Eamon had his 1 year well check appointment this week.  We accidentally skipped right over his 9 month well visit.  Whoops.  Here are his stats:

Weight:  25.1 lbs

Height:  30.25 in

Head circumference:  47 cm

According to the doctors standards, these were his percentiles: 

Weight:  80th%

Height:  60th%

HC:  70th%

According to the standards I printed at home, these are his percentiles:

Weight: ~90th%

Height: 50th%

HC: ~80th%

Percentiles mean that if he's in the 90th percentile, he weighs more than 90% of other 1 year olds in the US.

In 2009, the CDC changed its growth standards to reflect the new standards released by the World Health Organization in 2006.  The WHO states, "These standards will establish the breastfed infant as the biological norm for growth  (http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/childgrowth/en/index.html)."  Woo hoo!!! 

"Initially, charts were based on a population that was predominantly formula-fed, and because infants grow differently on formula than they do on human milk, decisions made based on “appropriate” growth were often skewed." http://www.babygooroo.com/index.php/2010/09/21/charting-how-infants-are-supposed-to-grow/

"Breastfed infants tend to gain weight faster in the first 3-4 months, but are generally leaner than their formula-fed counterparts by 12 months. In 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a new set of growth charts for children 0 to 59 months, based not on how children do grow, but instead how they ought to grow." http://www.babygooroo.com/index.php/2010/09/21/charting-how-infants-are-supposed-to-grow/

So, what's the big deal about all this charting and stats?  Usually it's used to make sure the child is growing at a somewhat steady rate and there isn't a significant drop in percentiles which may indicate a health issue.  For breastfeeding moms, ESPECIALLY ones with pediatricians that aren't 100% supportive of breastfeeding (like my old pediatrician, not my new one. Love Dr. Helft!), it's a backup weapon to use when there's a dip in weight gain and they immediately turn to supplementing.  That, in turn, leads to a lowering your milk supply even further http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html.  Then the vicious cycle starts:  not enough milk (inferred from the child's dip on the growth percentiles) => formula supplementing ==> lowering your milk supply even further ===> more dependence on formula ====> premature weaning from the breast.

As you can tell this is something that's very important to me.  I went through this exact thing with Jack.  It was a really rough time for me as a new mother.  I had every intention of breastfeeding to at least 1 year old (The WHO and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend to 2 years for optimum health).  Those first 4-5 months were hellish for me: every ounce gained was a struggle and a huge success.  I eventually weaned him from formula, but my supply never recovered.  He started eating solid foods at an early age and never looked back.  Jack weaned by himself at 14 months - I was 4 months pregnant with Eamon. 

This time around is a different story.  Eamon nursed like a champ right off the bat.  I delayed solids until 6 months.  I followed baby-led weaning when introducing solids (lots of resources and info on this here) and didn't night wean him until closer to 1 year.  You would think breastfeeding is easy... hey, baby has mouth, I have breast and ever the twain shall meet.  Ummm.... yeah, no.  Sometimes!  But, mostly.... I need help!

That's why the number one piece of advice I give to new moms that plan to BF - and that's almost everyone now these days - is FIND YOUR LOCAL LACTATION CONSULTANT!!!  Usually they are at the hospital.  Make sure the post-partum nurses know you want to see the LC right away.  Find out if there's a breastfeeding support group that meets at the hospital or contact your local La Leche League. 

Go to the meetings!  Go every week.  Meet new moms that are going through the same exact thing as you.  Make friends and meet outside of the group.  Breastfeeding is a learned art and we have lost the woman to woman societal tradition of passing down information.  Our mothers and grandmothers didn't do this.  It's not their fault.  Things were different then.  Women need to reclaim our bodies and use them for what they are made for - growing healthy babies.  They are not "Fun Bags" that are to be put on a shelf, displayed, and taken down to be played with by adult men only. 

Long post and run-on rant.  I'm hoping that some of my friends that know a pregnant woman will foward this post to them.  The best support we have is each other.  Let's take care of ourselves.