Dr Jack Newman - I have a copy of the article I think you were referring to:
"Oral Water Intoxication in Infants, an American epidemic", James P Keating
MD MSci(Epidem); Gregory J Schears, MD, Philip R Dodge, MD - AJDC Vol 145,
September 199l, pp 985 - 990. Sorry, I have no idea what "AJDC" stands for.
It makes quite chilling reading.
Regarding the baby's hydration status, I have a question. Hypothetical case
(this time anyway!) - baby about 5 days old, mother's breastmilk supply very
low (for whatever reason) baby passing scanty, dark urine (with urates,
don't want to bring this up *again*, but just to illustrate) perhaps weight
loss 13% below birthweight and it has been decided to start formula
supplements - temporarily, one hopes. Would full-strength ABM be
appropriate to start with? Or does the baby need more fluid in proportion
to protein until passing lighter urine? and if so, what proportion of extra
water?
Pamela, Zimbabwe
|