I have a 17 y.o. G2 P2002 with a 8 month old infant. Birth wt. was 6 lb.
5 oz. Wt. now is 18 lb. 5 oz. Length at birth was reported as 19 inches.
The baby is now 25 !/2 inches long. He was exclusively breast-fed for 6
months and now is breastfed and taking solids. Has always been healthy
and appropriately developed. This mom is on WIC and states that the WIC
counselor wants her to start giving 12 - 16 ozs formula per day because
the baby is not "tall enough". The WIC counselor told this mother that
the baby should have grown "at least one inch per month". When the mom
mentioned that the FOB is 5'8" now and was always very short in childhood
until hitting puberty, the WIC counselor told her this didn't matter
because the FOB is of average ht now.

My own assessment of this situation, is that this sounds like a familial
growth pattern possibly, and that the baby certainly seems to gained
appropriately. The mother is adament about not wanting to give ABM and
states she will quit the program rather than be forced to accept vouchers
for ABM that she feels is not needed.  I love educated young moms!

So, do people have comments to offer? Would some of the MD's be able to
address this issue?  I would like to gather several good sources of info
and comments for this young mom to take back to her WIC counselor.
Unfortunately, I have heard of several instances now in which this
particular WIC office has offered very negative advice to women
breastfeeding older infants.

I am putting out a small newsletter to HCP's in our area trying to get
concise accurate information to them re breastfeeding and would like to
tackle issues around infant growth in a future issue. However, that won't
help in the immediate time frame.  Help, anyone?

Ione Sims, CNM, IBCLC