Dear Lactnet Colleagues

 

I am weighing in (pun intended) on a topic from several weeks ago - newborn
weight loss in the first days following birth.  I recently completed an
observational study looking at correlations among three variables - IV
fluids women receive in labour (or before a casearean section), neonatal
output (weight of diapers), and newborn weight loss during the first three
days postpartum.  

 

I could not speak easily until my papers were published.  The papers are now
available online at the International Breastfeeding Journal (free - open
access):

 

An observational study of associations among maternal fluids during
parturition, neonatal output, and breastfed newborn weight loss Joy
Noel-Weiss, A Kirsten Woodend, Wendy E. Peterson, William Gibb and Dianne L
Groll International Breastfeeding Journal 2011, 6:9
http://www.internationalbreastfeedingjournal.com/content/6/1/9/abstract

 

Iatrogenic newborn weight loss: knowledge translation using a study protocol
for your maternity setting Joy Noel-Weiss, A Kirsten Woodend and Dianne L
Groll International Breastfeeding Journal 2011, 6:10
http://www.internationalbreastfeedingjournal.com/content/6/1/10/abstract

 

The findings are quite interesting - there are correlations between the
amount of IV fluid women receive and neonatal output and between neonatal
output and newborn weight loss.  It appears babies correct their fluids in
the first day postpartum and the correction results in a weight loss.  As
you can read in the newly published paper - these relationships are time
limited.  Our conclusion based on these findings are that birth weight
should not be used as the baseline to calculate weight loss - the babies
need time to balance their fluids (i.e., diurese).

 

The first paper is about the study and the second paper is a protocol so
that clinicians can repeat the study in their own setting and determine if
babies in their care also experience weight loss related to maternal
pre-birth IV fluids.

 

 

Joy

________________________________________

Joy Noel-Weiss RN IBCLC PhD

Assistant Professor/Professeure adjointe

École des sciences infirmières/School of Nursing

University of Ottawa/Université d'Ottawa

Ottawa ON Canada 

 


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

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome