Ann reported on several rather contradictory statements about  pooping:  

<<In the notes they gave me to present it says, "3 substantive  bowel 
movements 
each 24 hours from the first day of  life."   

Diaper Diary says Day1=1 poop, Day2=2 poops, Day 3=3  poops, Day  4 and on=4 
poops. 

LLL Bfeeding Answer Book says "At least 3 to 4  bowel  movements the size of 
a US quarter (2.5cm) or larger (Shrago  1998) is a good  indicator that the 
baby younger than 6 weeks is  receiving enough  claories. 

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding  says, "For the first six weeks or so, a  
breastfed baby will usually  have two to five bowel movements a  day."  

Spangler says in  Breastfeeding-A Parents Guide- "Expect at  least 3 stools a 
day for  the first 3 days and at least 4 stools a day  for the next 4  
weeks.">>
 
My question to y'all is -- let's say we go with the Clinical Guidelines put  
out by ILCA in 2005 that states we are to expect at least 3 substantive stools 
 per day starting in the first 24 hours -- what are we expected to do if  
PunkyPie, who is exclusively breastfeeding, only stools 1 x in that first 24  
hours.  Maybe only two times in the second 24 hours.  It's a bit soon  to do 
ac/pc weights.  Do we determine that this baby has a problem and  start 
supplementing?  Do we use a thermometer to stimulate him?  
 
WHAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE?
 
When do we intervene?  If we aren't going to intervene for the baby  that is 
pooping only 1 time in the first 24 hours, then why have an unrealistic  
standard?  What is the point?  
 
Now, I tell mothers I don't care about poops the first 4 days.  I want  the 
baby to be having at least 3 "scoopable poops" by day 4.  If they  aren't on 
day 4 or 5, then I'm going to follow up with that mom/baby to figure  out what 
is going on.  But I'm not going to intervene in the first couple  of days 
unless there are no stools at all -- and then I want to know if we are  dealing 
with a physiologic problem.
 
What thinks ye all?

Jan Barger, RN, MA,  IBCLC, RLC
Wheaton IL





             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html