I have been remiss in reading all digests recently, owing to out-of-town
guest who *needed* to see the beach AND the mountains (both within 60 min
drive of my house).

Anyway, I recall reading numerous articles about the growth patterns of
breastfed babies NOT following the EXPECTED growth curves in standardized
growth charts. In particular, although head circumference and length
appears not to all that different (keep in mind the charts in use today
were standardized using babies mostly formula-fed, often with very early
solids), the pattern for weight was substantially different for the
breastfed babies.  Investigators agree that NEW GROWTH CHARTS for
breastfeeding babies are needed.

Is it possible that we are concluding erroneously that babies who are lean
for their age/height and breastfed may be "faltering" in growth when they
really are not?  This is what happens when we attempt to apply an incorrect
measure of expectations to a population that needs a measurement device
truly applicable to their food source....

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Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Ferndale, WA USA) [log in to unmask]
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