Hi June, Great questions! Here at Yale-New Haven Hospital we have been able to get staff to understand the normal weight loss that newborns experience. Most or our pediatricians also appear to be more relaxed with weight loss until it approaches 10%.

 I always look at the whole picture: is the newborn voiding and stooling in a normal pattern, is the baby feeding at least 8 times in 24 hours, are we seeing signs of milk transfer (audible swallowing, uterine cramping)? 

I think you should refer to the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine protocol #3 "Hospital Guidelines for the Use of Supplementary Feedings in the Healthy Term Breastfed Neonate". It is an excellent well researched protocol that would be and should be taken seriously by hospital staff.

Keep up the good work!
Marie

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