big breastfed baby denied insurance

[natural4mybabies]

This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard....

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,564501,00.html

My little guy is almost the same weight, was 16.3 at his 4 month appt. and EBF. I guess they would deniy him regardless of whether he was ff or bf, but he's HEALTHY!!

[Mama~Love]

Oh good grief! A baby cannot be obese! Babies are MEANT to be chubby!!

At 17 pounds, Alex is in the 99th percentile for height and weight for babies his age. His parents were told insurance companies don't take babies above the 95th percentile, no matter how healthy.

Dr. Doug Speedie, medical director at insurance company Rocky Mountain Health Plans, told KKCO-TV, it’s possible for a baby to be above the 95 percentile and still be healthy, and admitted the system is flawed.

“Your weight is not an absolute determinate of health," Speedie said. “Unfortunately when we try to sell people insurance, a number has to be used as a cutoff."

What a messed up system!

[natural4mybabies]

is it just me or is there a huge sense of pride for a mother that goes along with a big bf baby? It is a lot of work, but you know they are getting the absolute best nutrition. Those fat rolls are like gold medals to me, lol!

[Mama~Love]

I never got the roly-poly delicioulsly chubby breastfed babies, but yes, I hope those moms have lots of pride! Mine had a few fat rolls on the legs, but that's about it.

[phrogger]

Originally Posted by natural4mybabies

is it just me or is there a huge sense of pride for a mother that goes along with a big bf baby? It is a lot of work, but you know they are getting the absolute best nutrition. Those fat rolls are like gold medals to me, lol!

Not really, mine were always skinny little things, in the 5th % and ate like little pigs. It was their bodies and the way they developed, I don't think my milk was bad or wasn't adequate because they weren't fat BF babies.

And babies can be obese, if they are overfed with formula or other foods, forming fat cells that will stay with them for life. Interestingly enough, BM doesn't make the same kind of fat cells as formula does, so a chunky baby doesn't mean they are at risk of being a heavier adult if they were breast fed. But that just goes to show you how ridiculous charts are. If the kid was in the 99th for height and weight, he is perfectly preportionate. If he were say 5th for the height and 99th for the weight, well then maybe the baby is chunky, but doesn't mean he is unhealthy.

[LandonsMom]

Wow, my ds was 21 lbs at 4 months and we heard nothing of the sort, nor recieved any ill advice from our pediatrician.

My lil bro (who's now 15 years) was also 21 lbs at 4 months, but my mother wasnt so lucky as to not recieve bad advice, luckily she was smart enough to walk out the door and not look back!

I cant even imagine being declined for such a silly reason,...they insure obese adults all.the.time.

[Sonnet]

You'll be pleased to know that the insurance company in question has rethought that policy due to public uproar.

[MissMommyNiceNice]

OMG! My son weighed 16 lbs at his SIX WEEK VISIT from the midwife. He was PUDGY to say the least. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

But we all know there's nothing wrong with the way the health care system works.

[natural4mybabies]

Originally Posted by phrogger

Not really, mine were always skinny little things, in the 5th % and ate like little pigs. It was their bodies and the way they developed, I don't think my milk was bad or wasn't adequate because they weren't fat BF babies.

And babies can be obese, if they are overfed with formula or other foods, forming fat cells that will stay with them for life. Interestingly enough, BM doesn't make the same kind of fat cells as formula does, so a chunky baby doesn't mean they are at risk of being a heavier adult if they were breast fed. But that just goes to show you how ridiculous charts are. If the kid was in the 99th for height and weight, he is perfectly preportionate. If he were say 5th for the height and 99th for the weight, well then maybe the baby is chunky, but doesn't mean he is unhealthy.

Sorry, I did not mean to imply that only bf babies with fat rolls are healthy and thinner ones are not....there are lots of outward signs of happy healthy babies, the rolls are just one of them

And don't they now have seperate growth charts for ff and bf? Or are they not being used? I have heard the standard growth charts are so outdated...

Originally Posted by MissMommyNiceNice

OMG! My son weighed 16 lbs at his SIX WEEK VISIT from the midwife. He was PUDGY to say the least. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

Wow! How big was he at birth?

Originally Posted by Sonnet

You'll be pleased to know that the insurance company in question has rethought that policy due to public uproar.

Awesome!

[MissMommyNiceNice]

Originally Posted by natural4mybabies

Wow! How big was he at birth?

He was 8 lbs 10 1/2 oz at birth. This was the only time he was ever really chubby. Around 1 yo he topped out around 22 lbs. When I had him back at 2 yo, he was only 25. But he gained 6 inches.

[Bokonon]

My EBF baby is 17 pounds at 4.5 months adjusted age. She was 4.5 pounds at birth, dropped down to 3-11, and was around 7 pounds at her due date.


(and fortunately we have group insurance through DH's work, so we don't have anyone telling us ridiculous things like my EBF 34-weeker is too fat!)

[Jilian]

DS1 was like that, he was 18 lbs at 4 mos and the chubbiest baby I've ever seen. He's now almost 7 yrs old and weighs 43 lbs and he's tall, so he's pretty thin. The weight of a breasfed infant has little to nothing to do with how much the baby will weigh in the years to come. This story was silly especially because mom and dad were on the small side, I'd be shocked if this baby grows up to be overwieght. If anything breastfed babies should pay LOWER insurance premiums because they tend to be healthier.