Marie Davis mentioned Michael Woolridge's discussion of limitations of test
weights.  Yes, we don't want to make a religion out of this or to imply that
one pre-post feed assessment can tell you everything.  In the example given,
however, a FTT baby who is getting a large volume of milk as revealed by a
weigh taken before and after feeding, that would give me tons of information
on how to proceed.  Because if I have a skinny baby, there could be lots of
things going on.  No milk, ill baby, baby with neuro prob. mom with problems,
etc.  So if I saw this baby and noted that there was a lot of intake revealed
by the weights, I'd zero in on a bunch of issues which would maybe confirm my
suspicions that perhaps this was a situation where over-consumption of skim
milk was limiting growth.  Or it might indicate some metabolic problem.
 Anyway, I think it would give me information which would help me refine my
detective efforts and influence my management suggestions. That's all the
scale should be:  another tool.  And if we remember that the 24 hr. picture
gives the best overall picture, and the test weight gives us (perhaps) clues,
then we won't do any harm.
BarbaraWilson-Clay, BSE, IBCLC
priv. pract. Austin, Tx