I was contacted by a breastfeeding mom back in November who was a LLL referral. Her baby had been hospitalized for what the doctors were calling FTT. The baby was then 14 # 2 oz. At seven months, the baby had weighted 14# 11oz. The mom had taken the baby to a Medicaid Clinic for a well baby check up (low income family). The doctor became concerned with the baby's weight and ordered the mother to take the baby to the hospital for admission for test. The baby was 11 months old and mostly nursing with little solids as she has little interest in solids. The mother went to the hospital but told them she was not going to admit the baby, she wanted to go and get a second opinion. The hospital notified the doctor and he notified Families and Children's Services. The baby spent one week in the hospital and only gained a few ounces. With the stress that abounded and all the foods being pushed at the baby, she was very uncooperative about eating and wanted to nurse more. The hospital staff and doctors insisted that the mom not nurse the baby and she would eat more solids. Finally after all kinds of test and the baby eating a minimal of solid foods, she was discharged from the hospital only weighting 2 oz more than when admitted and only after the mother had gone back to nursing her more. The mom switched to the Pediatric office where I work as their LC. She came in for weekly weigh checks and mom was keeping a food dairy of foods eaten. Each week, we would brain storm for nutritious finger foods and other foods that she might eat. While coming in for weight checks, her weight began to come up at a rate of about 1 - 1 1/2 oz per week. Families and Children's Services had contacted The Children's Home Society and had them visiting the family several times per week to check on the baby. She slowly got up to 15 # and then came down with a stomach virus and threw up for 24 hrs. Her appetite dropped, she even nursed less and her weight dropped to 14# 9 and it's stayed there the past couple of weeks. She has had a well baby visit Dr. Carr (whom I work for, very breastfeeding friendly), he feels she is developmental on task, and otherwise healthy, just small. She is extremely active. He wrote a letter to Families and Children's Services stating his feelings that she is just small most likely due to heredity. (Mother and father are both short and sister's growth chart looks much like the baby's.) Today, the mother was told by Families and Children's Services that they are planning to take the parents to court for abuse and neglect of the baby. The poor mother is extremely stressed. And, I'm depressed, I can hardly take a breath without a hugh SIGH. Dr. Carr let out an AAAAAAAARGH, that could only be matched by Dr. Jack. I realize that the baby's weight gain is extremely low (below 5th percentile), but WHY DON'T THEY TAKE THE WHOLE BABY INTO CONSIDERATION? They are planning to try to take this baby away from her family. I am presently no mail, if any of you wise, caring people have any suggestions, please privately e-mail me. Warmly, Pat Lindsey, IBCLC near Orlando where I was already depressed over the tornado victims and now this <[log in to unmask]>