I have to give examples of when I find it EXTREMELY useful to do these test
weighings - 

Many of the moms I see are of cultures that have convinced them they "have
no milk" for days after delivery.  Other moms have ONLY seen babies bottle
fed.  They see milk coming from their breasts - remember the mom with the
large, meaty areola I mentioned at the last posting? - and still they can't
imagine they actually have enough milk to feed their baby.  Often the moms
I see have already given bottles of formula and know how much their baby
takes - and how much causes them to "throw up"... because the tend to
over-feed.

I take the very good, sensitive scale and set it up, weigh the baby with
only the diaper on, help the mother latch and have her HEAR the baby
swallow (remember I usually see them on day 3 and beyond - not in the early
time when there aren't those clear sounds), FEEL how her breast softens,
SEE her baby come off with a mouthful of milk...with that lovely, drunk
look...then I put the baby on the scale and say - well, your baby took 1.2
oz or whatever.  I then show them their baby's fist and we talk about how
soon that will empty and how it will need about the same amount again ...
and again...  How to follow the infant's cues...usually by this time baby
has burped and needs some more breastfeeding...and we go through all the
above again.

In other words test weights are only ONE of the things I use to teach the
mom about breastfeeding, but I find it very effective, especially for those
who have already gotten "hooked" on times, bottles, ounces, etc.  

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, PHN, IBCLC
Vacaville, CA

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