On Thu, 19 Sep 1996 10:39:18 -0400, Karen Foard wrote:
>What would you do with a mother whose milk did come in, baby had turn around
>weight gain by 1 week, then three days later complaining of not feeling like
>she's satisfying the baby. Feeding style of baby looked good, before/ after
>weight was aboiut 1-1/4 ouces, one breast. However, weight showed a 6 ounce
>loss in 3 days.  Sent baby to ped, baby checked out healthy except for
>weight loss.  Mother has been pumping for 3 days. Feels like there is
>decrease in supply.  Gets about an ounce at a pumping regardless of if it is
>before or after a feed.  Not noticing signs of let down. 4th time mom, 3rd
>nursing was a disaster 18 months ago, now this. My hunch a couple days ago
>was poorly functioning let down (VERY busy 18 month in background of nursing
>sessions!), and mother's words seem to be confirming the let down not
>working well.

I think I'm missing something.  According to a study cited in Riordan and
Auerbach, milk synthesis after nursing was 17 - 33 ml/hr.  If this baby is
getting
1.25 oz from each breast every 2 hrs, that's an average of 37 ml/hr.  If the mom
is nursing 8 - 12 times a day, letting the baby empty each breast, that would be
20 - 30 oz daily.  Am I way off base, or is that plenty of milk?  Is it
possible that
the mom doesn't know to nurse that often, or might she be trying to get the baby
on a schedule with less nursings?  If the baby's really getting that much
milk, but
is still losing weight, has the baby been checked for possible other problems?

Jonathan
************************************************
*           L. Jonathan Kramer, P.E.           *
*    Graduate Breastfeeding Counselor and      *
*        Student Lactation Consultant          *
*      Certified Medela Nursing Bra Fitter     *
* Only G-d knows the formula for mother's milk *
************************************************