Re: Re: New LC! With scale question

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Congratulations new IBCLCs!I was resistant to use a scale initially and now I am so glad I have one for those times that are uncertain. My knees are getting tired of me lugging it around - I live in Manhattan and travel by foot, bus, subway and/or taxi.I have gotten good at assessing when I can go without it - I bring it more often than not.I have the Tanita BLB12.It has been incredibly helpful - especially with all the tongue-ties I have been seeing.I almost feel like a tongue-tie consultant!I think hospital staff are pretty skilled with latch and position and there are many good prenatal classes so many moms I see have a good idea about the basics of breastfeeding.That has been my big trend this month. We are down to one doc, a lovely ENT who releases the posterior TT's and I wish we had more.~Leigh Anne O'Connor, IBCLCNew York, NY I agree, particularly with moms who are experiencing low supply, using a scale can help us understand the appropriate volume of a supplement if it's necessary.And I have worked with moms whose babies are only swallowing their own saliva! That's a difficult situation..>> I've been in practice since 1985, and absolutely love doing pre/post > weights. Have found them extremely helpful in ascertaining where the problem > lies when there is low weight gain. However, in most situations, I don't > think you need to have as sensitive a scale as the baby weigh scale. You can > actually do ac/pc weights on a baby checker or on the hygiea scale. It > won't be accurate to 2 grams, but in most cases, it doesn't matter if you see > if the baby has taken 12 gm or 18 gm -- you know it isn't adequate, > depending on the age of the baby.> > > Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, FILCA> Lactation Education Consultants> _www.lactationeducation.com_ (http://www.lactationeducation.com/) > > > Leigh Anne O'Connor, IBCLCleighanne625@...www.leighanneoconnor.com

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I wasn't sure about the scale in the beginning but now after 5 years and just re certifying via cerps - I love the scale. I honestly have to say it works beautifully for me and just follows up what I usually always know. Some babies will stay at a breast and suck for a long time and get almost nothing.. I have just seen that happen - I knew there was little to no milk and I was right. Then you have the gassy babies and low and behold they get a lot of milk. Every consult is an individual case. But most times I like to have the scale. I rent mine for under $25 a month from medela - I often think if I can work it out I will buy it out right one day. I also saw an American Cross one from Babies R Us - one mom bought, and we compared it to the medela - it was definitely off a little but it was only $50 and close enough for her to see the weight gain. I have often measured either breast milk or formula in a bottle and then fed the baby and weighed him and can see the exact amount on the scale. I love when that happens.

So yes I think a scale is a necessity in most consults.

Donna - freezing in Long Island NY

Donna B. Kimick, IBCLC, RLC

President of LILCA

Lakeshore Lactation

www.lakeshorelactation.vpweb.com/

www.LILCA.ORG

Congratulations new IBCLCs!

I was resistant to use a scale initially and now I am so glad I have one for those times that are uncertain. My knees are getting tired of me lugging it around - I live in Manhattan and travel by foot, bus, subway and/or taxi.

I have gotten good at assessing when I can go without it - I bring it more often than not.

I have the Tanita BLB12.

It has been incredibly helpful - especially with all the tongue-ties I have been seeing.

I almost feel like a tongue-tie consultant!

I think hospital staff are pretty skilled with latch and position and there are many good prenatal classes so many moms I see have a good idea about the basics of breastfeeding.

That has been my big trend this month.

We are down to one doc, a lovely ENT who releases the posterior TT's and I wish we had more.

~Leigh Anne O'Connor, IBCLC

New York, NY

I agree, particularly with moms who are experiencing low supply, using a scale can help us understand the appropriate volume of a supplement if it's necessary.And I have worked with moms whose babies are only swallowing their own saliva! That's a difficult situation..>> I've been in practice since 1985, and absolutely love doing pre/post > weights. Have found them extremely helpful in ascertaining where the problem > lies when there is low weight gain. However, in most situations, I don't > think you need to have as sensitive a scale as the baby weigh scale. You can > actually do ac/pc weights on a baby checker or on the hygiea scale. It > won't be accurate to 2 grams, but in most cases, it doesn't matter if you see > if the baby has taken 12 gm or 18 gm -- you know it isn't adequate, > depending on the age of the baby.> > > Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, FILCA> Lactation Education Consultants> _www.lactationeducation.com_ (http://www.lactationeducation.com/) > > >

Leigh Anne O'Connor, IBCLC

leighanne625rcn

www.leighanneoconnor.com

[Guest guest]

i just have to chime in here...if babies are only swallowing their own saliva, they're not swallowing very frequently. I tell moms to look for rhythmic swallowing 1 swallow per 1 or 2 sucks. pre/post weighs can be interesting, but it often takes the focus off the baby. everyone's looking at the scale instead! Also, it only gives a snapshot of what may happen during the day. it's difficult to extrapolate..(sp?) I've also found that if i do a pre/post weigh, moms absolutely stop trusting their instincts and want to measure everything. and even if baby is still giving signs of hunger, mom will hesitate to feed more if the scale says baby has had enough! my advice is to use with caution if you're going to use it!!

Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC Lactation Consultant/Postpartum Doula www.second9months.com

See breastfeeding articles at www.fertilefoods.com---

Subject: Re: New LC! With scale questionTo: Date: Saturday, October 17, 2009, 6:35 PM

I agree, particularly with moms who are experiencing low supply, using a scale can help us understand the appropriate volume of a supplement if it's necessary.And I have worked with moms whose babies are only swallowing their own saliva! That's a difficult situation..>> I've been in practice since 1985, and absolutely love doing pre/post > weights. Have found them extremely helpful in ascertaining where the problem > lies when there is low weight gain. However, in most situations, I don't > think you need to have as sensitive a scale as the baby weigh scale. You can > actually do ac/pc weights on a baby checker or on the hygiea scale. It > won't be accurate to 2

grams, but in most cases, it doesn't matter if you see > if the baby has taken 12 gm or 18 gm -- you know it isn't adequate, > depending on the age of the baby.> > > Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, FILCA> Lactation Education Consultants> _www.lactationeduca tion.com_ (http://www.lactatio neducation. com/) > > >

[Guest guest]

I understand and yes there are some moms that get crazy with weight gain and loss. I know how to look at the WHOLE picture and evaluate everything. I have seen both sides. Moms that think their babies are not getting enough and they are and those that think they are and those babies are starving. None of us can ever use one form of tool and not every tool works with every dyad. Experience tells us how to proceed with every consult. No two are ever exactly alike. That's why I love my job!!! Sent via BlackBerry by AT&TDate: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:38:12 -0700 (PDT)To: < >Subject: Re: Re: New LC! With scale question i just have to chime in here...if babies are only swallowing their own saliva, they're not swallowing very frequently. I tell moms to look for rhythmic swallowing 1 swallow per 1 or 2 sucks. pre/post weighs can be interesting, but it often takes the focus off the baby. everyone's looking at the scale instead! Also, it only gives a snapshot of what may happen during the day. it's difficult to extrapolate..(sp?) I've also found that if i do a pre/post weigh, moms absolutely stop trusting their instincts and want to measure everything. and even if baby is still giving signs of hunger, mom will hesitate to feed more if the scale says baby has had enough! my advice is to use with caution if you're going to use it!! Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC Lactation Consultant/Postpartum Doula www.second9months.comSee breastfeeding articles at www.fertilefoods.com--- On Sat, 10/17/09, popikins <YabbaDabbaDoula1aol> wrote:From: popikins <YabbaDabbaDoula1aol>Subject: Re: New LC! With scale questionTo: Date: Saturday, October 17, 2009, 6:35 PM I agree, particularly with moms who are experiencing low supply, using a scale can help us understand the appropriate volume of a supplement if it's necessary.And I have worked with moms whose babies are only swallowing their own saliva! That's a difficult situation..>> I've been in practice since 1985, and absolutely love doing pre/post > weights. Have found them extremely helpful in ascertaining where the problem > lies when there is low weight gain. However, in most situations, I don't > think you need to have as sensitive a scale as the baby weigh scale. You can > actually do ac/pc weights on a baby checker or on the hygiea scale. It > won't be accurate to 2grams, but in most cases, it doesn't matter if you see > if the baby has taken 12 gm or 18 gm -- you know it isn't adequate, > depending on the age of the baby.> > > Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, FILCA> Lactation Education Consultants> _www.lactationeduca tion.com_ (http://www.lactatio neducation. com/) > > >

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I bought my babyweigh last year after many years of renting. My salesperson chuckled about it and mentioned that now Medela is coming out with a new version. Not sure when, but pretty soon. So, maybe if you can wait a while, babyweighs will be on clearance.

And those of you who don't use a scale, how can you tell whether or not a baby had enough if he/she is fussy after a feeding? Many times babies with reflux or other gastrointestinal issues will latch again, or take a bottle, just to become even more miserable. I have also dealt with "happy to starve" babies who act like they are full and satiated even when they haven't had enough. What about those with suck issues who work for a long time then fall asleep but haven't actually taken much? Or one of my sons who could never be put down (leaving others to assume he was hungry) but who ate like a pig? I too spend an enormous amount of time with each mom and baby, but that is still just a fraction of their feedings per day. I don't know that I have enough skill in determining what each baby's fussiness means to function without the scale.

Becky , IBCLC

Milky Way

La Plata, MD

www.milkywaybreastfeeding.com

[Guest guest]

good questions! you have to remember i already know the history of this mom baby. i know if there have beenweight isues, milk supply isues etc. I do the consult with those thing in mind and my purpose in looking at the feeding is to determine WHY the baby is having the trouble he's having! i am trouble shooting and experimenting during the visit. i see dyads that are having trouble. my job is to try to fix it. i already know a lot of the things you brought up...does that help? Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC Lactation Consultant/Postpartum Doula www.second9months.comSee breastfeeding articles at www.fertilefoods.com--- Subject: Re: Re: New LC! With scale questionTo: Date: Sunday, October 18, 2009, 5:00 PM

I bought my babyweigh last year after many years of renting. My salesperson chuckled about it and mentioned that now Medela is coming out with a new version. Not sure when, but pretty soon. So, maybe if you can wait a while, babyweighs will be on clearance.

And those of you who don't use a scale, how can you tell whether or not a baby had enough if he/she is fussy after a feeding? Many times babies with reflux or other gastrointestinal issues will latch again, or take a bottle, just to become even more miserable. I have also dealt with "happy to starve" babies who act like they are full and satiated even when they haven't had enough. What about those with suck issues who work for a long time then fall asleep but haven't actually taken much? Or one of my sons who could never be put down (leaving others to assume he was hungry) but who ate like a pig? I too spend an enormous amount of time with each mom and baby, but that is still just a fraction of their feedings per day. I don't know that I have enough skill in determining what each baby's fussiness means to function without the scale.

Becky , IBCLC

Milky Way

La Plata, MD

www.milkywaybreastf eeding.com