From: traite@eros.harvard.edu (Shirley Traite)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Re: Inadequate Weight Gain at Two Week Checkup
Date: 20 Nov 92 18:56:27 GMT
Organization: Statistical & Data Analysis Center, Harvard University

In article <1992Nov19.221548.4752@oakhill.sps.mot.com> amym@oakhill.sps.mot.com (Amy Moseley Rupp) writes:

>  -stuff deleted for bandwith re: Doctor visit and feeding

>I've been breastfeeding her all day today it seems like; I know I
>still have milk although I'm sure the supply is not the greatest
>although I hope to build it with a breast pump and a ferocious little     
>Elizabeth.  After about two hours of nursing, she still seemed hungry
>so I gave her a bottle of formula; she wolfed down 2 oz and despite
>burping her constantly, spit back up quite a lot.  I then gave her
>another 1.5 oz or so, and she went to sleep.  
>
>I worry about her weight although the doctor said everything else was OK,
>she gave me no indication on how serious the weight problem was.  I had
>been hoping to take Elizabeth on a six hour drive to see my grandparents
>for Thanksgiving, but the doctor said we needed to concentrate on her
>weight gain instead.  Too bad she can't have turkey & dressing!  ;-)
>
>BTW how old were your infants before they went on long car trips?  What's
>the recommended age for first plane trips? 
>
>A very tired not-so-super-mom-cow
>-- 
>Amy Moseley Rupp			Needed:  one witty, appropriate,
>amym@oakhill.sps.mot.com		businesslike .sig that will perfectly
>(512) 329-7117				reflect my philosophy of life and will
>3 weeks and counting			fit in four lines or less.


Amy:

Re: Weight and Feeding

I recall that my daughter also had inadequate weight gain at her 
2 week check-up.  At that time Rebecca and I still hadn't gotten
the hang of breast feeding.  The doctor wanted to start her on
formula but I resisted  asking if I could try for another week or 
so.  Well, finally at about three weeks Rebecca and I got the hang of it.
She gained back her birth weight and then some.  I guess
my advice is to stay with it if you want to breast 
feed.  BTW Everthing I read seems to say that you need to stay
with either breast or bottle  NOT switch back and forth at least
until feeding is firmly established.  I'm not surprised Elizabeth
wolfed down 2 oz of formula,  With a bottle she doesn't have to
suck as hard.     Good Luck.

Fyi: 

When I went back to work when Rebecca was 12 weeks old, I
expressed milk but after awhile my supply dwindled so we had to
supplement with formula.  Gradually, Rebecca got more and more
formula and less and less of my milk.  At 5.5 months (just in time
for her first tooth :) ) she abruptly refused the breast and that
was the end of that.


Re:  Car and plane trips

We started long (4 hr car trips) when Rebecca was about a month old.
We had to stop a couple of times along the way so that she could
be fed and/or changed.  Mostly she slept.  When she was 6 weeks old
we flew to Miami from Boston (about 3.5 hrs) It was a VERY easy trip.  Again,
she slept most of the way.  When she was 6 months we flew to Washington, DC.
(about 1.5 hrs) Again it was an easy trip.  At 9 Months we flew to Billings 
Montana. (about 5? hrs)  That trip was not as easy, she wanted to
crawl everywhere!  At 19 months we flew to Halifax Nova Scotia. (2 hrs)  THAT
Trip was a nightmare!  She just would not sit still and fought being
buckled-in at every opportunity.  Soooo I say the younger the better :)

When flying request a bulk head seat as it gives you more room to move around.
BTW  there is an FAQ on flying with kids that you might find useful.

My Best.
Shirley

--Mom To Rebecca who will be 2 on December 10th !

___

Shirley Traite (traite@sdac.harvard.edu) |I only speak for myself.
Statistical Programmer                   |
SDAC/Biostatistics Dept.                 |
Harvard Sch. of Public Health            |

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