I think breastfeeding helpers who are working mostly with a well baby population, should only very rarely think about doing a "test" weight. I think the example of a dyad where it seems (by all other usual means of assessing) that there is good milk production and good milk intake, but still the baby is not gaining weight, was an excellent example of when a competent and thoughtful bf helper would do such a test weight. It would be one part of the puzzle, as sick babies with metabolic problems or cystic fibrosis, usually will have other signs or symptoms. I think if you are working with sick or hospitalized premature infants, you might use 'test' weights much more often. In those cases there is research to show they were helpful in gauging how much a baby transferred and how much of pumped milk must be given after the breastfeeding. Research shows, as has been stated in other posts, that mothers did not find this off-putting but helped their breastfeeding and mothering skills to progress along with their babies. Getting back to the well babies, I think that bf helpers who are routinely doing test weights (at an early follow-up visit or drop-in clinic, for example), are perhaps not very good overall assessors of the whole bf picture, and perhaps not very good listeners (or maybe don't have the time? or take the time?). I think this would be very unfortunate because the mothers would not get good overall counseling on the "gestalt" of breastfeeding. Laurie Wheeler RN MN IBCLC Mississippi USA *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome