The gains this baby is making are quoted in ounces only.  Maybe charting 
would clarify the picture.  If the SHAPE of the growth curve is similar 
(obviously if you weigh frequently, there will be zigzags, but look at the 
trend) to the centile curves on the WHO chart, and the absolute weight is 
not below the lowest centile then the weight is in a totally normal pattern. 
(All the babies on the WHO chart were well and healthy babies -- even the 
smallest).  (Some normal baby has to be the smallest normal baby). If the 
weight deviates either by showing a different shaped curve or because it is 
below the lowest centile, then the weight is sufficiently unusual to make it 
worthwhile to investigate the baby more thoroughly.  The weight gain itself 
is not a diagnosis of anything, it is an INDICATOR.  Most babies whose 
weight is unusual or low *require no adjustment to their feeding or other 
care*, but enough do, for it to repay the time and effort and money to 
investigate because enough 'cases' of something wrong (feeding issues, 
illness or organic disorders) will be identified to make it worth doing. 

This is the rationale of routine weight monitoring. 

Of course, its worth ensuring that the weights were conducted accurately on 
the same scale in same relation to feeding (before/after) and at the same 
time of day, as one ought to do for any routine weighing, paricularly if 
weighing more often than once a month (after birth weight regained). 

I think estimations of so and so many ounces per specified time period now 
really belong safely inside the covers of Truby King, Liddiard and their 
contemps (don't know who the US equivilents would be, these were baby manual 
writers published in the UK before the 1939-45 war), although they will take 
some time to erase from folk memory. 

Magda Sachs, PhD

             ***********************************************

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 email list is powered by LISTSERV (R).
There is only one LISTSERV. To learn more, visit:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html