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Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 14 May 2006 10:55:21 +0100
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>I wanted to share an interesting case with you all.
>One of the pediatricians I work with called me.  He wanted me to go 
>see a baby who was admitted to the hospital due to extreme loss of 
>weight.  He had seen this baby at 5 months who was gaining very 
>nicely.  He saw baby again at  7 1/2 months and the baby had lost a 
>kilo and a half and looked half starved.  Was admitted to hospital 
>to run all tests, thyroid, celiacs, etc. and all came out normal. 
>Baby was then on a NG tube because at 7 and a half months, refused 
>to take anything besides the breast.  Test weights showed he 
>transferred 60 cc from mom each feed.  Mom insisted she had been 
>very busy with 3 other little ones, two major Jewish holidays, and 
>maybe her milk supply had gone down but did not really notice he was 
>starving.


I agree with Laurie's reply, and your own feelings, Jessica  - none 
of this adds up. A baby who has lost (lots - not stayed the same)  *a 
kilo and a half* - 3.3 pounds - in two and a half months???? 
Pregnancy would not account for this - some mothers notice a drop in 
supply, but not this much.

Clearly, the weights are reasonably correct as the baby's appearence 
was extreme enough to cause concern, even without weighing.

Based purely on what you have told us, Shayla, and taking huge 
liberties with the information,  I don't think this mother has been 
feeding this baby very much at all....

She has maintained a supply  because bf was well-established (and my 
experience is that mothers who have bf successfully before have a 
robust supply), and because she has been feeding the baby just enough 
to keep him surviving (just) so she hasn't dried up.

But I'd be wondering if this is a case of neglect, for whatever 
reason (depression, attachment disorder....) because babies do not 
lose a kilo and a half withoutb something pretty bad happening. It's 
not happening at the baby's end of things (he gained in hospital and 
all organic reasons for the weight loss were ruled out) so it must be 
at the mother's end.....and just 'cos she's pg would not explain it.

I would also worry about the situation in which a mother does not 
even notice this extreme weight loss.

Heather Welford Neil

NCT bfc, tutor, UK

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