>Baby is 8 weeks old and current weight is 4170gms, birth weight was 3580gms.
>It took baby 4 weeks to get back to her birth weight. Baby has had normal
>growth in her length and head circumference. Baby is alert, has reasonable
>urine output and bowel motions.

Okay, so this is not great - but it works out at 600 g over four weeks, or
150 g a week.  That is the lower end of normal in what is looked for here
(UK)  and while it does not indicate a terrific milk supply, it is not a
desperately poor one,  either.

The history of the situation  -  formula, pacifier, SNS -  shows there has
been a lot of stress here and stuff which might have prevented everything
getting off to a good start - although there may have been good short-term
reasons why these were used.


>Mother currently breastfeeds every 2 hours during the day and every 3 - 4
>hours over night. Baby feeds for 15 - 20 minutes on both breasts,  and suck
>swallow ratios indicate let down takes place.(Mother also feels let downs).

This may not be enough for *this mother* with *this baby* in *this
situation* to build up an optimal supply. I'm assuming she's not imposing a
schedule.

Can she give the baby lots of skin to skin? Co-sleep? Watch for cues so she
can feed more often, day and night?

>Today
>she told me the baby has developed thrush around it's bottom which she is
>treating with an antifungal. She will also treat herself as a preventative
>measure.

Could be significant if it it turns out to be oral as well.

>This family has just about had enough and I don't know what else to suggest.
>I am wondering whether baby has an underlying medical condition ( i.e.
>urinary tract infection) which is compounding the problem.

Possibly - though very poorly babies would not gain as much as this.

heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

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