I wanted to share an interesting case with you all.
One of the pediatricians I work with called me. He wanted me to go see a
baby who was admitted to the hospital due to extreme loss of weight. He had
seen this baby at 5 months who was gaining very nicely. He saw baby again
at 7 1/2 months and the baby had lost a kilo and a half and looked half
starved. Was admitted to hospital to run all tests, thyroid, celiacs, etc.
and all came out normal. Baby was then on a NG tube because at 7 and a half
months, refused to take anything besides the breast. Test weights showed he
transferred 60 cc from mom each feed. Mom insisted she had been very busy
with 3 other little ones, two major Jewish holidays, and maybe her milk
supply had gone down but did not really notice he was starving. She was
quite horrified at the outcome, and I felt she was not irresponsible, just
over worked. The doc called me because he knew that I sometimes use a tube
at the breast to give supplements, and the only thing holding back this baby
from discharge was getting him to take extra food. The baby had gained
beautifully with the supplements. He told all the pediatric staff about my
"method", and of course they were all dying to learn it. So he wanted me to
go put on a show. Well, who of you can guess what would happen with a 7
month old who had been put into the hospital, poked and prodded, and anyways
enjoying acrobatic breastfeeding? Of course it flopped, but I had luckily
given a very big disclaimer to the 10 or so docs who came in to watch my
performance. Talk about "performance anxiety!"
Anyway, to make a long story short, her Ped wanted me to fix whatever had
gone wrong. I told him something did not sit right with me with the whole
story. To lose that much weight, just because she was tired and
overworked...
I discussed with mom all the issues. She still insisted that maybe she
didn't drink/rest enough, maybe wasn't eating well...
I asked if she was pregnant. "NO!"
Are you sure?
Well, yes, because I always feel a certain way when I am pregnant...
Maybe you have been so busy you didn't realize?
She went home from hospital that day to do a pregnancy test and sure
enough....
The Ped thought I was a total genius, but I told him I was just thinking
logically.
Anyone ever have that drastic of a supply loss- to the point where the baby
ended up hospitalized for weight loss...because of pregnancy?
I guess if a woman's body is that worn down....
Would love to hear comments,
Jessica Billowitz, IBCLC
Israel
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