Heather,
I've searched and searched for references of any kind that would give me
an upper limit on weight in an exclusively breastfed baby.  This came
after a question from a nutritionist at the Texas Department of Health
who asked at what point in a breastfed baby do we call it obesity?

After an extensive review of the literature, I told the nutritionist
that there is no such upper limit, hence, no such thing as obesity in a
breastfed baby.

Then a researcher suggested that a mother could encourage overeating in
a breastfed baby by responding inappropriately to cues from the baby
requesting other forms of mothering.  In other words, if a mother
responds to every gesture by offering the breast, the infant may gain
more than necessary.  I've never seen a breastfed baby take the breast
when she really wanted something else.  And, from your description of
feeding patterns, that certainly is not the case here.

Furthermore, these chunky babies turn into wonderful, active and mobile
toddlers, often slimming down and attaining NO weight gain for several
months.  This generally begins when they start to learn to crawl.

Joy's comments are very interesting and worth thinking about.  Do we use
different positive words for boys and girls?  Are big boys "strapping",
"healthy", "hunkin' darlin's"?  Are small girls "petite", "precious",
"cute little darlin's"?  I suspect Joy has uncovered something we need
to be careful of when we praise a mother's baby.
--
Jeanne Mitchell, LLL, IBCLC, RN
Austin, TX
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle."
Plato