At 2:36 pm +0100 21/1/01, Rachel Myr wrote:
>Vicky York asks for confirmation of the recommendation that "a baby should
>get 2 1/2 times his body weight in ounces in 24 hours. I am wondering how
>long this formula is in effect. 2 months, 5 months?"
>
>I hope there is a typo in Vicky's post. Two and a half times body weight in
>24 hours? That means a baby weighing 7 pounds should be getting 17.5 pounds
>of food in 24 hours, or if ounces are preferred, a 112 ounce baby should get
>280 ounces every day. Has this formula ever been in effect for human
>infants? Calves, maybe, or baby Belugas, but homo sapiens?!
>
>OTOH, even if there exist valid numbers for this, who is to do the checking,
>and how? Well-baby care provided by others should be informed by knowledge
>of the range of normal growth for babies over time, much longer than 24
>hours at a stretch.
Yes, I too was puzzled by the question - though there may a reason
for asking it that isn't mentioned..
I remember the maths very well, as here in the UK this was what used
to be the information for formula feeding mothers when they wanted to
know how much formula to give their newborns in a day. They use
similar guidance today, but it's in metric and I can't remember what
it is.
But I don't understand why it would be used for breastfeeding babies.
It could well be counter-productive.(Even with articifially-fed
babies, mothers would do better to be guided by the appetite and
growth of their babies, wouldn't they, assuming the baby is healthy).
Quite apart from this, breastmilk is different from formula (doh!)
and x ounces of breastmilk may well vary quite a bit in calorie terms
from x ounces of formula milk.
Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK
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