Dr says I’m overfeeding

[rsduncan]

@zazzi Ugh I feel you! I also had anxiety and literally saw a lactation consultant everyday for the first weeks of my daughters life, until I accepted formula feeding full time. With my son, I did literally NOTHING differently. Put him on the boob immediately after birth like I did my daughter, and he just latched really strongly right off the bat. I didn’t have to see a lactation consultant once with him and never had to supplement or pump with him. It was actually really healing, because I realized it wasn’t me lol. My daughter just couldn’t transfer milk effectively at the boob. I nursed my son until 3!

 

[higherglory]

@zazzi One thing I have heard is that if you have latching or breastfeeding issues with one child, you can have an entirely different situation with the next one. So when you decide to have a second, try to be optimistic that it will work out instead of wasting time being anxious. Cause either way you won’t know until you get there.
Sincerely, mom with a baby that had latch issues. lol

 

[butbeyedoersoftheword]

@glen101 At 2 months my child was 16 lbs. The pediatrician said it’s mostly genetics. Growth slowed before age 1 but they’re still off the charts.

Get a new doc and trust that you know when your baby is full.

 

[andy82]

@glen101 My breastfed 8/9 week olds all nursed whenever they wanted, for however long they wanted. And if they wanted to nurse again 20 minutes later (as opposed to the “recommended” 3-hour window), I let them! Babies that age are nursing constantly for many reasons but one very important one is that they are building your supply. Your pediatrician sounds like he doesn’t understand breastfeeding very well, if you’re wanting some backup to validate you right now that isn’t Reddit, you could always consult a lactation specialist who will probably tell you the same things many of us here have (and affirm your own opinions/choices and the information you currently have). But your pediatrician isn’t giving you very informed advice, it’s very hard to overfeed a breastfed baby, they simply stop nursing when they’re full

 

[shannone]

@glen101 Just don’t listen to the cereal advice only milk at this age

 

[hismirical]

@shannone This.

 

[adellah]

@glen101 Your baby weighed more than the average female birth weight and her growth seems pretty normal . Sometimes pediatricians are super strict to guidelines. You just gotta go on your instincts.

 

[glen101]

@adellah Thank you all that makes me feel so much better. I don’t have any other option for a doctor but I will definitely go with my instincts and continue happily feeding her the 4-5 oz that she needs.
I do combo feed, I pump so I’m able to measure how much she’s getting. She nurses for hobby or snack or just simple comfort, but doesn’t transfer much.

 

[davdzeko]

@glen101 Literally ignore the doctor. Feed your baby breast milk / formula whenever they are hungry, as much as they like. Babies don’t overeat. There is no such thing.

Also DO NOT listen to your mom. Cereal is not for infants. Breast milk or formula ONLY. Wait until 6 months to start doing any types of food.

 

[thedarkhalf]

@glen101 My son was born the same weight and eating 4 oz per bottle at that age. He’s a healthy happy boy

 

[mhelcabico]

@glen101 My son was 10lbs 7oz at birth. At 2 months he was 12lbs and 3m he was 15lbs. At 4m he was 19lbs. I distinctly remember the nurse being so shock by his weight they ask me to remove his diaper and weight him again just to make sure. Don’t worry about overfeeding your baby. My son is now 2.5yrs 33lbs and tall. Big babies run in both mine and my husbands families. You are the most familiar with your baby. Trust your gut instincts. If you think she is hungry needs more feed her. You got this!

Edited: I wouldn’t advise giving the cereal like your mom suggested but I’d give more breastmilk/formula yup all day.

 

[derrick12]

@glen101 That's weird that your doctor told you that. My doctor says it's hard to over feed a newborn/ infant as they eat what they need. He said as long as they're not throwing up a good portion of their bottle (obviously not spitting up, that's different) or seem like their stomach is in distress, they're eating exactly what they need to.

Both my son and daughter at 9 weeks would eat 3-4 ounces. I had a hard time keeping up my supply with my daughter so I would supplement with formula but she was fed and happy and growing. That's all that mattered to me. Just keep trusting your gut. If she's full and happy that's all that matters. You're doing a great job.

 

[gnosticman]

@glen101 Your brand new baby is establishing a growth pattern. This is waaayyy too early to be concerned about baby being over fed.

Is she vomiting after feedings? I mean full-on exorcist vomiting, not just a little spitup with a burp. If no, ignore him on overfeeding.

If she's spitting up all the time after feedings and crying when you lay her flat, that's more of a sign of reflux than overfeeding. It would require further investigation and changing post-feeding habits. Possibly medication to help with the stomach acid.

If baby seems happy after a normal feeding and has a good amount of pees and poops, she is fine.

For the first 6 months, all her body is focusing on is eating and growing. Trust your instincts and change doctors when you can.

 

[strange1]

@gnosticman To be clear, they have done studies about overfeeding newborns and they now know it is linked to increased health risks. So it's not an imaginary issue.

 

[korkuadam]

@glen101 Unless baby is spitting up or seems uncomfortable/in pain after feeding, I would continue with what you’re doing!

 

[leachim7]

@glen101 BABIES AREN'T SUPPOSED TO HAVE CEREAL TILL THEY ARE 6 MONTHS OLD

 

[treetreetop]

@glen101 My baby was 6lbs12oz at birth. He was 10lbs at 1 month, 14.25lbs at 2 months, 19.70lbs at 4 months, and he’s now 22lbs at 5 months. Your baby is perfect. It’s really hard to overfeed a baby, they just spit up. Ignore!

 

[lexieanne]

@glen101 My baby gained 3lbs in a month from his birth weight to 1 month appointment and the pediatrician had no issues. She was more impressed how fast he was growing! He drinks the same amount at 7 weeks now. He’s just a hungry boy! I think you need a new pediatrician!

 

[sp4stic]

@glen101 I am so sorry your doctor is being silly. Babies will not over eat on breast milk or formula. All 4 of mine had different needs. Some nursed longer, others shorter. Some more often than others.

Your doctor would have a real fit over my one son's eating habits as a baby. 12 ounces of formula every 3 hours, from 4 weeks old. He doubled his birth weight by 5 months. By then it was 16 ounces every 3 hours. He was always on the thin side. If I had limited his intake, he would have lost weight, and cried non stop. He ate around the clock for many years.

Feed your baby. No two children are just alike. They all have different needs. You know your baby best. Do what you know to be right. Trust your gut.

 

[teo201]

@glen101 My first son always liked big bottles. I nursed when I was with him, but once he started daycare, he was getting bottles during the day. He took 6oz bottles of breastmilk starting at 12 weeks. Some babies just take bigger bottles!