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From:
Susan Lawrence <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 9 Jul 2008 23:00:43 -0700
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A comment on having an infant scale at mother's group:  I've facilitated
various mothers' groups, with and without scales.  One big drawback to
having a scale in the meeting is that it reinforces some issues that get in
the way of mothers learning to mother.

Having a scale (and you the expert bringing it to group) sends a signal that
frequent weight checks are necessary to insure intake and health.  I think
one big challenge for many new breastfeeding mothers is learning to know
when their baby is thriving through all those day-by-day signs a mother can
see- rather than the external, professionally-measured, medical model of a
scale.  And developing mother-to-mother support is really the most important
part of any mother's group (as opposed to a focus on LC/weight checker as
expert)--it will keep your mothers breastfeeding like nothing else.

The scale and reinforces the competitiveness of weight gain, where the mom
of the heavier gainer has a measurably greater achievement (in actual
numbers of grams or ounces) while the mother of the thinner baby wonders
what's wrong with her/her milk/her baby? They all talk how much each one
gained.

Moms focus yet again on another gadget--the scale- rather than the sharing
of hard-earned mother wisdom and support.

On the plus side, I suppose, sometimes it helps as a way to get mothers to
come; they'll come to weigh the baby even if they as mothers "don't need
support".

In the clinic mother's group in which the other LC had always brought a
scale, we now let mothers who want to weigh their babies do  it on their own
down the hall in the exam room area after the meeting is over, rather than
have the scale be part of a meeting.  It also means the scale doesn't have
the rough wear of being carted around.

I also think pre and post feed weights (regardless of the debate about
those) are not really appropriate for a mother's group...  If an infant
needs that much monitoring, it seems that would need individual
consultation.  And it would mean even more consternation among mothers about
what we know will normal variation in feed volumes.

Good luck with your mother's group-those groups are a wonderful service to
offer!
Susan Lawrence in Berkeley

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