Hello! My name is Angie LaRocque and I am a junior nursing student at the 
University of North Dakota.  I am currently taking a childbearing class 
and will soon be doing clinicals on the OB unit.  I joined this listserv a 
couple of weeks ago have enjoyed reading the topics and concerns that have 
been discussed so far.  Labor and Delivery is a exciting topic for me, and 
I am eagerly awaiting my chance to get into the Labor and Delivery room 
and witness this special miracle. 
 I was discussing an issue with a family member about breastfeeding 
and neonatal weight loss.  She is worried about her newborn infant son is 
losing too much weight and is ready to stop breastfeeding and switch to 
formula feeding.  After doing some research, a study by Dollberg, Lahav, 
and Mimouni (2001) compared the intakes of breast-fed and bottle-fed 
infants during the first two days of life.  It was concluded that bottle-
fed infants started eating sooner and ate significantly more than breast-
fed infants during the first two days of life.  This could be because of 
lack of milk supply or the minimum amount of colostrum, however weight 
loss has been shown after these initial few days of life.  In a study by 
Macdonald, Ross, Grant, and Young (2003) they concluded that breast-fed 
infants lost a substantially greater amount of weight than the formula-fed 
infants and that it took longer for the breast-fed infants to regain the 
weight that was lost since birth.  The infants in this study had the 
opportunity of nursing help and intervention in the early days of life.  
     Breastfeeding difficulties play an important role in the amount of 
milk the infant is able to consume.  A study by Dewey, Nommsen-Rivers, 
Heinig, and Cohen (2003) concluded that early lactation difficulties were 
common in women even if they did get assistance in the hospital and that 
breastfeeding mothers and their infants should be followed up in 72 to 96 
hours postpartum to assess whether their milk had come in and if not to 
give assistance with establishing an adequate milk supply.  
     I have a couple of questions I would like some input on.  What is 
your agency’s policy on postpartum follow-up appointments with 
breastfeeding mothers?  As a student nurse how can I encourage my family 
member and others like her continue breastfeeding if they are experiencing 
difficulties and their child is experiencing neonatal weight loss?



Dewey, K., Nommsen-Rivers, L., Heinig, M. and Cohen, R. (2003).  Risk      
factors for suboptimal infant breastfeeding behavior, delayed onset of     
lactation, and excess neonatal weight loss.  [Electronic Version].  
Pediatrics, 112(3). 618.

Dollberg, S., Lahav, S. and Mimouni, F. (2001).  A comparison of intakes 
of breast-fed and bottle-fed infants during the first two days of life.  
[Electronic Version].  Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 20
(3). 210.

Macdonald, P., Ross, S., Grant, L. and Young, D.  (2003).  Neonatal weight 
loss in breast and formula fed infants.  [Electronic Version].  Archives 
of Disease in Childhood – Fetal and Neonatal Edition, 88.  F473-F474.

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