I would ask the question "was the birth weight correct?" I have had the experience of an incorrect weight being recorded which lead to undue anxiety about the supposed dramatic weight loss of a new born infant. Also, if the weight loss was indeed more than 10% you would see quite dramatic signs in the baby of dehydration. Some c/s babies are born quite "water logged", (especially if one or two weeks early) and have a massive diuresis several days after the birth. I'm sure by now the mum's milk is rolling in but I doubt whether you would consistently get the volume you mention with test weighing which is only going to set up more anxiety. What about trying breast compression during a feed and looking for those long deep draws. Here in New Zealand we do not weigh healthy babies again until one week of age unless their is a clinical indication to do so, e.g. premmie, obvious signs of inadequate feeding etc. I guess we are lucky that as midwives we can follow babies through at home until 6 weeks of age so there isn't the pressure to "fix things" before hospital discharge. Good luck. Karen Palmer Midwife----- Original Message ----- From: "JOKR PANZER" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, February 11, 2005 7:37 AM Subject: pre and post feed weighs > Would pre/post feed weighs be appropriate in the following situation: with > day 3 infant weight loss approaching 10% and mothers milk not yet in > physician ordered supplement after breastfeeds, volume not specified. At 3 > days 12 hrs (about midnight) mother noticed significant breast changes, d/c > supp and fed through night, at morning weigh noted baby continued to lose, > now>10%. Physician ordered to continue to offer supplement post breastfeed. > Upon observation baby latches well, normal suck, visible audible signs of > milk transfer. Her nurse and I are exploring alternatives together to > discuss with physician. > -Do nothing, observe/assist with effective breastfeeds, reassess at midnight > weight check. Obviously, the physician has a concern with this approach... > -Have mother pump and offer expressed breastmilk after breastfeeds. The > nurse's concern here is maternal exhaustion and overwhelming this mother who > is post c-sec. > -Offer formula supplement post breastfeed. My concern is overwhelming baby > with too much volume thereby delaying next breastfeed, impacting maternal > supply, as well as possible risks to baby of artificial milk. As you may > imagine nurse thinks I am overstating what is only a marginal, theoretical > concern...... > -What about test weights? Nurse fears that if we don't get the volume we are > looking for (about 1.5 oz ballpark) we send a powerful, negative > psychological message to mother....she may very well be right. On the other > hand if there was good transfer we could d/c supplement and the bother of > expressing. > thank you in advance for your help- > Kristen Panzer MS IBCLC > > _________________________________________________________________ > Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE! > http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ > > *********************************************** > > 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 *********************************************** 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