Ayelet, it seems impossible that these parents would not recognize the
crisis their baby is in and yet I, too, have seen these babies who are
gaining poorly (or not at all) at 2-, 3-, 4-weeks of age and beyond.  I
think it is great that you took the time to give the parents so much
information in a public space.  My concern would be that, since it was not
during a consultation, they may just consider your words to be advice and
perhaps did not sense the urgency you felt.  Since they were in a class with
you, why not call them at home to follow up?  You may need to remind them
that the most important thing they can do right now is to feed the baby.

Parents sometimes need to get this type of information in more than one
modality.  Often, they need to hear it, see it, and hear it again and again
before they comprehend your alarm.   It can be very helpful to show them
what is happening with their baby's weight on a growth chart.  If you use
the WHO growth chart for boys at
http://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/cht_wfa_boys_p_0_6.pdf, it looks
like this baby was born near the 20th percentile but was below the 3rd
percentile by 3 weeks of age and is now far below it.  If the baby were at
the 3rd percentile now, he would weigh just over 4 kilos or 8.5 pounds.
 Poor baby!

I think these parents are going to need a lot of support and follow up from
you, perhaps giving them permission to supplement the baby while he gains
the strength to feed well.

You don't know how this family ended up with a baby who is not feeding well
so you can't take on the blame.  But you can act now to help this little one
and to assist his parents who were so fortunate as to run into you over the
weekend.

Sara Dodder Furr, MA, LLLL, IBCLC

MilkWorks
5930 South 58th St., Suite W
Lincoln, NE 68516
(402) 423-6402
FAX (402) 423-6422
www.milkworks.org

"creating a healthier community by helping mothers breastfeed their
babies...."


> ------------------------------
>
> Date:    Mon, 3 May 2010 05:50:05 -0400
> From:    Ayelet Kaznelson <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Sleepless in NYC
>
> Had an unpleasant experience over the weekend.
> A couple whom I met in my prenatal breastfeeding class was at some baby
> event I attended over the weekend. They came over and gave me a hug eager
> to
> show me their 7 week old son.
> I took one look at the baby and felt ill.

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