As a home-visiting private practitioner, I have seen many-a late pretermer
within a few days of hospital discharge, who is only transferring .2 or .3
or .4 of an ounce, after 15-20 minutes at breast.  Or .1!!  Or a mom with
those "envelope flap" breasts who can't understand why the baby never seems
to be satisfied ... and she has *never* had anyone look at her breasts.
 Sigh.

I agree, Jan: for a full-termer who is transferring mostly appropriate
amounts, those tenths of ounces are irrelevant.  But I take comfort in
being able to give the mother full and accurate information upon which she
can make an informed decision.  Finding out on Day 5 or 8 or 10 that this
baby just AIN'T transferring is an alarming piece of news for the mom who
hoped I had some magic wand in that black bag.

Now -- please -- I am not trying to re-open the debate here of
should-we-or-shouldn't-we use scales.  It is standard practice in some
parts of the world, and not in others.  For me, and in my area, it is
standard practice -- and I personally prefer to have the information down
to that tenth of an ounce.

-- 
Liz Brooks JD IBCLC FILCA
Wyndmoor, PA, USA

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