Gail
[continually searching for ways to teach her peers about
breastfeeding]
I think some of them have heard our complaints about being too quick to
supplement. It seems as if some are trying to do their best to seem
supportive by not insisting on formula supplementation at the first visit
(2 week?) after birth if the baby is slow at regaining BW.
But when this is their approach, we all ought to be agreeing on Rule #1:
FEED THE BABY! I wish they'd insist the mother come back soon for weight
checks, or get it done elsewhere and INSIST they report back.
This month alone, I know of 2 mothers whose babies were admitted for FTT
at 8 weeks, STILL WITHIN OUNCES OF THEIR BW! It was utterly scary to see
the babies. The same effort was made to offer services to these moms as
others we serve, but somehow, something got lost in the communication.
One was a 1st time mom, the other had successfully BrF several other
babies. Both mothers were blissfully well intentioned, ready to declare
that they wanted to breastfeed their babies exclusively, with no formula.
In one, at least, the problem was not supply, but with milk transfer.
Wonderful as human breast milk is, if it doesn't get transferred out of
mom into baby in appropriate amounts to promote adequate growth,
WONDERFUL is not enough! Some sort of intervention must take place for
the well-being of the babies.
Every mother/baby duo is a unique pair. Somehow, adequate follow-up
observation is needed to prevent SOME babies from "falling through the
cracks" with FTT.
K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
Dayton, Ohio USA
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