Re: Susan Moxley's distressing story about the infant who died
of dehydration after passing green stools. Did the baby have a
history of rapid weight gain, ie over 350 grams/wk? Here in the
desert, we are very sensitive to the possibility of dehydration.
In fact, especially in the summer (here has low humidity - about
30% - and almost never rains from April to November) I have a lot
of difficulty convincing bfing moms that they don't have to give
bottles of water to their infants. MY EXCEPTION TO THIS "RULE"
is the rapidly-gaining infant (300+ - 500 g/wk) who ALSO fusses
either during or right after a feeding. I suggest that the mother
try to give the baby spoonsful of water and explain it like this:
"apparently you have breastmilk that is exceptionally high in fat
and/or sugar content. Your baby is lucky! He's getting ice cream
for every meal! But I get thirsty after ice cream, don't you?
Maybe he's fussing because he's thirsty and not because he's
hungry. Let's try some water." However, it does sound like there
was something else going on. I also don't understand how
dehydration could have been missed. It wasn't too clear when the
baby started vomiting and having diarrhea. Gastroenteritis? What
a terrible story! Judy Knopf