Helen's comments re measuring blood glucose made me revisit notes from a recent conference in Edinburgh. I think we heard the same speaker, Helen. I found her very interesting - and the descriptions of her research particularly so. I understand her to think that it is likely that the low glucose and high ketone levels seen in term newborns are normal. Her current research is looking at babies born at 34-36 weeks and growth retarded (IUGR) babies. They are divided into 3 groups - exclusively breastfed by mother's choice, breastfed with formula supplements by choice or necessity, and exclusively formula fed by mother's choice. I believe she has found that the exclusively breastfed babies (both 34-36 weekers and IUGR) have similar ketone responses to healthy newborns. Unfortunately it's not clear from my notes how the mixed group fared; the formula fed babies do not show this response. The formula fed babies weight gain was high cf. other groups. It raises questions about whether breastfeeding kicks off the response, formula suppresses it, or a weight loss is *needed* to kick off the response. No doubt future research will explore this further. However, this isn't why I dug the notes out. I didn't recall her saying how to measure blood glucose, and Helen's comment read to me as if all measurements were unreliable. I don't think that was said, (and probably I've misunderstood Helen). What the neonatologist did say was - 'Measure glucose level *before* starting treatment' - and 'Don't use bm sticks'. Hey I hope that's not a brand name? She may have mentioned specific machines as giving more accurate readings than others, I've not noted it down. Mary Broadfoot, Paisley, Scotland [log in to unmask] The Breastfeeding Network - Independent Support and Information about Breastfeeding http://www.breastfeeding.co.uk/bfn