Barbara, I was so interested in your post of 18th August about the MICAM studies pictured in the Breastfeeding Atlas which show the maturity of human milk. You wrote, "Research has shown that the rate of human milk maturation is related to breastfeeding initiation and frequency and duration of feeds. Early maturation has been shown to be predictive of increased infant weight gain, weeks of sustained bfg, and maternal bfg satisfaction. Dr. Humenick developed an easy way to determine milk maturation using Whatman #1 filer paper, a large canning jar ring, and an eyedropper. The pattern formed by the milk dropped on the filter paper is indicative of the level of milk maturation. The primary use of the MICAM is to demonstrate to mothers that their milk is maturing as expected." My question is - could the MICAM be used to show that lactogenesis is *not* proceeding as it should? I am thinking of cases where there appears to be a delay in milk production, perhaps there has been some extra bleeding, and we might suspect retained platental fragments. I find that the OBs so easily become offended, and hotly deny this possibility - could the MICAM be used as a diagnostic tool in these circumstances? Pamela Morrison IBCLC, Zimbabwe [log in to unmask] *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html