My dr told me to wean my three month old!

[Joyful Tie Dyes]

Originally Posted by happysmileylady Well I am going to go out on a limb here and risk being flamed. Let me repeat that quote. Your baby ended up IN THE HOSPITAL for failure to thrive. I do not in any way think that your doc is out of line for suggesting that perhaps breastfeeding, which has already endangered the health of your baby, in only three months, might not be the best option. Now, if the doc actually said the words in your OP, then yes, she was out of line for saying it that way. But, your child was in the hosptial because of breastfeeding problems. I personally think that it's not a good idea to continue to do something that has caused enough problems that it landed your child IN THE HOSPITAL. I am actually surprised that your doc didn't push harder for you to wean earlier, like before a trip to the hospital was even in the picture. I believe that no formula is more dangerous than a failure to thrive diagnosis that lands you in the hospital.

Originally Posted by keowilliams It wasn't her child's pediatrician who recommended that she wean. It was her Primary Care Physician. Not really the PCPs place to offer advice on FTT issues.

Not to mention she could have suggested supplementing not weaning all together.

[happysmileylady]

Originally Posted by keowilliams It wasn't her child's pediatrician who recommended that she wean. It was her Primary Care Physician. Not really the PCPs place to offer advice on FTT issues.

I freely admit that when I saw PCP, I automatically assumed that was a family doc, because that's what we use. My children's doc is also my doc as well. However, to me, it really doesn't matter which doc suggests that perhaps BFing isn't best. When baby lands in the hosptial because of problems with it, and then additional problems continue to crop up, in just a three month time span...I don't think that's when "breast is best."

Originally Posted by Joyful Tie Dyes Not to mention she could have suggested supplementing not weaning all together.

Quite honestly if mama wasn't already supplimenting a while ago, well, that's a problem too.

Now again, if the actual words used in the OP are exactly what the doc said, then the doc was rude for saying it that way. Absolutely.

[jcalumna]

I also would be reluctant to stop BFing my lo at 3 months. We've had 2 treatments for thrush as a result of an antibiotic I was given. Early on we had issues with my lo gaining weight, so each time after BFing, I was directed to bottle feed my lo 2ozs of formula. It was emotionally hard supplementing with formula because I worried my lo would prefer bottle to breast. Oh, BTW, as a first time Mom I was ignorant of the Supplemental Nursing System™ (SNS), and had I been informed of such, I certainly would have chose SNS instead of bottle feed. After days of crying & worrying that lo embrace the bottle and leave the breast, she did gain weight. Once the weight gain was up, then I stopped giving her formula & began to supplement with hind mind that I had pumped after nursing at the previous feeding so that she was only getting Mama's milk. After all the worry, my baby still prefers to be nursed at the breast instead of the bottle & we are now supplement free & baby is gaining weight in the 50th-ish percentile. My baby now nurses exclusively at 5 months. Yes, she is sometimes still nursing every 2 hours & waking up often during the night, but we can live with that. Every morning when she wakes & gives me a big smile, it's worth that lack of sleep.

It's was a hard road going down it, and looking back I'd still be reluctant to supplement with formula and I definitely would be reluctant to bottle feeding unnecessarily.

And to steal advice one of my friends gave me... Trust your God given Mother's instinct... it's your gift from God!

Please keep us posted on how things progress!

[KandFsMomma]

Originally Posted by happysmileylady I freely admit that when I saw PCP, I automatically assumed that was a family doc, because that's what we use. My children's doc is also my doc as well. However, to me, it really doesn't matter which doc suggests that perhaps BFing isn't best. When baby lands in the hosptial because of problems with it, and then additional problems continue to crop up, in just a three month time span...I don't think that's when "breast is best." Quite honestly if mama wasn't already supplimenting a while ago, well, that's a problem too. Now again, if the actual words used in the OP are exactly what the doc said, then the doc was rude for saying it that way. Absolutely.

Right, cause supplimenting with formula is really gonna help her supply!

OP, good luck with the thrush, and good for you for being so strong and doing whatever it takes to feed your baby the most healthy natural way possible. If you don't already have a good lactation consultant, I would find one.

[happysmileylady]

Originally Posted by keirinsmomma Right, cause supplimenting with formula is really gonna help her supply!

Right, cause of course mama's milk supply is more important than keeping baby out of the hospital.

[KandFsMomma]

Her baby is not in the hospital, she was talking about problems at the beginning and how hard she worked to keep her baby nursing.

[keen1981]

A new dr is in order. Her information and delivery is not only incorrect but belittling. I would file a compliant with whoever you need to and dump her. She is the reason women lose confidence in nursing. Breastmilk and formula are worlds apart. Still. Will one substitute for the other? Yes. Are margarine and butter equal? No way! Lol. Substitute does not equal same thing.

[NikkiGig]

So I guess I need to give a little more info. Dd2 lost weight in the beginning but from 5 days to 2 weeks she gained well but was still a bit under her birth weight. Then suddenly between 3-4 weeks she only gained an ounce so her ped sent us to the hospital with a diagnosis of FTT to see a GI doc. He had already asked about our feeding schedule and her demeanor during and between feeds and he said it didn't sound like a supply issue but that he was concerned it may be absorption issues or cystic fibrosis. At the hospital I worked with an LC and the GI and we learned that she had weak jaw and cheek muscles that must have lead to a decrease in supply which was why she suddenly stopped gaining. We started supplementing with an SNS and working with an oral motor specialist, a chiropractor, and several IBCLCs. Since then her suck has improved and my supply returned.

I have been working with an IBCLC and weigh her before and after feeds twice a week. She is petite, but gaining. We have found that she just has a different growth rate. She will gain slightly for a couple weeks and then have massive gains for a couple weeks. We still supplement once a day. Her ped and the IBCLCs all are fine with her current growth rate so my PCPs comment, which yes that is exactly what she said, were out of line since she doesn't even know the circumstances.

If she were still FTT then obviously I would not be sitting here pretending bfing was good for her.

I think I have found that what I was thinking was thrush is actually vasospasms. I took some steps that helps with those and have noticed an improvement!

[songbird516]

There is nothing helpful about what the doctor said.

OP- if you're having these problems with thrush, have you tried to treat homeopathically? Cutting out grain/sugar/fructose from the diet and adding in probiotics and nourishing foods- bone broths, for one- will help to get rid of the yeast overgrowth that can be the root of thrush issues. Replace any simple carbs with healthy fats, and limit fruit consumption, especially while you know that you're having these issues.

[NikkiGig]

And for reference here is my too skinny baby! She's not roly poly but I don't think she is skin and bones either.