Please be aware that a talented LC knows how to present the whole
question of weight gain, test weights etc. to her client in a way that
she can understand it and deal with a doctor who might not be as
knowledgeable about patterns of early BF.
I have dealt with several very slow gainers (failure-to-thrive according
to Lawrence's criteria) and have sometimes had them weighed and
test-weighed. This provided me with some interesting information, such
as the fact that the intake was higher in a certain position, or a
certain length of time into the feed, or that they were getting
increasing amounts of BF over the amount of supplement they were
getting. Mothers who are relactating or inducing lactation are also
interested in tracking the weight gain over a week or two weeks, in
order to adjust supplementation more promptly.
I know we shouldn't get preoccupied with weight gain, but I have found
that it is important to get whatever information we can to know what
suggestions to make. Of course the scale is only one small part of the
picture, the number and colour of stools is only one small part, etc.
but I am one of those people who is of the opinion that more data is
always better... I know that that might be because of my general
paranoia. I don't think I've fully recovered from day 15 in which I
changed one dry diaper after another, for the better part of 24 hours.
Jo-Anne

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