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Date: | Wed, 23 Dec 1998 11:47:02 +0000 |
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Nikki's client's baby who acted happy and fine but looked classically
dehydrated is unusual - but not *that* unusual. I have come across a couple
of nursing pairs who fit that picture - both of them missed by health
visitors and midwives who *only* looked at weight gain (which was not
great, but still borderline normal) and behaviour and didn't *look at the
baby* or talk/listen to the mother about what the baby was doing, and
*understand what she was telling them*.
These are the so-called 'good' babies, the ones who seem sunny and placid
until they get really sick. They are the ones who seem contented. One I
remember was using a nipple shield at six weeks and feeding five times a
day, and being so 'good' at going through the night.....mother was so
pleased at her 'easy' baby and only contacted me to see if I could help her
get rid of the nipple shield. I am a lay counsellor so obviously I don't
diagnose, but I knew this baby was at risk (you could see from his skin and
his skull and his eyes) and the strength of our system is that mothers can
get immediate primary care at any time - home visits if necessary. We can
urge mothers to seek professional advice, and in my experience they do.
This is why it is very important, IMHO, for lay counsellors to know their
limitations and how to spot the abnormal...we can't deal with it, but we
know a (wo)man who can!
Hey, Nikki, don't be paranoid! You spotted the signs that all was not well
because you carefully assessed the whole situation - as we keep saying,
weight is important but *only* in the context of a much wider picture.
Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK
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