Is Baby Getting Enough to Eat?
My experiences
©1994 Beth Weiss, Posted to misc.kids.pregnancy Usenet newsgroup, September
18, 1994
I wrote this when someone wrote that it wasn't unheard of for breastfed
babies to become malnourished.
Although it is not "unheard of", it is also very rare, and I found these bald
three lines to be fear mongering, without enough information to help parents
feel confident that isn't happening to their child.
Most babies are weighed at their 2 week well-baby checkup, which gives the
baby's medical provider an opportunity to ensure that the baby is gaining
weight. If the baby is gaining satisfactorily, then he or she is
getting enough milk.
Second, most healthy women CAN produce enough milk, so that if the baby's
weight gain at 2 weeks, (or one month or two months, etc.) is not sufficient,
then the mother can be given assistance in increasing her milk supply.
Most women can increase their milk supply my nursing on demand, getting lots of
rest, and eating well.
From the stories people have told me, when a woman says she has "insufficient
milk supply" it often means that the baby was eating often, or breasts didn't
feel hard to the touch, or that she wasn't leaking anymore--none of which are
indicators of insufficient milk supply.
The most common suggested "cure" for insufficient milk supply can often CAUSE
or increase the problem--formula supplementation interferes with milk
production, since milk supply is based on demand.
I'd like to add one anecdote--this happened at Jordan's 2 week well-baby
checkup. Even with all of the reading I'd done, I was worried about him
getting enough milk, and it seemed he was eating all of the time. The
doctor's reply: "You can always supplement with formula."--which I knew was
pretty much guaranteed to bring an early end to breastfeeding--so I
ignored him. (and changed doctors)
But a woman who had read less might well have taken the doctor's suggestion
more seriously--and as a validation of her concerns about food intake and
schedules, when what she was really asking for was a bit of medical reassurance
for her new-mom jitters. I would have done much better with a reply such
as: "He's a full 5 ounces over his birthweight, which means that he's gaining
really well. I know it's hard to be sure, but if you're worried, stop in
and we'll weigh him every week or two, and keep track of his progress. But
most newborn breastfed babies eat a lot--it's just what new babies do.
You're doing just great and your little guy is gaining like a champ."
That would have been much better than "You can supplement with formula".
It would have been true, more reassuring, more caring, and more helpful.
Failure to thrive is a concern all new parents have, I think, but regular
medical attention catches problems early--and more reassurance is in order for
most parents.
    
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