Would appreciate some help with this one. Visited a Mum yesterday, with baby 3 weeks old. The first child was breastfed with additional supplements, is now aged 15 years. 2nd child fully breastfed, no problems, now aged 12 years. This child born at 37 weeks gestation, 2.78kg. At 10 days weighed 2.70, at 18 days still 2.70, at which point I became involved. Has not had a changing stool yet, diapers still black/green sticky. Plenty of wet ones. Mum is insulin dependant diabetic and has been so for many years, usually well controlled. At present diabetes is completely out of control in spite of her best efforts. She has increased her calorie intake, lowered the insulin, eats well, still swings widely from high sugars to low within a few hours. Her ankles are swollen - this has never happened before - did not happen during this pregnancy, occurred after delivery. She is still bleeding, again unusual for her for this length of time, and she has developed a sore place in her abdomen. I watched the baby feed at 9.30am. She positioned well, good sucking rythm, sounds of swallowing, took both sides, seemed happy afterwards but Mum reports is not satisfied at later feeds. She looks thin but is alert. I suggested that Mum supplement the not-so-good feeds, we really need to see some weight gain now, but still feed 2 -3 hourly if possible. Get baby checked by doctor. Also get Mum checked, am concerned about the bleeding, sore abdomen, (?retained placenta or uterine infection), swollen ankles. Also suggested do a thyroid check, but this probably won't happen, doctors here don't like doing them for breastfeeding reasons! Could the uncontrolled diabetes be causing a problem? Haven't come across this in relation to poor supply previously. Baby does not have tongue-tie. Have I missed anything, what would all of you do? Regards, -- Carolyn Westcott