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Date: | Fri, 17 Nov 2006 17:21:04 -0600 |
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The concern on how much to feed a baby is only when the breastfeeding is
not going well. When baby is nursing well and gaining weight just at the
breast, nobody cares. But when we have a baby with poor weight gain or
huge weight loss, mothers do need guidelines on how often and how much
to feed, diaper counts, etc. I use the information in The Breastfeeding
Answer Book, 2 to 2.5 ounces of formula or breast milk times the baby's
weight (or what the weight should be). I believe this textbook also says
normal amounts seem to be 28-32 ounces a day for the older babies, not
the 40-60 ounces of formula many bottle feeding moms we see at WIC are
giving. With those skinny, starving babies, I mostly go to 2.5 ounces
per pound and estimate from what the weight should be not what it is today.
This estimation can be very helpful in diagnosing what might be wrong
and why baby isn't gaining after you do a test weight. I use it to
explain to moms when they are feeding a small baby 2-3 ounces after
every nursing. I also use this formulation when working mothers call and
say they can not pump enough and baby is eating 20 ounces at daycare. I
talk to them about normal intake amounts and what their baby really
needs calorie wise so they can cut down on the bottle amounts at
daycare. The other aspect is that if test weights show excellent intake
and are the same or more than this formulation BUT baby is not gaining
weight, we might need to have the pediatrician look at health issues in
the baby.
LCs need to know how much to recommend that a mother feed her baby when
things are not going well at the breast only. And of course, it is only
an estimate but LCs have to have something to guide mothers in the care
plan.
Kathy Eng, IBCLC Houston, TX
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