Re: the great scale dilemma

[Guest guest]

I am unsure about the whole sensitive scale thing as well, but as I was informed of recently I have " no business being in PP without one." I disagree. I can see where it is important and when I would need a scale so sensitive, but it is something I feel is overused. I spend a great deal of time explaining to moms to trust the signs and trust their instincts and I feel like test weighs, when not clearly indicated, feed into moms not trusting themselves. I had to refer a mom to another LC because she works on base and this mom is on Tricare prime and baby's doc won't listen to me about the TT that my kids could identify. She asked me about what the test weights were. Even if I had the scale I wouldn't have used it in this case. Baby was on formula when I first met them and was on twice weekly weight checks (which are great and she's off formula). I buckled and bought a scale today since it seems I won't be taken seriously without it. I just hate that we have medicalized breastfeeding so much. I get why it would be good to have access to one, but I really don't want it to become the norm in my care. Feel free to tell my I'm one of those stupid new LCs who know nothing. You won't be the first (meanwhile I'm over here fixing a few dozen issues from an LC recertified a few times over who has the fancy scale)Pardon my gruffness. It's been a long day in my non-LC life. Heinz, BA IBCLCBeach Babies Lactation Support, LLC Sender: Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:53:31 -0400To: < >ReplyTo: Subject: the great scale dilemma I am in the market for a scale as well, and have been following all of the posts about scales.  My question is: where does the 2 gm standard come from?  I see the 2 gm standard in text books, but is this evidence-based?Trying to critically think about this, and how 2 gms vs 5 gms would change my clinical opinion, Pam Anzicek IBCLCMichigan

[Guest guest]

Hi

Reading your post gave me such a warm feeling to realise that I was not alone in

how I feel about weighing babies. I do feel there is a place to weight babies

but that a baby's weight is becoming too much the focus of assessing a baby's

wellbeing.

Why is it that we are all (society) becoming so 'Left Brained' when mothering

and lactaion are such 'Right Brained' activities. I feel that we should be

encouraging and nurturing this aspect in our moms not feeding their

insecurities.

Also when I trained as a Midwife in the UK back in the mid 80's test weighing

was stopped as the results were though to be inconclusive. As far as Im aware

this has not changed but please correct me if I'm wrong.

lets hope that we are not alone in our beliefs.

Wishing you all the best ..... Vikki

Vikki Kidd - IBCLC,RM,ADM,RGN

Ontario, Canada

>

> I am unsure about the whole sensitive scale thing as well, but as I was

informed of recently I have " no business being in PP without one. " I disagree.

I can see where it is important and when I would need a scale so sensitive, but

it is something I feel is overused. I spend a great deal of time explaining to

moms to trust the signs and trust their instincts and I feel like test weighs,

when not clearly indicated, feed into moms not trusting themselves.

>

> I had to refer a mom to another LC because she works on base and this mom is

on Tricare prime and baby's doc won't listen to me about the TT that my kids

could identify. She asked me about what the test weights were. Even if I had the

scale I wouldn't have used it in this case. Baby was on formula when I first met

them and was on twice weekly weight checks (which are great and she's off

formula).

>

> I buckled and bought a scale today since it seems I won't be taken seriously

without it. I just hate that we have medicalized breastfeeding so much. I get

why it would be good to have access to one, but I really don't want it to become

the norm in my care.

>

> Feel free to tell my I'm one of those stupid new LCs who know nothing. You

won't be the first (meanwhile I'm over here fixing a few dozen issues from an LC

recertified a few times over who has the fancy scale)

>

> Pardon my gruffness. It's been a long day in my non-LC life.

>

>

>

>

> Heinz, BA IBCLC

> Beach Babies Lactation Support, LLC

>

>

> the great scale dilemma

>

> I am in the market for a scale as well, and have been following all of the

> posts about scales. My question is: where does the 2 gm standard come

> from? I see the 2 gm standard in text books, but is this evidence-based?

>

> Trying to critically think about this, and how 2 gms vs 5 gms would change

> my clinical opinion,

> Pam Anzicek IBCLC

> Michigan

>

[Guest guest]

I really don't think we are all as far apart on this topic as it sometimes

feels.

I'm pretty sure we would all agree that indiscriminate use of scales is

unwarranted and can even be harmful to breastfeeding.

I also suspect that we would agree that in some cases, particularly with a baby

who is premature and having feeding risks, insufficient gain, or failure to

thrive using a scale can be beneficial to supporting breastfeeding. I don't

think scales are the villian, I think it's inappropriate routine use of scales,

or dogma implying scales are never warranted and evil that becomes harmful.

The reason for the 2 gram guidelines is related to accuracy and precision. It

would be nice for measuring devices to have both.

H. Kinne BA IBCLC RLC ICCE CD(DONA)

www.CascadePerinatalServices.com

> >

> > I am unsure about the whole sensitive scale thing as well, but as I was

informed of recently I have " no business being in PP without one. " I disagree.

I can see where it is important and when I would need a scale so sensitive, but

it is something I feel is overused. I spend a great deal of time explaining to

moms to trust the signs and trust their instincts and I feel like test weighs,

when not clearly indicated, feed into moms not trusting themselves.

> >

> > I had to refer a mom to another LC because she works on base and this mom is

on Tricare prime and baby's doc won't listen to me about the TT that my kids

could identify. She asked me about what the test weights were. Even if I had the

scale I wouldn't have used it in this case. Baby was on formula when I first met

them and was on twice weekly weight checks (which are great and she's off

formula).

> >

> > I buckled and bought a scale today since it seems I won't be taken seriously

without it. I just hate that we have medicalized breastfeeding so much. I get

why it would be good to have access to one, but I really don't want it to become

the norm in my care.

> >

> > Feel free to tell my I'm one of those stupid new LCs who know nothing. You

won't be the first (meanwhile I'm over here fixing a few dozen issues from an LC

recertified a few times over who has the fancy scale)

> >

> > Pardon my gruffness. It's been a long day in my non-LC life.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Heinz, BA IBCLC

> > Beach Babies Lactation Support, LLC

> >

> >

> > the great scale dilemma

> >

> > I am in the market for a scale as well, and have been following all of the

> > posts about scales. My question is: where does the 2 gm standard come

> > from? I see the 2 gm standard in text books, but is this evidence-based?

> >

> > Trying to critically think about this, and how 2 gms vs 5 gms would change

> > my clinical opinion,

> > Pam Anzicek IBCLC

> > Michigan

> >

>