I've recently kept out of this discussion, though I've certainly been interested in the weighty discourses both pro and con on the use of the scales, in particular, the use of test weights (I remember now I mentioned how much I hated that phrase). Anyway, it occurred to me in one instance where I really like the use of the ac/pc weights and that is where a mother has been supplementing with formula a lot so that poos and pees are adequate as is the baby's demeanor. Pumping after a feed -- as many moms do as they have been told -- doesn't give me any clue as to what is going on when the baby is breastfeeding as she generally gets 1/2 ounce or less. So I don't know where we are. Ac/pc weights are very helpful for that snapshot of how much the baby is getting at that particular feed. Why is the mom supplementing? Who told her to -- and why? And does she need to? ac/pc weights do help here as I've been fooled way too many times by both very quiet effective feeders and noisy ineffective gulpers. And Jean, yes, the whole issue of caloric value of the milk is a huge one -- volume only gives 1/2 the story -- if that. I'm sure that the mums who are making only 450 ml/24 hours and the babies are doing just fine on that amount are making pure cream. However, I will confess I've never heard of a mom making that amount and having a baby grow well if they are exclusively breastfeeding. Maybe because I'd never see a baby in that circumstance -- why would they be coming to me if they are growing well???? Back to our discussion of the use of technology in our society -- had a mom come to me yesterday; she was supposed to have a weight check at the pediatrician's, but since she was coming to see me, we canceled her visit there. Put the baby on the scale and she was back up to birth weight at 9 days of age, having gained 10 ounces from her low of 7-0 pounds. Anyway, the father remarked how much better he felt because the baby weighed 7-10, and what a psychological difference it was to him that she wasn't 7-9, even though that was only one ounce. I'm not sure we will ever get away from that in this country. Weight gain in babies is symptomatic of "loving" the baby (isn't food = love in many cultures?), as it has to do with "being a good mother". Which is why many moms pump and feed the milk in the bottle so they can "see how much the baby is getting." Then there is that fine line as obesity is equated with "not being a good mother." If a baby isn't sleeping through the night it is also because a mother isn't a good mother. We mothers are blamed for a lot of things. And not given credit for nearly enough. (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(") Jan Barger _Lactation Education Consultants_ (http://www.lactationeducationconsultants.com/) _My Mother of the Bride Blog_ (http://www.motherofbridebyjan.blogspot.com/) _Torrey's Blog_ (http://www.marriedcouplebytorrey.blogspot.com/) *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html