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Subject:
From:
Ros Escott <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 17 Mar 1996 20:41:11 +0000
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Like so many other useful interventions/tools, test weighs have a
lot to answer for if not used responsibly.  They have a long history
of being inaccurate (particulaly for small amounts), and  are often
used inappropriately.  As Nancy pointed out, they don't necessarily
reflect the type of milk the baby got and its caloric content.

When my son was three months and had doubled his 10lb birthweight, I
sought help for his unsettled behaviour.  A test weigh (I thought it
was a good feed) revealed a small intake and I was told I could not
possibly make enough milk for his large needs! No one recognised that
he he could not have got to 20lbs on breastmilk alone if I couldn't
make enough milk.  They relied on measurable "science".  Solids were
recommended but he thrust the rice cereal in EBM back out as fast as
I tried to spoon it in, and continued to do so whenever I tried until
he agreed to start solids at 9 months.  He had no supplementation.
He remained "unsettled" unless he had constant companionship and
interaction. When could read books at age 2 he became easier to
entertain - but he even read while breastfeeding.

My message to everyone but lactnetters (who are the converted) is to
look at the total picture and retain a healthy scepticism about test
weighing.  I know of one hospital which got rid of all test
weighings after they started test weighing the bottle fed infants
and found how inaccurate their expensive scales really were.  I
suggest you all calibrate your scales by trying it sometime,
particularly for small (EBM) feeds.  Also, what percentage do you
allow for insensible fluid loss?

Ros Escott
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"In every work the beginning is the most important part,
especially in dealing with anything young and tender." Socrates

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