he is on solids, breastmilk, and formula, he still doesn't gain much weight. As long as baby is weeing and pooing, and not grumpy, i wouldn't worry bout the lady!

[RedPanda]

I agree with all the other women. When I was BFing my son, the midwife told me that the reason he was sleeping during feeds was because he was so hungry that he had become weak and could no longer feed. She advised me to comp feed him, which I did, and now regret. Don't let your confidence be undermined, particularly if you feel your bub is getting enough. I'm no expert on milk supply etc, but I just wanted to tell you not to lose confidence in yourself.

[Manxie]

:smiliedance: :smiliedance: for skinny breastfed bubbas.

CHN :ecomcity: - thats all they do. I agree with all the above brilliant advice and would just add - dont bother going back to see the CHN, I stopped going and then stopped stressing!!

My DD is 12 months and weighs about 2 kilos less than most other bubs her age BUT like others have said is really really active. (She has also been sick so lost a bit!)

Enjoy feeding your bub, throw the charts out the window and dont bother weighing your bubba for a while.

[Mischief]

Forget the CHN! Oliver is only a few weeks younger than your bub and is quiet skinny for his height too. My CHN has nothing but praise for how well he is developing and how well I am going feeding him booby juice!

All Olivers growth is going in height, he's in just gaining enough weight to stay on average!

Your bub will soon let you know if they are hungry by screaming for food!

BTW what is it with society.....we complain that children are getting obese and its an epidemic, but if the BF baby is only average weight we are told to FATTEN THEM UP? Does anyone think maybe this attitude is contributing towards the epidemic...."stuff your baby full of food because they are skinny" Oh oh....now they are 10 and still like to eat more than they NEED....now they are the "fat kid"....:banghead:

[Funkychicken]

Just wondering if you have checked out the new growth charts that the WHO have just given their stamp of approval to. They are based on BF babies as opposed to FF babies. You may have seen them but I'll put a link in anyway.

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/growth/chart2.html (http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/growth/chart2.html)

All the best.:)

[BlueEyedGirl]

I too don't go to my CHN anymore, when I did go, they would weigh and measure DD and then I'd leave! So I now I just pop on the scales with her to get an estimate of how much she weighs....

I read in one of my many parenting magazines that the charts in the back of the blue books are actually based on American babies, and most of them are formula fed. The WHO (World Health Organisation) has recently updated the charts, using babies from all around the world to determine the "correct" weight.

I would go and hunt down the article, but DD is asleep, and I don't want to wake her:sleeping: , but when I do find it, I'll post in on here!

As for boobs not feeling full, once we settled into the whole BF routine, my boobs never felt 'full' unless she slept past feedtime!

[Manxie]

BTW what is it with society.....we complain that children are getting obese and its an epidemic, but if the BF baby is only average weight we are told to FATTEN THEM UP? Does anyone think maybe this attitude is contributing towards the epidemic...."stuff your baby full of food because they are skinny" Oh oh....now they are 10 and still like to eat more than they NEED....now they are the "fat kid"....

I totally agree, its not like my daughter is skin and bones, she is just right as far as I am concerned. A little round tummy but not a "chubby bubs". Therefore most people think there is a problem and put pressure on me to "feed her up"!!!!! There is also pressure to feed her cr*ap. Why? I dont wont to give her chocolate, biscuits cake and I dont need people to tell me "oh she'd really like a piece of whatever!!"

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR:banghead:

[BlueEyedGirl]

Hahaha

Funky Chicken saved me the trouble of searching for the magazine!

:)

[Funkychicken]

Handy tip 101#

If you want to weigh your bubba and don't have electronic scales and really don't want to bother that 'nice, sweet health nurse', do what my DH does with our babies. Put them on the scales in the fruit and vege section of your local supermarket! But remember to leave their clothes on, I don't hink the F & V manager would appreciate a naked baby bott on his scales!:rolleyes:

[xkwzit]

When I had had enough of CHN, I also weighed my DD1 myself. Chemists often have baby scales and I would just weigh her there every week.

Cheers

[spiritedfamily]

From what I remember being told by my midwife was that the charts that a CHN measures your child to are from bottlefed babies...breastfed babies tend to weigh less than bottlefed and their weight changes are different..and the miraculous thing about your body is it will only supply according to demand and babies apepetites go up and down. Like many have said follow your gut feeling and if you felt fine before CHN visit then evrything is probably fine

[faery]

:hugs: to all u awesome mama's
and thank u for all your advice. I've ditched the herbs (smelling like fenugreek is not so nice) upped my water and put my feet up.
and am not going back to that CHN or any. what is it about "health professionals" that they feel like they must make u feel cr*p about what you are doing?
u all rock:yelclap:

oh and my DP loves the boobie fed growth charts. he's a med school geek!

[Rainbowbrite]

Hi faery.

I used to go to the clinic alot & they always stressed me out. MJ is & always has been a littlie. BUT now I dont even get her weighed. If there are plenty of wet nappies & her eyes are bright i know that she is getting enough bm. Even now at 15 months she's no more than 9kg, but she is not much smaller than other bubs her age, nor does she look "skinny".

Everybaby is different :hugs: Just keep up your fluids & put your feet up. I might go do the same :yes:

[bec79]

I never actually visited a CHN myself, but from what I ahve heard from other breastfeeding mums, I'm glad I didn't. They don't sound very supportive toward breastfeeders.