Anonymous
02/09/2022 15:41
Subject: Pediatrician Keeps Saying Baby Is “ Small”
We had a young pediatrician with our first kid, although we rotated around the whole practice. She was a pain too because she was by the book, and wanted us to wake the baby for feedings. She didn't calm down until she had her own kids and learned that babies don't read textbooks.
Anonymous
02/08/2022 09:43
Subject: Pediatrician Keeps Saying Baby Is “ Small”
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP here. I’m going to continue to pump and bottle feed until 4 months. I’m going to keep supplementing with formula. I feel most comfortable doing this rather than nursing and being unsure how much he eats. I’m going to keep on supplementing because I may decide to quit breastfeeding at some point or my supply may decrease at and I want to make sure he will take the formula.
Another one bites the dust…
What does that mean? OP is doing what she feels is best for her and her baby. She said nursing would make her worry too much, so she’s more comfortable pumping and supplementing. Why is that any concern to you how a stranger feeds her baby? Are you someone offended OP chose not to nurse her child? You’re weird.
I’m a DP but I think it’s disappointing that a pediatrician’s repeated comments pushed someone away from the AAP (and WHO, and every other reputable body) best practice for how a newborn should be fed, just because the pediatrician couldn’t keep her (non-medical) opinions to herself. From a medical standpoint the baby was totally fine but OP was told how “small” he was and now the baby stops getting what is considered the best possible feeding outcome.
OP isn’t doing anything wrong but look at the consequences of one lazy pediatrician.
I still don’t understand. OPs son is fed and happy and that’s all that matters. He is still getting breast milk and doesn’t need to be attached to the breast to be well fed. There are many moms who choose not to breastfeed, can’t breastfeed, or combo feed and it’s insulting to insinuate they are not getting the best because they’re bottle fed. I’m so tired of the breast is best group that has issues if a mom doesn’t nurse.
If OP wanted to formula feed I’d be 100% behind her decision. But she wanted to breastfeed, then a pediatrician gave her bad information (again, in conflict with the best practice of the AAP not just hippies on the internet) and now she’s put herself through eight weeks of jumping through hoops to follow bad advice before finding a good pediatrician, resulting in her not feeding her baby the way she wanted to, and the way every reputable agency recommends.
Why does that bother you? It’s not your baby and she is doing what she feels is best for her baby.
You didn’t read the thread did you. OP is doing great. Her first pediatrician should lose her license.
Anonymous
02/08/2022 09:33
Subject: Pediatrician Keeps Saying Baby Is “ Small”
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP here. I’m going to continue to pump and bottle feed until 4 months. I’m going to keep supplementing with formula. I feel most comfortable doing this rather than nursing and being unsure how much he eats. I’m going to keep on supplementing because I may decide to quit breastfeeding at some point or my supply may decrease at and I want to make sure he will take the formula.
Another one bites the dust…
What does that mean? OP is doing what she feels is best for her and her baby. She said nursing would make her worry too much, so she’s more comfortable pumping and supplementing. Why is that any concern to you how a stranger feeds her baby? Are you someone offended OP chose not to nurse her child? You’re weird.
I’m a DP but I think it’s disappointing that a pediatrician’s repeated comments pushed someone away from the AAP (and WHO, and every other reputable body) best practice for how a newborn should be fed, just because the pediatrician couldn’t keep her (non-medical) opinions to herself. From a medical standpoint the baby was totally fine but OP was told how “small” he was and now the baby stops getting what is considered the best possible feeding outcome.
OP isn’t doing anything wrong but look at the consequences of one lazy pediatrician.
I still don’t understand. OPs son is fed and happy and that’s all that matters. He is still getting breast milk and doesn’t need to be attached to the breast to be well fed. There are many moms who choose not to breastfeed, can’t breastfeed, or combo feed and it’s insulting to insinuate they are not getting the best because they’re bottle fed. I’m so tired of the breast is best group that has issues if a mom doesn’t nurse.
If OP wanted to formula feed I’d be 100% behind her decision. But she wanted to breastfeed, then a pediatrician gave her bad information (again, in conflict with the best practice of the AAP not just hippies on the internet) and now she’s put herself through eight weeks of jumping through hoops to follow bad advice before finding a good pediatrician, resulting in her not feeding her baby the way she wanted to, and the way every reputable agency recommends.
Why does that bother you? It’s not your baby and she is doing what she feels is best for her baby.
Anonymous
02/08/2022 09:13
Subject: Pediatrician Keeps Saying Baby Is “ Small”
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP here. I’m going to continue to pump and bottle feed until 4 months. I’m going to keep supplementing with formula. I feel most comfortable doing this rather than nursing and being unsure how much he eats. I’m going to keep on supplementing because I may decide to quit breastfeeding at some point or my supply may decrease at and I want to make sure he will take the formula.
Another one bites the dust…
What does that mean? OP is doing what she feels is best for her and her baby. She said nursing would make her worry too much, so she’s more comfortable pumping and supplementing. Why is that any concern to you how a stranger feeds her baby? Are you someone offended OP chose not to nurse her child? You’re weird.
I’m a DP but I think it’s disappointing that a pediatrician’s repeated comments pushed someone away from the AAP (and WHO, and every other reputable body) best practice for how a newborn should be fed, just because the pediatrician couldn’t keep her (non-medical) opinions to herself. From a medical standpoint the baby was totally fine but OP was told how “small” he was and now the baby stops getting what is considered the best possible feeding outcome.
OP isn’t doing anything wrong but look at the consequences of one lazy pediatrician.
I still don’t understand. OPs son is fed and happy and that’s all that matters. He is still getting breast milk and doesn’t need to be attached to the breast to be well fed. There are many moms who choose not to breastfeed, can’t breastfeed, or combo feed and it’s insulting to insinuate they are not getting the best because they’re bottle fed. I’m so tired of the breast is best group that has issues if a mom doesn’t nurse.
If OP wanted to formula feed I’d be 100% behind her decision. But she wanted to breastfeed, then a pediatrician gave her bad information (again, in conflict with the best practice of the AAP not just hippies on the internet) and now she’s put herself through eight weeks of jumping through hoops to follow bad advice before finding a good pediatrician, resulting in her not feeding her baby the way she wanted to, and the way every reputable agency recommends.
Anonymous
02/08/2022 09:07
Subject: Pediatrician Keeps Saying Baby Is “ Small”
Keep pumping if you feel that is best. Your baby will be happy and healthy regardless if you nurse, pump, or formula feed.
Anonymous
02/08/2022 09:07
Subject: Pediatrician Keeps Saying Baby Is “ Small”
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP here. I’m going to continue to pump and bottle feed until 4 months. I’m going to keep supplementing with formula. I feel most comfortable doing this rather than nursing and being unsure how much he eats. I’m going to keep on supplementing because I may decide to quit breastfeeding at some point or my supply may decrease at and I want to make sure he will take the formula.
Another one bites the dust…
What does that mean? OP is doing what she feels is best for her and her baby. She said nursing would make her worry too much, so she’s more comfortable pumping and supplementing. Why is that any concern to you how a stranger feeds her baby? Are you someone offended OP chose not to nurse her child? You’re weird.
I’m a DP but I think it’s disappointing that a pediatrician’s repeated comments pushed someone away from the AAP (and WHO, and every other reputable body) best practice for how a newborn should be fed, just because the pediatrician couldn’t keep her (non-medical) opinions to herself. From a medical standpoint the baby was totally fine but OP was told how “small” he was and now the baby stops getting what is considered the best possible feeding outcome.
The pediatricians standpoint is not “ non-medical”. You don’t know OP or her baby and you don’t know if the pediatrician was correct or not.
OP isn’t doing anything wrong but look at the consequences of one lazy pediatrician.
Anonymous
02/08/2022 09:06
Subject: Pediatrician Keeps Saying Baby Is “ Small”
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP here. I’m going to continue to pump and bottle feed until 4 months. I’m going to keep supplementing with formula. I feel most comfortable doing this rather than nursing and being unsure how much he eats. I’m going to keep on supplementing because I may decide to quit breastfeeding at some point or my supply may decrease at and I want to make sure he will take the formula.
Another one bites the dust…
What does that mean? OP is doing what she feels is best for her and her baby. She said nursing would make her worry too much, so she’s more comfortable pumping and supplementing. Why is that any concern to you how a stranger feeds her baby? Are you someone offended OP chose not to nurse her child? You’re weird.
I’m a DP but I think it’s disappointing that a pediatrician’s repeated comments pushed someone away from the AAP (and WHO, and every other reputable body) best practice for how a newborn should be fed, just because the pediatrician couldn’t keep her (non-medical) opinions to herself. From a medical standpoint the baby was totally fine but OP was told how “small” he was and now the baby stops getting what is considered the best possible feeding outcome.
OP isn’t doing anything wrong but look at the consequences of one lazy pediatrician.
I still don’t understand. OPs son is fed and happy and that’s all that matters. He is still getting breast milk and doesn’t need to be attached to the breast to be well fed. There are many moms who choose not to breastfeed, can’t breastfeed, or combo feed and it’s insulting to insinuate they are not getting the best because they’re bottle fed. I’m so tired of the breast is best group that has issues if a mom doesn’t nurse.
Anonymous
02/08/2022 08:49
Subject: Pediatrician Keeps Saying Baby Is “ Small”
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP here. I’m going to continue to pump and bottle feed until 4 months. I’m going to keep supplementing with formula. I feel most comfortable doing this rather than nursing and being unsure how much he eats. I’m going to keep on supplementing because I may decide to quit breastfeeding at some point or my supply may decrease at and I want to make sure he will take the formula.
Another one bites the dust…
What does that mean? OP is doing what she feels is best for her and her baby. She said nursing would make her worry too much, so she’s more comfortable pumping and supplementing. Why is that any concern to you how a stranger feeds her baby? Are you someone offended OP chose not to nurse her child? You’re weird.
I’m a DP but I think it’s disappointing that a pediatrician’s repeated comments pushed someone away from the AAP (and WHO, and every other reputable body) best practice for how a newborn should be fed, just because the pediatrician couldn’t keep her (non-medical) opinions to herself. From a medical standpoint the baby was totally fine but OP was told how “small” he was and now the baby stops getting what is considered the best possible feeding outcome.
OP isn’t doing anything wrong but look at the consequences of one lazy pediatrician.
Anonymous
02/07/2022 17:31
Subject: Pediatrician Keeps Saying Baby Is “ Small”
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP here. I’m going to continue to pump and bottle feed until 4 months. I’m going to keep supplementing with formula. I feel most comfortable doing this rather than nursing and being unsure how much he eats. I’m going to keep on supplementing because I may decide to quit breastfeeding at some point or my supply may decrease at and I want to make sure he will take the formula.
Another one bites the dust…
What does that mean? OP is doing what she feels is best for her and her baby. She said nursing would make her worry too much, so she’s more comfortable pumping and supplementing. Why is that any concern to you how a stranger feeds her baby? Are you someone offended OP chose not to nurse her child? You’re weird.
Anonymous
02/07/2022 06:18
Subject: Pediatrician Keeps Saying Baby Is “ Small”
OP, I haven’t read all 8 pages, but I assume at some point this jumped the shark and you have gotten a lot of crazy advice at this point. But please do the following:
1) Try a different pediatrician. This one seems either alarmist or just unnecessarily blunt and you seem to be a worrier by nature so that’s not a good personality fit. It is no big deal to admit that and ask to see someone else for your next visit.
2) Weigh-ins are notoriously unreliable, because a) it’s hard to get a clear height measurement at this age (which impacts BMI percentiles), b) there are a lot of variables like how full baby’s stomach/diaper are at weigh-in, c) kids don’t grow in a straight line. They get fat then they shoot up. So you could have a kid whose BMI looks like they are overweight and then measure the same kid in 3 weeks and he looks too skinny for height.
3) He dropped below his curve but that isn’t a trend yet at this point. Unless you have a very unusual disorder, he will TELL you if he is still hungry. Since you have plenty of extra pumped milk, you can continue to offer slightly more (like 4.5 oz) at feedings just to see if his hunger increases or fluctuates but there is not need to force feed or overfeed. He is small but he is within the range of normal both for weight and for the amount he is eating. Continue to respond to his cues and continue to track his weight and only change feeding methods if this trend continues.
1) Try a different pediatrician. This one seems either alarmist or just unnecessarily blunt and you seem to be a worrier by nature so that’s not a good personality fit. It is no big deal to admit that and ask to see someone else for your next visit.
2) Weigh-ins are notoriously unreliable, because a) it’s hard to get a clear height measurement at this age (which impacts BMI percentiles), b) there are a lot of variables like how full baby’s stomach/diaper are at weigh-in, c) kids don’t grow in a straight line. They get fat then they shoot up. So you could have a kid whose BMI looks like they are overweight and then measure the same kid in 3 weeks and he looks too skinny for height.
3) He dropped below his curve but that isn’t a trend yet at this point. Unless you have a very unusual disorder, he will TELL you if he is still hungry. Since you have plenty of extra pumped milk, you can continue to offer slightly more (like 4.5 oz) at feedings just to see if his hunger increases or fluctuates but there is not need to force feed or overfeed. He is small but he is within the range of normal both for weight and for the amount he is eating. Continue to respond to his cues and continue to track his weight and only change feeding methods if this trend continues.
Anonymous
02/07/2022 04:06
Subject: Pediatrician Keeps Saying Baby Is “ Small”
Anonymous wrote:OP here. I’m going to continue to pump and bottle feed until 4 months. I’m going to keep supplementing with formula. I feel most comfortable doing this rather than nursing and being unsure how much he eats. I’m going to keep on supplementing because I may decide to quit breastfeeding at some point or my supply may decrease at and I want to make sure he will take the formula.
Another one bites the dust…
Anonymous
02/06/2022 23:11
Subject: Pediatrician Keeps Saying Baby Is “ Small”
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think the pediatrician just might not have anything else to say/observe. You baby is small. My baby was huge. It’s all anyone could talk about at the pedi appointments. Unless there’s something else wrong, you doctor might just be a middling conversationalist!
If you read the thread that’s not what was happening. The ped was having op do things like stop nursing and use high-calorie formula instead.
The pediatrician never told OP to stop nursing. She chose to pump.
Anonymous
02/06/2022 21:31
Subject: Pediatrician Keeps Saying Baby Is “ Small”
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The issue is that the ped is talking to you but not making it clear whether she is identifying a real medical concern that requires action or whether she's just observing his size and saying well, you might try to goose him up the chart by doing XYZ if you want to try it but no harm either way.
It's really a shame that she doesn't know how to be clear because you shouldn't have to exist in a state of uncertainty and resultant anxiety about this.
That would be the reason why I'd think about a different ped. You want someone whose cues to you are not equivocal.
If someone is genetically destined to be thin and small, isn't shovelling in extra calories actually harmful? In a nation with rising obesity rates I'm surprised people are still leaning towards pushing more calories.
Nope. The baby will spit up what is not needed. The end.
Keep your obesity fears out of this.
And new research suggests that newborn feeding practices may have more to do with toddler obesity than experts previously thought.
“We know that we have children with clinical obesity at age two, which makes you more likely to be overweight as a teen and into adulthood,” says Ben Gibbs, a professor of sociology at Brigham Young University. Gibbs co-authored a recent study in the journal "Pediatric Obesity" that found clinical obesity at 24 months was strongly correlated to formula feeding in infancy.
The team studied 8,000 mothers with nine-month-old babies, asking them whether they predominantly breastfed or formula-fed or did both, and then evaluated the child’s weight at age 2. Babies put to bed with a bottle were 30 percent more likely to be obese at age 2. Those fed solid food before four months were 40 percent more likely to become obese.
Gibbs says his research suggests that babies who are mostly bottle-fed don’t always learn how to regulate their appetites the same way as breastfed babies, and that parents may tend to overfeed when they’re looking at a bottle of milk and measuring a baby’s serving in ounces (something a mom doesn’t do when she breastfeeds).