I will only comment on number 2. You wrote: ""2. SUBCLINICAL MASTITIS Subclinical mastitis, defined as raised milk sodium/potassium (Na/K) in the absence of clinical symptoms. Therefore, I would not know one of my clients has subclinical mastitis unless I did a milk analysis. When would I do this, if ever? I´ve read it is associated with poor infant weight gain and increased risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission. I have no HIV mothers in my practice. QUESTION 2: Would subclinical mastitis be a cause of FTT in the child of a healthy mother? Should I be looking out for it?"" I would not see the value in monitoring for this, unless you are monitoring an HIV positive mother, or a mother who is prone to frequent mastitis and if there was something she could do when the electrolyte levels rose. Of note, Na levels rise during weaning as well, right? How would that complicate the picture, or is it that the mother is experiencing milk stasis (poor drainage of breasts, infrequent emptying of breasts) and therefore unintended weaning (supply going down)? As far as being associated with poor infant gain, I link it back to poor drainage of the breast and/or infrequent emptying (infrequent feeding) leading to a dwindling supply. The saying "what came first, the chicken or the egg?" seems to apply here. Laurie Wheeler RN MN IBCLC MISSISSIPPI USA *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome