>
>Hi all
>
>I may find my opinion in the minority here but I see very little need for
>test weighing.


Way back in 1989,  Chalmers, Enkin and Keirse (in their overview of 
the literature in 'Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth') 
found test-weighing to be one of the procedures they concluded was 
'ineffective or harmful'.

Test weighing has not been done in the UK for decades - I do remember 
it being done to a friend of mine's baby about 25 years ago, but it 
was unusual then, and  I have hardly heard of it being done since, 
except in very occasional or extreme circumstances. That's not to say 
we have it all right in the UK (ha! I wish!) , but just to explain 
the context I am in.

I have read of it being done on Lactnet, and in a situation where a 
mother is getting good, knowledgable and (crucially) on-going support 
from the same, good, knowledgable person, I can appreciate that it 
might have a role, especially if the person is fully aware of the 
shortcomings of test weighing, and the very limited information it 
gives of the breastfeeding situation. I accept that some skilled 
practitioners are able to use test weighing in a good way as part of 
their range of skills.

Because we don't test weigh, and because I as a lay person don't 
weigh anyway, we assess milk transfer in other ways, as Ruth 
describes.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc, tutor, UK

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