Something has been really bothering me about a couple posts I just
read.  First, one of our members posted looking for a supportive pedi
in Wisconsin that understands that some breastfed babies may not
conform to growth parameters of formula fed kids.  Seems the family
involved had the slow-gaining babe taken from them and placed in
protective custody.  A later post, evidently from someone more
directly involved with the case, noted that the child had gained 2
pounds rapidly after being taken from the home.  Now, this suggests
to me that this child was truly not receiving enough nourishment at
the breast and this child was indeed doing a lot of catch-up growth
(versus simply being force-fed or overfed).  Am I really off-base in
my thinking here?

The whole situation sounds truly dismal, and I certainly am not
inferring that the mother is a child abuser, on any level.  This is
definitely armchair consultating, since I know nothing of the
particulars.  But I've certainly worked with poorly gaining babes who
gained tremendous amounts of weight rapidly when the situation was
'fixed'.  My heart goes out to this mom and babe.  Nonetheless,  I
certainly wonder whether some degree of underfeeding was going on
given his dramatic weight gain when formula was given.  Comments?
Terry

Terry Dalton Hadley, RNC, IBCLC
Towson, MD