Health Visitors & Baby Weight

[Guest guest]

I do feel that making such an issue about weight is the reason that most

mothers start solids early and give supplemental bottles.

With my 4 all have been on the 25th centile at birth but have rapidly risen

to 75th, except who has persisted in being 25th or below. At his 8

month check he was weighed and as I had had him weighed in clinic 10 days

earlier she made the calculation error or 300gms equalling 3lbs! she wanted

him reweighed the following week to check this huge gain. When she had gone

and I realised what she had done, I ignored her. she was that worried that

she never bothered to enquire why I didn't turn up. At the same time Olivia

had her 2 year check and her height had dropped off the 75th so she wanted

her heighted again in a month and then she would refer her to the growth

clinic if she wasn't back up. As I don't think she is going to make aft I'm

not worried about her stature but this could have scared someone else!

Sorry turned out long whinge!

SAHM 5, Olivia 2, 1, 15/3/00

Editor Wallingford and District

[Guest guest]

I do feel that making such an issue about weight is the reason that most

mothers start solids early and give supplemental bottles.

With my 4 all have been on the 25th centile at birth but have rapidly risen

to 75th, except who has persisted in being 25th or below. At his 8

month check he was weighed and as I had had him weighed in clinic 10 days

earlier she made the calculation error or 300gms equalling 3lbs! she wanted

him reweighed the following week to check this huge gain. When she had gone

and I realised what she had done, I ignored her. she was that worried that

she never bothered to enquire why I didn't turn up. At the same time Olivia

had her 2 year check and her height had dropped off the 75th so she wanted

her heighted again in a month and then she would refer her to the growth

clinic if she wasn't back up. As I don't think she is going to make aft I'm

not worried about her stature but this could have scared someone else!

Sorry turned out long whinge!

SAHM 5, Olivia 2, 1, 15/3/00

Editor Wallingford and District

[Guest guest]

I do feel that making such an issue about weight is the reason that most

mothers start solids early and give supplemental bottles.

With my 4 all have been on the 25th centile at birth but have rapidly risen

to 75th, except who has persisted in being 25th or below. At his 8

month check he was weighed and as I had had him weighed in clinic 10 days

earlier she made the calculation error or 300gms equalling 3lbs! she wanted

him reweighed the following week to check this huge gain. When she had gone

and I realised what she had done, I ignored her. she was that worried that

she never bothered to enquire why I didn't turn up. At the same time Olivia

had her 2 year check and her height had dropped off the 75th so she wanted

her heighted again in a month and then she would refer her to the growth

clinic if she wasn't back up. As I don't think she is going to make aft I'm

not worried about her stature but this could have scared someone else!

Sorry turned out long whinge!

SAHM 5, Olivia 2, 1, 15/3/00

Editor Wallingford and District

[Guest guest]

Whereabouts in Greece are you? My parents are thinking of moving out there.

Dimitris & Janet wrote:

>

>

> Thankfully here in Greece I don't believe there are any HVs, so no hassles.

--

Dick,

SAHM to (7/4/97) and Kitty (22/7/99)

and wife of (26/9/66)

Newsletter Editor, Advertising manager

MSLC Rep - Alton, Bordon and District

See pictures of us all at:

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=848605 & a=6171291

(password: Wisley)

[Guest guest]

Whereabouts in Greece are you? My parents are thinking of moving out there.

Dimitris & Janet wrote:

>

>

> Thankfully here in Greece I don't believe there are any HVs, so no hassles.

--

Dick,

SAHM to (7/4/97) and Kitty (22/7/99)

and wife of (26/9/66)

Newsletter Editor, Advertising manager

MSLC Rep - Alton, Bordon and District

See pictures of us all at:

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=848605 & a=6171291

(password: Wisley)

[Guest guest]

Calvin was born at a little under 50th centile and at 2 weeks was at

the 9th, so instead of thinking anything like logically, she made me

panic. Since then, he's been comfortably right above 25th ever since

(and above 75th in height - skinny kid!). I didn't supplement or

anything, because in my fog, I still knew she was full of beans

(and looked it up in my books when I got home to be sure) and told

her

we'd wait for the next clinic (2 weeks later) to decide if anything

else needed to be done. Then he gained almost 2 pounds in 2 weeks

Did anyone else's HV say that you shouldn't read the books about

babies and should just do what feels right? Personally, I am very

glad

I have other sources of information, since the HV's doesn't always

thrill me.

> This also applies to newborn babies too!

>

> I was harassed by both my midwife and HV about weight gain and not

being within the 50 percentile. Both encouraged me to supplement

with

a bottle to 'bulk her up' at 4 days old!!!! as 'obviously your milk

isn't enough' and she'd lost 10%+ of her birth weight.

> As a first-time mother adjusting to demands of a newborn and not

really knowing much and feeling absolutely shattered and shocked! ...

I did it! - a couple of ounces a day for a few weeks which she rarely

completely drank (now she's completely breastfed).

> What amazed me was the attitude when they came to weigh her... 'oh

good, you've just fed her so she'll be heavier'; 'oh no! don't wait

for her dirty nappy, quickly lets weigh her now so she'll be heavier'!

> I felt that they didn't really care how she was doing, just that on

their notes there was a substantial weight gain which fitted in with

the 50%+.

> And even though they both assured me that the baby was happy,

healthy, alert, etc..., which she was, they bugged me to death to go

the GP and have her checked out 'just in case'. In the end I went to

shut them up - the GP looked at the notes and said 'but she's gaining

weight and is on the 25 percentile, what's their problem?'

>

> Are all HVs like this? She was gaining weight from week to week

and

I knew there was nothing wrong with her but they still manage to make

you doubt your own judgment and because everything is so new and

you're still learning you rely on their opinion for help!

>

> Thankfully here in Greece I don't believe there are any HVs, so no

hassles. When she goes for her jabs each month (just had the second

one yesterday) the paediatrician (sp?) gives her a thorough check up

and we've hired some scales just so we can see her weight gain out of

interest. Now, at 3 months, she's between 50-75 percentile - so much

for bulking her up with formula!

>

> Janet

[Guest guest]

Calvin was born at a little under 50th centile and at 2 weeks was at

the 9th, so instead of thinking anything like logically, she made me

panic. Since then, he's been comfortably right above 25th ever since

(and above 75th in height - skinny kid!). I didn't supplement or

anything, because in my fog, I still knew she was full of beans

(and looked it up in my books when I got home to be sure) and told

her

we'd wait for the next clinic (2 weeks later) to decide if anything

else needed to be done. Then he gained almost 2 pounds in 2 weeks

Did anyone else's HV say that you shouldn't read the books about

babies and should just do what feels right? Personally, I am very

glad

I have other sources of information, since the HV's doesn't always

thrill me.

> This also applies to newborn babies too!

>

> I was harassed by both my midwife and HV about weight gain and not

being within the 50 percentile. Both encouraged me to supplement

with

a bottle to 'bulk her up' at 4 days old!!!! as 'obviously your milk

isn't enough' and she'd lost 10%+ of her birth weight.

> As a first-time mother adjusting to demands of a newborn and not

really knowing much and feeling absolutely shattered and shocked! ...

I did it! - a couple of ounces a day for a few weeks which she rarely

completely drank (now she's completely breastfed).

> What amazed me was the attitude when they came to weigh her... 'oh

good, you've just fed her so she'll be heavier'; 'oh no! don't wait

for her dirty nappy, quickly lets weigh her now so she'll be heavier'!

> I felt that they didn't really care how she was doing, just that on

their notes there was a substantial weight gain which fitted in with

the 50%+.

> And even though they both assured me that the baby was happy,

healthy, alert, etc..., which she was, they bugged me to death to go

the GP and have her checked out 'just in case'. In the end I went to

shut them up - the GP looked at the notes and said 'but she's gaining

weight and is on the 25 percentile, what's their problem?'

>

> Are all HVs like this? She was gaining weight from week to week

and

I knew there was nothing wrong with her but they still manage to make

you doubt your own judgment and because everything is so new and

you're still learning you rely on their opinion for help!

>

> Thankfully here in Greece I don't believe there are any HVs, so no

hassles. When she goes for her jabs each month (just had the second

one yesterday) the paediatrician (sp?) gives her a thorough check up

and we've hired some scales just so we can see her weight gain out of

interest. Now, at 3 months, she's between 50-75 percentile - so much

for bulking her up with formula!

>

> Janet

[Guest guest]

Janet said:

>I was harassed by both my midwife and HV about weight gain and not being

within the 50 percentile. Both encouraged me to supplement with a bottle to

'bulk her up' at 4 days old!!!! as 'obviously your milk isn't enough' and

she'd lost 10%+ of her birth weight.

: This makes me so cross!!!!! I have had friends reduced to tears by

HVs because their babies do not fit into the charts. One was told that her

breastmilk was semi-skimmed. We had a discussion about this on the list

some months ago, and I'm sure that someone said that the centile charts are

based on the weights of English babies in the 1970s. In other words, of no

relevance whatsoever to breastfed babies - especially ones that are half

greek! For what it's worth, both my babies started out at the 50th, were up

to the 75th (DD) and 90th (DS) by 4 months (no lack of milk supply here) and

started dropping down to the 25th by 1 year. So much for weaning onto

solids ... to pick up on another thread!

[Guest guest]

Janet said:

>I was harassed by both my midwife and HV about weight gain and not being

within the 50 percentile. Both encouraged me to supplement with a bottle to

'bulk her up' at 4 days old!!!! as 'obviously your milk isn't enough' and

she'd lost 10%+ of her birth weight.

: This makes me so cross!!!!! I have had friends reduced to tears by

HVs because their babies do not fit into the charts. One was told that her

breastmilk was semi-skimmed. We had a discussion about this on the list

some months ago, and I'm sure that someone said that the centile charts are

based on the weights of English babies in the 1970s. In other words, of no

relevance whatsoever to breastfed babies - especially ones that are half

greek! For what it's worth, both my babies started out at the 50th, were up

to the 75th (DD) and 90th (DS) by 4 months (no lack of milk supply here) and

started dropping down to the 25th by 1 year. So much for weaning onto

solids ... to pick up on another thread!

[Guest guest]

said:

>I do feel that making such an issue about weight is the reason that most

>mothers start solids early and give supplemental bottles.

: I think this is a good point, and wish I had made it myself! Perhaps

this is something the NCT should be looking at changing. I think that a lot

of first time Mums do hang on every word uttered by the HV (I know I did,

purely because it gave me stuff to contradict my mother with). I shall

certainly raise this at out next meeting with the PCG.

[Guest guest]

.. At the same time Olivia

> had her 2 year check and her height had dropped off the 75th so she wanted

> her heighted again in a month and then she would refer her to the growth

> clinic if she wasn't back up.

How ridiculous! Babies and children all grow at different rates and have

growth spurts at different ages. Just because my daughter (age2) is

currently on 75th centile for height and weight doesn't mean she always will

be - in fact I'd be suprised if she was because I'm only 5'3 " and DH is only

5'8 " .

Helen

[Guest guest]

.. At the same time Olivia

> had her 2 year check and her height had dropped off the 75th so she wanted

> her heighted again in a month and then she would refer her to the growth

> clinic if she wasn't back up.

How ridiculous! Babies and children all grow at different rates and have

growth spurts at different ages. Just because my daughter (age2) is

currently on 75th centile for height and weight doesn't mean she always will

be - in fact I'd be suprised if she was because I'm only 5'3 " and DH is only

5'8 " .

Helen

[Guest guest]

.. At the same time Olivia

> had her 2 year check and her height had dropped off the 75th so she wanted

> her heighted again in a month and then she would refer her to the growth

> clinic if she wasn't back up.

How ridiculous! Babies and children all grow at different rates and have

growth spurts at different ages. Just because my daughter (age2) is

currently on 75th centile for height and weight doesn't mean she always will

be - in fact I'd be suprised if she was because I'm only 5'3 " and DH is only

5'8 " .

Helen

[Guest guest]

DH's birthday so am trying to keep away from puter but thanks

everyone will write more tomorrow. Liz feeling inspired as a

result of long chat with our BFC on the phone this evening and

all your thoughts and info. Another egroups success story :-)

More about it all tomorrow

[Guest guest]

DH's birthday so am trying to keep away from puter but thanks

everyone will write more tomorrow. Liz feeling inspired as a

result of long chat with our BFC on the phone this evening and

all your thoughts and info. Another egroups success story :-)

More about it all tomorrow

[Guest guest]

Aren`t centile charts made up of stats from bottle fed babies? Since

breastfed babies have growth spurts etc, surely all this is a load of

tosh..?.

I used to get DD1 weighed religiously when told to...but she had supp

bottles from 5 days old. DD2 got weighed when I could get there. After

initial birth weighing, not until the last poss moment of day 10 (handover

from indep m/ws to HV)

Barbara

[Guest guest]

I too subscribe to the theory that you should do whatever feels right - and lie

to the HV if need be.

Miranda

[Guest guest]

With DS1 saw HV weekly until she gently suggested monthly might be all

that was necessary.

With DS2 I started going monthly but fizzled out when weight failed to

conform. She wryly pointed out that if you go, they " need " to weigh, and

if this results in a change there is a " need " to be seen to be doing

something. But if you don't go, 'cos he's fine, they don't " need " to

weigh and therefore don't " need " to do anything about it!

Haven't seen HV re. DD since her 9-month check - even when she was

little it was too much hassle, with playgroup & school & stuff. HV just

shrugged and said she was sure I'd get in touch if I was concerned about

anything. Booked in for 2 year check next month but unlikely to see her

again after that until pre-school check is due!

(I quite like my HVs!!!)

--

best wishes...

Doberska - Reading, UK

NCT teacher, Teachers' Treasurer

Mum of (7 1/2), (5) & (23 mo.)

cathyd@...

[Guest guest]

With DS1 saw HV weekly until she gently suggested monthly might be all

that was necessary.

With DS2 I started going monthly but fizzled out when weight failed to

conform. She wryly pointed out that if you go, they " need " to weigh, and

if this results in a change there is a " need " to be seen to be doing

something. But if you don't go, 'cos he's fine, they don't " need " to

weigh and therefore don't " need " to do anything about it!

Haven't seen HV re. DD since her 9-month check - even when she was

little it was too much hassle, with playgroup & school & stuff. HV just

shrugged and said she was sure I'd get in touch if I was concerned about

anything. Booked in for 2 year check next month but unlikely to see her

again after that until pre-school check is due!

(I quite like my HVs!!!)

--

best wishes...

Doberska - Reading, UK

NCT teacher, Teachers' Treasurer

Mum of (7 1/2), (5) & (23 mo.)

cathyd@...

[Guest guest]

With DS1 saw HV weekly until she gently suggested monthly might be all

that was necessary.

With DS2 I started going monthly but fizzled out when weight failed to

conform. She wryly pointed out that if you go, they " need " to weigh, and

if this results in a change there is a " need " to be seen to be doing

something. But if you don't go, 'cos he's fine, they don't " need " to

weigh and therefore don't " need " to do anything about it!

Haven't seen HV re. DD since her 9-month check - even when she was

little it was too much hassle, with playgroup & school & stuff. HV just

shrugged and said she was sure I'd get in touch if I was concerned about

anything. Booked in for 2 year check next month but unlikely to see her

again after that until pre-school check is due!

(I quite like my HVs!!!)

--

best wishes...

Doberska - Reading, UK

NCT teacher, Teachers' Treasurer

Mum of (7 1/2), (5) & (23 mo.)

cathyd@...

[Guest guest]

said " With DS2 I started going monthly but fizzled out when weight

failed to conform "

I did exactly the same thing with DD1! She was born on the 25 percentile,

but slowly drifted down. When she was at the 9 percentile, the HV announced

that if she didn't " improve " next time, we would think about taking action.

Well, you've guessed it - I never ever took her back.

Joyce

============

http://clik.to/ourphotos

[Guest guest]

said " With DS2 I started going monthly but fizzled out when weight

failed to conform "

I did exactly the same thing with DD1! She was born on the 25 percentile,

but slowly drifted down. When she was at the 9 percentile, the HV announced

that if she didn't " improve " next time, we would think about taking action.

Well, you've guessed it - I never ever took her back.

Joyce

============

http://clik.to/ourphotos

[Guest guest]

said " With DS2 I started going monthly but fizzled out when weight

failed to conform "

I did exactly the same thing with DD1! She was born on the 25 percentile,

but slowly drifted down. When she was at the 9 percentile, the HV announced

that if she didn't " improve " next time, we would think about taking action.

Well, you've guessed it - I never ever took her back.

Joyce

============

http://clik.to/ourphotos