I've been saying and writing for years that excessive early weight loss in
newborns was ritual fasting, and that it is abnormal for babies to lose lots
of weight (in the sense that it increases vulnerability to lots of things -
including jaundice).  When babies are allowed to nurse right away, are kept
with mothers, and when breastfeeding is well-supported, babies typically
don't lose a lot of weight, and they shouldn't have significant bili
elevations unless there are other factors in play (such as bruising or blood
incompatibilities).  When I say breastfeeding should be well-supported, I
mean that beyond enthusiasm and cheerleading  (which are good) we need
postpartum attendents capable of assessing dyads and identifying the ones
who have issues that are known to complicated early feeding.  These more
at-risk dyads need early (not late) intervention to protect the baby and the
breastfeeding.

Barbara Wilson-Clay BSEd, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates
http://www.lactnews.com

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