Ellen and other LC friends,

HRS has backed off some, but still has weekly visits to the home to check on
the baby's progress or as it turns out lack of progress.  My Ped, that I work
for, is willing to go to court for this mom. We are both praying hard that the
baby will start to gain some weight.  This baby hasn't gained since it was
seven months old and is now fourteen months old.  Actually, she has lost
weight.  She has lost nine ounces over the past several weeks which started
when she had a stomach virus three weeks ago and last week had double ear
infections.

The visiting social worker last week gave the mother a written list of three
things she wanted the mother to do.  One, pump all your milk and put it in a
zippy cup for the baby.  Two, give her several different items of food to
choose from on her plate and let her feed herself (we have been trying this
one all along).  Three, give her a pacifer so she will not want to nurse so
much.  My Ped nearly flipped over one and three.  I did send home a Baby Weigh
scale with the mom to do 24 hours of test weights.  The baby got 15.5 oz of
mother's milk in 24 hours and she is eating some solids (some days lots and
some days not so much).  This baby weights 14# 4oz.  At 50 calories per day
per pound that would be about 750 calories per day needed.  15.5 oz of milk
would be about 300 calories per day and her solids do seem to total another
400-600.  We don't understand why this child doesn't gain weight, but it's not
due to neglect or abuse. The child is alert, bright, extremely active petite
little girl.  She did grow 1/2 inch in the past three months.

To complicate things, the mom just found out she is about 5 weeks pregnant.
This baby must start eating more solids  before  mom's supply begins to drop.
Any suggestions will be appreciated. The mom is keeping a daily diary of
baby's intake as well as she comes in each week for weight check and to check
in with either me or the Ped.

Warmly,
Pat Lindsey, IBCLC