I was contacted by a breastfeeding mom back in November who was a LLL
referral.  Her baby had been hospitalized for what the doctors were calling
FTT.  The baby was then 14 # 2 oz.  At seven months, the baby had weighted 14#
11oz.   The mom had taken the baby to a Medicaid Clinic for a well baby check
up (low income family).  The doctor became concerned with the baby's weight
and ordered the mother to take the baby to the hospital for admission for
test.  The baby was 11 months old and mostly nursing with little solids as she
has little interest in solids.
The mother went to the hospital but told them she was not going to admit the
baby, she wanted to go and get a second opinion.  The hospital notified the
doctor and he notified Families and Children's Services.  The baby spent one
week in the hospital and only gained a few ounces.  With the stress that
abounded and all the foods being pushed at the baby, she was very
uncooperative about eating and wanted to nurse more.  The hospital staff and
doctors insisted that the mom not nurse the baby and she would eat more
solids.  Finally after all kinds of test and the baby eating a minimal of
solid foods, she was discharged from the hospital only weighting   2 oz more
than when admitted and only after the mother had gone back to nursing her
more.

The mom switched to the Pediatric office where I work as their LC.  She came
in for weekly weigh checks and mom was keeping a food dairy of foods eaten.
Each week, we would brain storm for nutritious finger foods and other foods
that she might eat.  While coming in for weight checks, her weight began to
come up at a rate of about 1 - 1 1/2 oz per week.  Families and Children's
Services had contacted The Children's Home Society and had them visiting the
family several times per week to check on the baby.  She slowly got up to 15 #
and then came down with a stomach virus and threw up for 24 hrs.  Her appetite
dropped, she even nursed less and her weight dropped to 14# 9 and it's stayed
there the past couple of weeks.

She has had a well baby visit Dr. Carr (whom I work for, very breastfeeding
friendly), he feels she is developmental on task, and otherwise healthy, just
small.  She is extremely active.  He wrote a letter to Families and Children's
Services stating his feelings that she is just  small most likely due to
heredity.  (Mother and father are both short and sister's growth chart looks
much like the baby's.)

Today, the mother was told by Families and Children's Services that they are
planning to take the parents to court for abuse and neglect of the baby.  The
poor mother is extremely stressed.  And, I'm depressed, I can hardly take a
breath without a hugh SIGH.  Dr. Carr let out an AAAAAAAARGH, that could only
be matched by Dr. Jack.  I realize that the baby's weight gain is extremely
low (below 5th percentile), but WHY DON'T THEY TAKE THE WHOLE BABY INTO
CONSIDERATION?  They are planning to try to take this baby away from her
family.  I am presently no mail, if any of you wise, caring people have any
suggestions, please privately e-mail me.

Warmly,
Pat Lindsey, IBCLC near Orlando where I was already depressed over the tornado
victims and now this   <[log in to unmask]>