So we went for the 6 month check up yesterday, and his weight plateaued a bit. In all honesty I've been run down and slow to respond the last month and he probably just wasn't getting as much milk as he needed. We'd had numerous busy days out and he's been overly distracted at feedings, only paying attention half as long as he should. But the LC and nurse at mom group gave me mixed information, saying he's more than doubled his weight and it's normal at this age to be distracted at feedings. Always trust your mother's instinct. Well it's not a huge deal, he's just needs more calories at this time. The first thing the doctor said, was I should give him formula. It's my choice to be strictly against formula for my son. This is not an emergency where he is starving, he's simply missing something or a certain amount from my milk. So I said as much to the doctor and that I did not want to introduce a food that isn't regulated and shows it's ability to cause a host of other dietary problems latter in life. Then she says, "well we could do a blood test to find out if he's low in iron and then offer him a supplement." I was so angry that she would just jump on the formula waggon knowing completely that we can find the sole culprit and treat that cause! I kept imagining how other run down new moms might not even press for an alternative treatment. That they would just accept the easy road and then stop breastfeeding and move on to formula without ever finding out what was really going on! I have hemochromatosis, and don't expect my son to have it as well, but I tend to eat iron saturated foods sparingly. Again, I've been run down and not taking care of myself as much as I should and waited too long to get my levels tested. I take supplements for breastfeeding, but at his age his iron requirements shoot up and I'm suspecting he's drained my supply. So of course I'm going to increase my own iron levels. Perfectly timed with introducing solids as my objective is to have him eating the same basic foods as myself. All this aside. I'm really sick about this doctor suggesting formula rather than finding the underlying reason. Doctors do that too often. They have 15 mins with their patients and that's not enough time to asses the real issues. So they always go for the quick fix. Not for me and not for my son though. I've always been diligent with doctors as I've had issues in the past resulting in tragedy from neglectful treatment. Well that's my rant for today hah!