My son turns ONE tonight at 12:28am! I am so proud we have made it this far breastfeeding. We had a lot of issues in the beginning and I was bullied into supplementing with formula while we were in the hospital (even with the help of a lactation consultant, we were still unable to get my son to latch). Eventually, with the help of a nipple shield, he was nursing, and we weaned from the shield by the time he was 3 weeks old.
I feel like my son is healthy, but doctors have had concerns regarding his weight since he was born (full term-5lbs 15oz). By the time he was 2 months old, he had climbed to the 20th percentile, but dropped back below the 5th by 4 months....and has only dropped percentiles from there. He is currently just under the 17lb mark (and about 27.5" short).
I try so hard to be educated and stand my ground when it comes to pediatrician's advice, but every single time we have an appointment scheduled I get so much anxiety.
My son eats A LOT, but I wouldn't know how to describe his eating habits to a doctor. He has a preference for breads/grains/potatoes and can eat a full slice of pizza in one sitting, but he generally will just graze all day long. We did BLW and started him on table foods shortly before he turned 7 months (against pediatricians instructions to feed him jarred baby food - we tried that stuff, my son hated it and I don't blame him). He still loves to nurse, too. He gets 2 bottles of 1/2 EBM and 1/2 organic whole cows milk when he is at daycare (11am and 3pm) and still nurses upon waking, 5:30pm, bedtime and overnight. I plan to stop pumping soon, but do not feel like this is a topic I need to discuss with my son's pediatrician.
We do not co-sleep, but I still feed him upon wakings in the night (which is usually 1-3 times from 8pm-8am). I was given instructions to let him cry-it-out and no night feedings by our pediatrician at either our 4mo or 6mo appointment, but I didn't listen.
It's weird that at one point they can be son concerned about weight gain, and the next minute they are telling you not to feed your hungry child.
I hate being told I'm not parenting "right" because frankly, I'm an awesome mom! I work my tail off for my son and do my very best to give him only the best.