>I had a question from a mum wanting to know why breastfed babies tend to
have a slower rate of growth after about 3 months, from that initial
faster growth rate.<

There is a great article in November Pediatrics by Kramer et al on whether
growth patterns in breastfed babies that have been observed in previous
studies -- where weight trajectory is initially above that on the CDC chart,
but dips below ca. 3 months -- is the result of biology or bias in studies.
They measured weight gain in babies in the PROBIT study in Belarus and
present these in two different ways and their conclusion is that babies who
are exclusively and prolongedly (is that a word?) breastfed DO NOT show this
pattern.  In this population.

The paper is not free on line, but I finally got it only this week.  Well
worth reading.  It will be interesting to see what kind of curves appear on
the WHO growth chart, when this is published.  Does anyone know if Kramer is
involved with that?  I don't think I have seen his name....

Incidentally, this Kramer (Michael) is the same Kramer of Kramer and Kakuma
Cochrane Review on the Optimal Duration of Exclusive Breastfeeding.

Magda Sachs
Breastfeeding Supporter, BfN, UK

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