Elisheva asks does anyone use test weights on babies and discover they are
taking in tons of milk.  I do.  It has helped me communicate to doctors that
IN SPITE of adequate milk transfer an infant is growing poorly.  This has
led to quicker, closer scrutiny of infants who have turned out to have
pyloric stenosis, metabolic deficiencies, 3 with cystic fibrosis, reflux,
etc.

You know, I have 20 yrs exper. as a LLL Leader with normal babies.  I see
only problems in my priv. pract. and lately, problems that may have defied a
layer or two of intervention elsewhere.  I consider myself fairly
experienced.  While interested in the high tech, I respect and rely on high
touch. I hold hands with my moms until they are doing well, staying in touch
with many of
 these families over months and even years tracking their babies.

Maybe I am an idiot, but measuring things and weighing help me make clinical
decisions.
Additionally, I know that the basic fact of mammalian biology is that
lactation works perfectly -- most of the time.  But we have so little
normative information about how or why or when or under what circumstances
it doesn't.  I'm thankful for people like Peter Hartmann, who tinkered with
cameras until he was able to accurately measure breast capacity.  Think of
what we have learned from him!

Temperment influences style.
Some of us will never approach this work comfortably if we are expected to
quantify it.  Some of us want to understand what is happening on as many
levels as possible.  There is more than one way to be right, and I accept
the fact that experienced peers may not do things the way I do and get
equally good results.

Here's a thought:  The data on growth and recovery from birth weight that
I've looked at really suggests that healthy, stable babies (of all mammalian
species) take off like a rocket and grow fast early on, with a taper after
they are thru the most vulnerable post-birth period.  I certainly see babies
who struggle a bit and then pick up without too much intervention -- if any.
But I flat out think it's abnormal to have growth faltering early on.  When
I see it in a pup, a kitten or a baby chick, I wonder if the animal is going
to make
it.  Any other animal breeders out there care to comment?


Barbara Wilson-Clay, BSEd, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates, Austin, Texas
http://www.lactnews.com

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